NATE (North American Technical Excellence) is a non-profit certification organization dedicated to maintaining high standards of knowledge and performance in the HVAC service industry. In order to become NATE-certified, an individual HVAC technician must pass a rigorous exam. This exam was created by a committee of industry experts to test technicians’ real-life working knowledge of the latest heating, cooling, ventilation, and refrigeration technology on the market today.
Next time you need assistance with your HVAC system, consider hiring a NATE-certified technician. When you use NATE-certified contractors, you can expect to receive the following benefits:
Improved Home Comfort
Because NATE-certified technicians are highly skilled in all aspects of service and installation, the units they handle simply work better. NATE-serviced units are much more likely to deliver even heating or cooling, which makes for superior home comfort. According to a survey conducted by NATE, customers who hire NATE-certified contractors report that their systems run more quietly and heat and cool better than the systems installed by non-certified contractors. In addition, the survey found that the overall satisfaction rate for clients of NATE-certified technicians is 20 percent higher than for clients of non-certified technicians.
Cost Savings
When heating and cooling systems are installed and maintained properly, they run at peak efficiency, resulting in lower utility bills for homeowners. Plus, because NATE-certified contractors are equipped with the knowledge needed to do things right on the first visit, you can also save money through fewer service visits. The NATE survey found that 74 percent of customers using NATE-certified technicians did not need to call back for additional service. Only 68 percent of customers using non-certified technicians were satisfied without a follow-up visit.
Peace of Mind
Perhaps the biggest benefit of having your HVAC unit installed or serviced by NATE-certified technicians is peace of mind. You know that your valuable new unit will be treated with care and installed correctly the very first time. Plus, you can rest assured that you are getting high-quality, honest advice from a certified technician. Once you hire a NATE-certified contactor, you’ll never go back!
Finding a NATE-Certified Contractor
If you already have an HVAC contractor that you enjoy working with, check with them to see if they have any NATE-certified technicians on staff. If they do, request that they send one of those technicians to service your system. It is necessary to specify, because many companies employ both certified and non-certified technicians. Certified technicians can be identified by the NATE patches they wear or by the official credential cards that they carry. Another option for finding a NATE-certified contractor is to visit the NATE website and use their zip-code-based contractor lookup tool.