It’s not always easy to assess how qualified the technicians you hire are. And when it comes to your HVAC system, you realize that whether it’s repairs or installations, a rather substantial expense might be involved. So how do you tell if the HVAC technician that comes to your home has all the right stuff? For starters, find out if he or she is NATE certified.
What Is NATE Certification?
NATE, an acronym for North American Technician Excellence, is a non-profit organization that certifies HVAC service or installation technicians by testing their industry knowledge. The exams test on topics relevant to contractors, manufacturers, utilities and educators. Tests are considered rigorous, and are designed to accurately assess the test taker’s knowledge of how to install and service equipment.
Candidates obtain NATE certification in one or more areas of specialization, including these:
- Air conditioning
- Air distribution
- Commercial refrigeration (service only)
- Gas heating
- Ground source heat pump loop installer
- Heat pumps
- Hydronics gas (service only)
- Hydronics oil (service only)
- Light commercial refrigeration (service only)
- Oil heating (service only)
- Senior HVAC efficiency analyst
Why NATE Was Established
NATE was established in 1997 as a result of concerns about the overall quality of service and installation skills among technicians in the HVAC industry. There was a growing consensus that technicians lacked adequate knowledge and experience. Consumers and contractors found themselves experiencing more callbacks and added costs, while manufacturers were experiencing returns of equipment that, while not defective, may have been installed improperly. Technical advisers were taking a barrage of service calls and installation questions about topics that the technicians should have known the answers to. Since the establishment of NATE certifications, there has been a drastic improvement in addressing these concerns.
NATE was established to be an independent organization, although it represents a coalition of distributors, contractors, manufacturers, utilities and trade associations.
Today there are more than 32,000 NATE-certified technicians providing top-of-the-line service and installations throughout the country.
For more on why hiring a technician who is NATE certified is a good idea, contact Ace Hardware Home Services of Dayton.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Dayton, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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