Your HVAC system represents a big investment, and you want to be sure that whoever you hire to work on it or install it has the necessary skills and expertise to do the best job possible. It’s not always easy to tell the level of skill you’re paying for when you hire a contractor, but one of the best ways to do so in the HVAC industry is to see if the contractor’s technicians are NATE certified.
All About NATE
NATE, which stands for North American Technician Excellence, is an independent organization that represents a coalition of the various facets of the HVAC industry, including manufacturers, distributors, contractors, utilities and trade associations. It was established in 1997 to set standards of excellence for technicians in the industry by providing rigorous testing for certification. The tests are specifically designed to test applicants’ knowledge regarding service and installation of current HVAC equipment.
Candidates can become certified in one or more of the following areas of specialization:
- 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 Matters
Prior to 1997, the situation in the HVAC industry was one of concern that technicians lacked adequate experience and knowledge to provide satisfactory service. Industry leaders recognized that contractors were experiencing more callbacks, while consumers were reporting widespread dissatisfaction with equipment and installations. In many cases, the manufacturers would have to take back equipment that was not defective but that had been improperly installed. Technicians did not seem to know the answers to service and installation questions that should have been common knowledge. Once NATE was established and contractors nationwide began to participate in requiring certification of technicians, the situation improved markedly.
Currently there are more than 32,000 NATE certified technicians performing quality service and installations nationwide.
To learn more about NATE certified technicians, contact Jackson and Sons. We’re specialists in providing quality service in eastern North Carolina.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Eastern North Carolina (including Wayne, Johnston, Greene, Lenoir, Pitt and Duplin Counties) about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
Credit/Copyright Attribution: “geralt/Pixabay”
