Steve Bogner, owner of Bogner’s All Air, Inc. in Scotts Valley, says he’s seen the HVAC business change considerably over the last 40 years. The technology has become much more complex and consumer information has grown considerably. “Today’s furnaces and air conditioning units operate differently than the furnaces of the old days. It used to be that homeowners just needed to know how to turn them on and off, but now they have variable speeds, blower motors and different equipment classes that are part of new product lines. Most homeowners don't know what any of these things are, so it's important for the industry to educate them.”
HVAC manufacturers have used technology to increase the efficiency and performance of their products. But as technology has become more complex, manufacturers have become increasingly concerned with the quality and training of the firms that sell, install and maintain their systems. Manufacturer-sponsored training has, over the last 10 to 15 years, become the chief mechanism for quality control in the industry. Therefore, it’s important for homeowners to look at the training and certification the contractor has undergone.
“The other big change has been the Internet,” says Mr. Bogner, “Homeowners can educate themselves and compare manufacturers and contractors.” But heating and air conditioning systems are complex, and even with the Internet, homeowners usually can’t come to a final decision without some help. At best, the Internet can tell them what questions to ask and what criteria to use when evaluating a system or contractor.
It still takes a professional to design an HVAC system to meet the needs of a particular house. “The highest priced system isn't always the right one,” says Mr. Bogner. “A good contractor will have a full range of products available. And it’s not just about the systems. You need to judge the desired air quality. If any of your family members have allergies or asthma, you should get a higher grade of filtration.”
Mr. Bogner believes contractors should ask questions as well. “We can better analyze customers’ needs if we have the answers to everything related to their homes.”
