Most people don’t really know what the difference is between a “HVAC Contractor,” and a HVAC Repairman. Frankly, it’s because there isn’t much of a difference.

As an example, if you took two repairman, “Repairman A and Repairman B.”

Both Repairman are licensed and insured, and both repairman have been repairing air conditioners since the 1960’s.

Repairman A pays his insurance company to cover his Errors & Omissions Insurance.

Repairman B pays the state of Arizona. Repairman B is the “HVAC Contractor.”

And so you might think that sending money to the state is good, and it can be. Except  this isn’t the only difference, the repairman are equally skilled, but the “Contractor” must take tests, which cost money, and pay licensing fees, which cost money. And pay dues, which cost money. And in the end, these fees get passed on to the customer.

When you go with a Contractor, you will have the peace of mind of knowing that your repairman is good at taking tests and paying fees. But you will also have a larger repair bill.

If money isn’t a concern for you, then a contractor may be the logical choice for you. But if you’re like the rest of us, then we recomend going with the Traditional Repairman. Of course, you’ll want to do your homework. You’ll want to ask about experience and pricing, and you’ll want to know that they’ll have the parts on hand to do the job. But, all things being equal, the right repairman should offer the same experience at a better price.