Heating engineers are skilled and trained professionals who work with the heating system of a home or building to ensure that the systems are functioning at their peak. Heating engineers typically specialize in managing natural gas, electric, oil, geothermal, and other types of heating systems. The certification for this profession is usually obtained through on-the-job training, but many choose to pursue more formal education based on personal interests.
Tips to find the best heating engineers
- Check out the professional qualifications
When hunting down heating engineers, it’s important to check out their educational background and credentials. Heating engineers typically have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in heating, air conditioning and refrigeration. Master’s degrees in engineering are also common. At least five years of experience in the field is also normally required. When conducting your own check on qualifications, look at the engineering schools they attended, as well as their professional affiliations such as ASHRAE and other similar organizations.
- Ask for references
There are many websites that offer heating engineers referrals, and engineers also often have their own referral networks. Look up heating engineers on websites such as HomeAdvisor, Angie’s List, or Zillow and ask for references from current clients. You can also ask if a heating engineer has ever accepted employment from your prospective contractor.
- Check out the company website
When looking at a website for the first time, look around to see how the company presents itself and makes its customers feel. Make sure that you’re comfortable with how it’s laid out and what information is readily available for you to get answers about the company. If possible, see a sample list of projects they completed if they have one.
- Ask the technician to show you around the work site
If you’re thinking about hiring an HVAC contractor, ask them to take you on a tour of their current jobsites and show you how the systems are running. Check out their scheduled projects and be sure that they’re still being worked on by saying what your budget is for the project. If there are no projects listed, it could mean that they aren’t in business anymore. You can also check around to see if other contractors are already working on your particular job or even check with another heating contractor nearby who has it scheduled prior to going with that heating engineer.
- Ask around for referrals
The best way to find out if a heating engineer is worth your time is by asking other people who have used them in the past. If they seem like they may be difficult or difficult to communicate with, don’t hesitate to move on. Other heating engineers are also great resources, since they can give you an inside scoop on how the contractor works and what kind of services he or she provides. If the contractor seems too eager for the job, find another one!
- Ask to see the equipment they use
Heating engineers who have been in business for a while usually have their own equipment and will bring all of it to your site. Make sure that the professional you’re considering is using only state-of-the-art equipment, and has at least one person on staff that is highly skilled in repairing it. A heating engineer who refuses to show you the equipment may not be telling you something about their methods, so move on to another contractor.