Choosing the right heating and air conditioning contractor can be the difference between your equipment lasting 10 years and 20-25 years.
By hiring true professionals, you sleep easy knowing that you’ve selected the right HVAC equipment—and that the installation, maintenance, and care of the system is in safe hands through the long, cold winters and warm summers in Calgary.
That’s pretty important, so understanding how to choose a heating and air conditioning contractor who’s up to the job is time well spent.
We’ll walk you through the essentials, including must-know tips for making an informed decision when choosing your Calgary HVAC contractor, so that you can enjoy long-term comfort, energy efficiency, and savings from your home’s heating and cooling system.
How to Choose a Heating and Air Conditioning Contractor (Summary)
To hire the right heating and air conditioning contractor, you first need to understand your home’s heating and cooling requirements. Then, check licensing and insurance, as well as local experience and reputation. Seek comprehensive written estimates, review warranties and maintenance options, and check customer service levels and rebate information.
We go into each of these tips in more detail below…
MAKE THE RIGHT HEATING & COOLING DECISIONS…
For over two decades, Alberta Mountain Air has helped Calgarians solve heating and cooling problems and maintain ideal comfort levels. Get in touch online for a quote.
Why Your Choice of HVAC Contractor Matters…
There’s no shortage of heating and cooling companies to call upon in Calgary. But if you’ve made a big investment in a furnace replacement, heat pump or air conditioner, you should look after it.
HVAC work combines a wide variety of technical skills and can be hazardous, with both low- and high-voltage wiring, combustible fuels, open flames, and poisonous gases in play. Work may also involve elements of carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, metalwork, and more. It takes years of training and experience to master this, and not everyone is up to the job as they claim.
While homeowners don’t need to understand everything, an HVAC contractor does. Incorrectly sized or inefficient HVAC equipment, poor installation or a lack of maintenance can lead to a host of comfort problems in the home, not to mention potential safety issues, a drain on financial resources, and a shortened lifespan for your heating and cooling equipment.
A new furnace, heat pump or air conditioner should last 20 years or more with proper installation and maintenance—and often increases home value. So, looking after the investment with professional care is just common sense.
A well-chosen heating and air conditioning contractor will:
7 Tips to Choose the Right HVAC Contractor in Calgary
It’s best not to learn the hard way that you’ve chosen the wrong HVAC contractor. The following tips will help you choose a heating and air conditioning contractor that’s fit for purpose. As a homeowner, there’s a lot you can do before deciding to hire…
1. Understand Your Home’s Heating and Cooling Needs
First, with any HVAC project, get to grips with your home’s heating, cooling or air quality needs. These differ slightly from home to home, varying with insulation levels, existing ductwork, number/age of occupants, window characteristics, personal preferences, local conditions, etc.
You’ll need answers to questions like “What size AC do I need for my home?” or “Should I get a two-stage furnace installed?” to reach the right decisions.
If you’re installing a new heating and air conditioning system, a qualified technician can perform an in-depth home inspection and testing to identify the precise heating and cooling requirements. This ensures you install the right size and type of equipment.
If you need to repair an existing system, make sure you know the model(s) of your current unit and its maintenance history. Professional troubleshooting will identify the issue but it’s best to learn a few of the basics about your system before calling an HVAC repair company. Before committing to any furnace, heat pump or AC repairs, make sure you understand the issue.
Sometimes, simple maintenance will fix the issue. Bear in mind, too, that it may be more cost-effective to replace an old, inefficient unit rather than repair it. You need reliable advice about this from a trusted HVAC company.
Ask Alberta Mountain Air about arranging an inspection or energy audit for your home.
2. Understand and Check Licensing, Insurance, and Certifications
A basic requirement of any heating and AC contractor should be the right licensing, insurance, and certifications. Proper documentation protects homeowners from liability or poor workmanship, so don’t skip this step.
Check the following with HVAC technicians—the best ones will produce documents voluntarily to set your mind at rest before you hire them:
Additional certifications, such as NATE (North American Training Excellence) or manufacturer training should be viewed favorably by homeowners.
Ask Alberta Mountain Air about our licensing, insurance, and certification.
3. Check Local Experience, Reputation, and References
You should ensure that any HVAC professionals entering your Calgary home can back up professional licenses with solid local experience, a strong reputation, and references. Get active online by checking reviews for your specific needs on Google, BBB, etc.
Does the company handle installation, repairs, and maintenance for your brand/model? What do previous customers say about them?
To identify candidates, ask friends, neighbors, and co-workers for contractor referrals and contact local trade organizations for members in your area.
If you’re looking to work with a heating and air conditioning contractor long term, you might want to request two or three recent customer references before hiring—ideally, from local Calgary homeowners. Calling and checking the service experience before hiring can save you headaches in the future. Most importantly, was the job completed satisfactorily, on time, and to budget?
Remember, the Calgary climate poses some unique temperature and air quality challenges, so it will pay to go local with a contractor. Local HVAC professionals are also familiar with Calgary’s building codes.
Check over 700 Alberta Mountain Air reviews on Google
4. Review Warranties and Maintenance Options
If you need an HVAC company to install a new heating and cooling system, check the labour warranties from the installation company as well as the manufacturer’s warranties on the recommended equipment.
Also, check with the company what seasonal AC and furnace maintenance plans are on offer, as all HVAC equipment requires regular servicing for long-term efficiency and performance.
Ideally, Calgary homeowners can build a relationship with one trusted, local HVAC company for installation, maintenance, and repair services. This will provide peace of mind as well as potential cost savings on bundled services.
Ask Alberta Mountain Air about our labour warranties for installation, repair, and maintenance services for AC, furnaces, and heat pumps.
5. Look for Clear, Detailed, Written Estimates
When you request a quote from a Calgary HVAC contractor, you should expect a clear, comprehensive, and transparent written estimate with a full breakdown of costs.
Normally, the contractor should assess the home’s requirements first, with an in-home inspection and testing (see Tip One). The quote should then address the home’s precise heating and cooling requirements, with a breakdown of the labour, equipment or parts costs.
Any valid manufacturer and labour warranties and permit requirements should be itemized on your estimate, with no hidden costs.
Before committing to any work, make sure that a written proposal is signed with the contractor, specifying the total project costs, model numbers, timeframes for work, and warranty information.
Ask Alberta Mountain Air for a quote for air conditioning, furnace or heat pump services.
6. Evaluate Customer Service and Communication
A great heating and cooling contractor does more than just fix or install equipment—they focus on serving you for the long run. Look for a company that combines HVAC expertise with a genuine commitment to customer care.
That means clear communication, respect for your time and your home, and a willingness to listen to your needs. Reliable professionals show up when they say they will, work efficiently, and leave your home as clean as they found it—at a minimum.
Before you commit, pay attention to how the company interacts with you. Ask questions and see how well they explain your options. If a contractor seems pushy about a particular product or upgrade, take that as a warning sign. A trustworthy HVAC company will put your comfort and best interests first, not just their sales goals.
Call (403) 236-4366 or contact Alberta Mountain Air online to ask a question about your HVAC options.
7. Compare Energy Efficiency and Rebate Expertise
How much does the furnace and AC company value energy efficiency and can you rely on them to recommend the right equipment, service packages, repairs, and rebate information to protect your pocket?
This is another major consideration when choosing a heating and air conditioning contractor in Calgary.
Some companies just want the work. The best contractors try to minimize homeowner costs by recommending the most energy-efficient equipment (look for the Energy Star symbol on recommended units). They may also help identify any rebates or incentives available for Calgary households to save money and reduce carbon footprints.
Ask Alberta Mountain Air about how to improve energy efficiency and any rebates/incentives currently available in Alberta for upgrading HVAC equipment.
Bonus Tip: Look for promotions and special offers…
If you need to upgrade or install a new heat pump, AC unit or furnace in Calgary, it may be one of the largest outlays you will make for the next decade.
Rebates, incentive programs, and HVAC payment plans can help you meet the upfront costs but also look for special offers on air conditioning and heating equipment, and any promotions on HVAC services.
Common Red Flags With HVAC Contractors
If the promises of a heating and air conditioning contractor seem too good to be true, they probably are! Homeowners should protect themselves by watching out for a few other red flags. Steer clear of any contractor that:
FAQs
Choose Calgary’s Trusted Heating and AC Professionals…
When selecting a heating and air conditioning contractor in Calgary, take your time, ask questions, and check quality as well as price.
All HVAC professionals at Alberta Mountain Air are SAIT-certified and can help you make the right heating and cooling decisions. So, if you’re in Calgary and considering your heating and cooling options, contact us online.
