Forsyth County has grown fast, and so has the number of HVAC companies advertising in Cumming. Most homeowners only call one when something is already broken, which is the worst time to compare. This checklist is what we would tell a friend or neighbor before they let anyone work on their system, whether they call us or not.
1. A Georgia license and insurance
Heating and air conditioning work in Georgia requires a state conditioned air contractor license. Ask for the license number and look it up on the Georgia Secretary of State licensing site before the visit. Ask for proof of liability insurance too. A legitimate company will give you both without hesitation.
2. Recent reviews, read the right way
Look at Google reviews from the last year, not just the star rating. Read the three- and four-star reviews: they tell you how a company handles a problem. The best reviews mention specific things, such as the technician explaining what failed, showing photos, or fixing something another company missed.
3. A written price before work starts
You should know the diagnostic fee before anyone arrives, and you should have a written price before any repair begins. Our diagnostic is $89, and it is added to the repair price, so you never pay twice. If a company will only give prices in person, or the price changes after the work is done, keep looking.
4. How the technicians are paid
Many companies pay technicians a commission on what they sell. That is how a $200 capacitor turns into a recommendation for a new system. Ask directly: "Are your technicians paid on commission?" Our technicians are paid hourly, so their advice is based on the equipment, not a sales target.
5. Honest repair-or-replace advice
A simple rule: multiply the age of the system by the repair price. Under $5,000, repairing usually makes sense. Over $5,000, especially on older equipment, it is worth comparing with a replacement. A good contractor gives you both numbers in writing and lets you decide.
6. For a new system: sizing, permits and warranty registration
- Load calculation. The size of a new system should come from a load calculation of your home, not from the size of the old unit or a guess.
- Permit and inspection. Most system replacements need a county permit and inspection. Ask who pulls the permit and who meets the inspector.
- Warranty registration. Most manufacturers give a 10-year parts warranty only when the equipment is registered after installation. Ask who registers it and when.
- Options in writing. You should be able to compare more than one option, with the price of each, before you decide.
7. Hours and extra fees
Ask what evenings, Saturdays and travel cost. Some companies add overtime or trip fees that never show up in the advertised price. We work Monday through Saturday, 8 AM to 6 PM, with no overtime fees and the same prices in Cumming, Alpharetta, Milton, Roswell and Johns Creek.
Red flags
- Pressure to replace the system on the first visit, before anything has been tested.
- "Today only" prices or discounts that expire before you can think it over.
- No written price, or a price that changes after the work is done.
- A new system quoted by matching the old unit's size, with no load calculation.
- No license number, or reluctance to show proof of insurance.
Questions to ask on the phone
1. What is your license number? 2. What does the diagnostic cost, and is it added to the repair? 3. Are your technicians paid on commission? 4. What warranty comes with repairs and with new systems? 5. Do evenings or Saturdays cost extra? 6. Will I get a written price before any work starts?
How Cool Season answers them
We are a family-owned, licensed and insured company based in Cumming, serving the area since 2017 and rated 5.0 from 61 Google reviews. The diagnostic is $89 and is added to the repair, technicians are paid hourly, repairs carry a 1-year parts and labor guarantee, and new systems come with the manufacturer's 10-year parts warranty, registered for you, plus our 1-year labor warranty. You can see our prices on the FAQ page and read what customers say on our reviews page.