I have been doing HVAC work in the Kelso and Longview area for 17 years. I started this company because I wanted to do the work right and stand behind it. That means I have also seen the aftermath of jobs that were not done right, and I know how much it costs homeowners when they hire the wrong person.

This post is going to give you what I would want my own family to know when hiring someone for a significant HVAC project. None of it requires any technical knowledge. It is mostly about verification and asking the right questions.

Start With Licensing

In Washington State, HVAC contractors must be registered with the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) and hold a valid electrical license (06A for journey-level HVAC and refrigeration work). They must also be bonded and carry liability insurance.

These are not suggestions. They are legal requirements. An unlicensed contractor who does HVAC work cannot pull permits, which means the work is not inspected, which means it may not be done to code, which can create problems when you sell your home or make an insurance claim.

How to verify: Go to secure.lni.wa.gov/verify and search by contractor name or business name. The database shows their current registration status, bond, insurance, and any safety violations or complaints. It takes two minutes and tells you a lot.

Contractors should also hold EPA certification for refrigerant handling. Ask for it.

NATE Certification

NATE stands for North American Technician Excellence. It is the largest nonprofit certification organization for HVAC technicians in the country, and it requires passing rigorous exams with a score of 70 percent or higher. Certification must be renewed every two years with ongoing training.

Washington does not require NATE certification, but it matters because it shows a technician has been independently verified as competent, not just self-described as competent. When someone tells you they have been doing this for years but cannot show you credentials, that is less reassuring than it sounds.

Manufacturer Authorization

If a contractor is proposing a specific brand of equipment, ask whether they are an authorized dealer for that brand. This matters in a few ways.

First, authorized dealers receive brand-specific training on the equipment they install. That training affects installation quality. An improperly installed heat pump from a premium brand will underperform a correctly installed one.

Second, most manufacturers require installation by a licensed HVAC contractor to keep the warranty valid. Some require installation by an authorized dealer. If the equipment is installed by someone who does not meet the manufacturer’s requirements, you may discover your warranty is void when you need it most.

I am a Bosch authorized dealer. That means I have completed Bosch’s training requirements and meet their installation standards. It also means I can support warranty claims directly.

Ask About the Load Calculation

This is the question that separates serious contractors from those who are just guessing.

Before any contractor recommends equipment, they should perform a Manual J load calculation. This is the industry-standard method for calculating exactly how much heating and cooling capacity your home actually needs. It accounts for square footage, ceiling height, insulation quality, window types and orientation, local climate, and construction materials.

A contractor who skips the load calculation and sizes equipment by rule of thumb (often just square footage) is guessing. Oversized equipment short-cycles: it fires up, quickly reaches temperature, and shuts off before completing a full conditioning cycle. This wastes energy, creates humidity problems, and wears out components faster. Undersized equipment runs constantly and still cannot keep up.

Either outcome costs you money.

Ask every contractor you talk to: “Will you perform a Manual J load calculation before recommending equipment size? Can you share the results?” A good contractor will say yes without hesitation. A contractor who deflects or says it is not necessary is telling you something important.

What a Good Written Estimate Looks Like

Get everything in writing before any work begins. A professional estimate should include:

  • The exact brand and model number of equipment being proposed
  • The efficiency ratings (HSPF2 for heat pumps, AFUE for furnaces, SEER2 for cooling)
  • The system capacity in BTUs
  • A reference to the load calculation that informed the sizing
  • Separate line items for equipment, labor, and materials
  • A clear description of what is and is not included in the scope of work
  • The contractor’s L&I license number
  • Warranty terms for both equipment and labor
  • Payment terms (a legitimate contractor should not require more than 30 percent upfront)

If an estimate is a single number with no breakdown, ask for more detail. If the contractor is unwilling to provide it, take that as a signal.

Red Flags

These are the things that should make you pause and ask more questions or move on:

  • Cannot or will not provide their L&I license number
  • Gives a verbal quote without putting anything in writing
  • Wants full payment before work starts
  • Recommends equipment without asking about your home’s square footage, insulation, or existing system
  • Skips the load calculation entirely
  • Pressures you to decide immediately or claims the price is only good for today
  • Has no physical business address or has been operating under a different business name recently
  • Dismisses your questions rather than answering them

None of these individually means a contractor is dishonest. But several of them together should send you to the next name on your list.

Questions to Ask Before You Hire

Here is a list you can actually use:

  1. Are you registered with Washington L&I? What is your license number?
  2. Do you hold EPA certification for refrigerant handling?
  3. Are you NATE-certified?
  4. Are you an authorized dealer for the equipment you are recommending?
  5. Will you perform a Manual J load calculation? Can I see the results?
  6. Can you provide a written itemized estimate?
  7. What warranty do you offer on your labor, separate from the manufacturer warranty?
  8. How long has your company been operating in this area?
  9. Can you provide references from recent installations in Cowlitz County?
  10. How do you handle rebate paperwork for Cowlitz PUD or the state HEAR program?

You do not have to ask all of these. But asking even half of them will quickly separate the contractors who know what they are doing from the ones who do not.

One Last Thing

The cheapest bid is not always the worst choice and the most expensive is not always the best. What you are looking for is someone who is licensed, insured, technically qualified, and willing to be transparent about what they are recommending and why.

If you are in Kelso, Longview, Kalama, Castle Rock, Woodland, or the surrounding area and want a second opinion on a quote you have received, or just want to understand your options before you start calling anyone, I am happy to talk it through. No pressure.