How do I verify an HVAC contractor?

HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration) contractors require both state licensing and federal EPA certification. The federal layer is unique to HVAC because refrigerant handling is regulated under the Clean Air Act.

State HVAC license boards:

- California: C-20 Warm-Air Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning (CSLB). - Texas: TDLR Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor (ACR). - Florida: CMC (Class A Certified Mechanical Contractor) or RMC (Registered Mechanical Contractor). - New York: licensed at local level (NYC DOB). - Oregon: LME (Limited Maintenance Electrician) for HVAC, plus mechanical contractor registration. - Washington: L&I Mechanical Contractor. - Arizona: C-37 (Plumbing), L-39 (Refrigeration), or R-39 through ROC. - North Carolina: H-1, H-2, H-3 classes through NC Board of Examiners.

Federal EPA Section 608 certification:

- Required for any technician who handles refrigerant (recovering, recycling, or charging refrigerant systems). - Issued by EPA-approved certifying organizations. - Type I (small appliances), Type II (high-pressure systems, most residential), Type III (low-pressure chillers), Universal (all types). - Personal certification — held by the technician, not the company. - Verify by asking for the tech's EPA card. If they cannot produce it, they cannot legally handle refrigerant.

What to verify on HVAC contractors:

1. State HVAC license. Active status, correct class for the work. 2. EPA 608 certification for techs handling refrigerant. Especially important for R-410A and the newer R-454B / R-32 refrigerants now being phased in. 3. Workers' comp. HVAC techs work on roofs and in attics — fall and heat exposure risk. 4. General liability $1M+. Mistakes can include duct fires, refrigerant leaks, and CO from improperly installed gas furnaces. 5. NATE certification (optional but useful). North American Technician Excellence is a voluntary industry credential indicating skill above the licensing minimum. 6. Manufacturer authorization for warranty work. Carrier, Trane, Lennox, Bryant, etc. all maintain authorized dealer programs. Unauthorized installation voids the manufacturer warranty. 7. Permit history. Permitted system replacement requires inspection. An HVAC contractor with no permit history in your jurisdiction is either new (verify entity age) or skipping permits.

Why permits matter for HVAC:

- Gas connection inspection. CO leak prevention. - Refrigerant line set inspection. Improperly sized or leaking lines cause efficiency loss and failure. - Condensate drain inspection. Improperly drained units cause flood and mold. - Electrical disconnect inspection. Code requires a service disconnect within sight of the unit. - Equipment sizing. Some jurisdictions require Manual J load calculations on permitted installations. Oversized or undersized equipment is the leading cause of premature failure and high utility bills.

Common HVAC contractor scams:

- "Free duct inspection" leading to "you need a whole new system" sales. Get a second opinion before replacing. - Quoting a major brand but installing a generic. Demand the manufacturer model and serial numbers be listed on the contract. - Skipping the load calculation. Always insist on Manual J. - Reusing refrigerant from the old system without recovery. EPA violation.

Groundcheck (earthmove.io/trust) verifies state HVAC licensing across all 51 jurisdictions. Groundcheck does NOT verify EPA Section 608 certification — for that, ask the tech for their EPA card directly and verify it is current with the issuing organization.