You may wish to contact neighbors, friends, relatives, and co-workers for opinions on work done recently by an HVAC contractor. You can also use the business directory for your area, or newspaper, radio, and television ads to identify contractors. In most cases you will be better off selecting contractors that promote the quality of their service and equipment at a reasonable rate, rather than just low prices. It may be best to select experienced firms. If possible, try to visit their office.
You will want to determine whether the contractor has appropriately certified personnel on staff (sheet metal, refrigeration and air conditioning, or electrician journeymen, gas fitters, etc.), whether 24-hour emergency service is available, and whether the contractor offers maintenance and service agreements after the installation and warranty. The warranty policy should be clearly stated for equipment, materials, and labor and should indicate who is responsible for honoring the warranty.