Throughout most of the United States, HVAC technicians must have special, extensive training before they can legally work on your heating and cooling system, for good reasons: the proper care for HVAC equipment requires the right knowledge and experience. Here are standard HVAC certifications you should ask about when hiring a new contractor.
NATE
NATE stands for North American Technician Excellence. This certification lets you know that your technician has passed rigorous training and testing in the HVAC field. NATE is not always required, but it’s highly recommended because it shows the technician has what it takes to do the job right. NATE offers testing and certification levels from beginners to senior level technicians.
HVAC Excellence
This organization provides certificates to technicians who can prove excellent knowledge and have at minimum two years hands-on experience. Certification is progressive, with several levels and the professional and master-specialist levels at the top. Your technician might also hold an HVAC Excellence certification in certain specialties, such as green energy and awareness, energy auditing, and carbon monoxide inspection.
Refrigerant License
All contractors who work around refrigerant must have Environmental Protection Agency 608 certification, also known as EPA 608. This means any technician who comes to service your air conditioner should hold this certification. Refrigerant has many regulations surrounding how it’s handled so that its effect on the environment is kept as low as possible. Contractors with this certification have learned the rules and know how to handle refrigerant responsibly.
State License
In states like our own across the nation, HVAC technicians must hold an HVAC license. This helps homeowners and businesses avoid accidentally hiring poorly trained, unreliable contractors to work on sensitive heating and cooling equipment. When choosing your HVAC contractor, always make sure they hold a valid HVAC license.
For more information about HVAC certifications or if you want to schedule an appointment with a qualified technician, please contact us at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about HVAC certifications and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 440-201-2959.
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