A heating and cooling system is one of the most complex systems that can be found in a home. It's essential that the HVAC service provider you hire is well-trained to deal with the inherent safety issues in heating systems -- electricity, natural gas, oil -- or cooling units that use toxic refrigerants such as Freon.
Many states that license HVAC contractors require that the applicant have a minimum amount of on-the-job or training experience, typically 2 to 5 years, working with HVAC systems.
That experience is critical since an HVAC contractor will likely need to have a competent understanding of how things like electrical wiring, refrigerant and combustion systems, and airflow through heating ducts all work together to add heating or cooling comfort to a home. Not only is comfort important, but safety is critical – knowing the proper operation of home ventilation and exhaust systems when working with a furnace can be the key to prevent death or injury from events like carbon monoxide poisoning, which can occur if an HVAC system is malfunctioning or improperly installed.