Choosing an experienced and skilled HVAC contractor to repair, install, and service the HVAC equipment in your home ensures your family's comfort and safety. A reliable contractor not only stays up-to-date on industry standards themselves, they also make sure that every technician they employ has current certifications that demonstrate their knowledge, training and experience. Here are some key HVAC certifications to look for in an technician so you can have peace of mind that your costly and critically important comfort equipment is in good hands.
State Licensing
In Oklahoma, HVAC technicians must be licensed through the Construction Industries Board (CIB). Applicants must pass an in-depth exam and meet the board's strict educational and work experience requirements. The HVAC company they work for should also be licensed and have the state-required surety bond and liability insurance coverage in place. You can verify an HVAC contractor or technician's license right on the CIB's website.
NATE Certification
Reputable HVAC companies insist that their technicians are certified through the industry-leading North American Technician Excellence (NATE). To gain certification through this nonprofit testing organization, technicians have to pass a stringent core exam on their general industry knowledge, along with a specialty exam in their choice of either service or installation.
HVAC Excellence Certification
Another prominent independent testing organization, HVAC Excellence offers certification for technicians at either the professional or master specialist level. Technicians who obtain a professional-level certification have two years of relevant industry experience and have passed a rigorous exam. To achieve master specialist certification, technicians must have three years of practical experience in addition to passing the exam.
EPA 608 Certification
In order to install, repair or service air conditioners or heat pumps that contain refrigerants like R-22 or R-410A, HVAC technicians need to be certified through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). According to the certification requirements in Section 608 of the EPA's Clean Air Act, technicians must pass core and specialty testing to assess their knowledge on industry best practices for service and refrigerant reclamation.
To learn more about the importance of HVAC certifications, contact the Broken Arrow comfort pros at Air Assurance.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about HVAC certifications and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273. Credit/Copyright Attribution: “ArtsyBee/pixabay”