NATE certification isn’t a requirement to work in the home heating and air conditioning business. The technicians who’ve achieved this milestone have gone above and beyond to earn recognition of their knowledge and skills in this highly specialized and technical field.
Employing NATE-certified technicians offers many advantages to our customers. NATE is a mark of quality that ensures all of our certified technicians understand the most important issues in their specialty. They’ve all taken the time to learn and master their areas of specialization. Hiring a NATE-certified technician offers several benefits. Below are eleven of the most significant ones.
1. Complete Annual Maintenance
When you call for annual maintenance to your unit, our NATE-certified technicians will do more than simply change a filter and clean off your system. NATE certification ensures our technicians have complete knowledge of annual maintenance procedures that can help you keep your HVACR systems running at peak efficiency. Technicians can look for signs of any potential problems and suggest minor repairs that head off major repairs down the line.
2. Efficient, Fast Service
With a thoroughly trained technician, time isn’t wasted trying to diagnose a common problem. Our NATE-certified technicians know exactly where to look and what to do to install and maintain your HVACR systems so they run efficiently.
3. Fewer Warranty Claims
Homeowners who insist on using NATE-certified technicians for their HVACR installation and service make fewer warranty claims than homeowners who don’t. This is because a certified technician is knowledgeable on the most efficient ways to install and maintain all of your home’s HVAC systems.
4. Great Advice
NATE certification ensures our technicians know what they’re talking about. They can go over your service and installation options with you. When they make recommendations, you’ll see how knowledgeable they are.
5. Knowledgeable Techs
To earn a NATE certification, technicians need to have learned their area of expertise thoroughly. You can be assured they’ve learned all the most important points in their field of service and installation.
6. More Comfortable Rooms
Trust your home to a NATE-certified technician, and they’ll make sure your rooms are within your comfort zone. Avoid hot spots and cool zones by insisting on a certified technician who’s been specially trained in maximizing not only efficiency but also comfort for you and your family.
7. Safety First
NATE-certified technicians have been tested on important safety procedures in their specific installation and service field. You’ll know that electricity, torches, potentially hazardous materials, and other safety hazards will be handled by a professional who’s been trained on what to do for maximum safety.
8. Save Money
Did you know that proper installation and maintenance of your home’s HVACR equipment saves you money? Systems that are installed right the first time and expertly maintained run more efficiently, saving you money on their everyday operation as well as heading off any potentially costly repairs. In some locations, your home may even be eligible for tax credits or refunds when you make upgrades that improve energy efficiency; check with your tax professional for further details.
9. Technicians Have Practical Experience
Each NATE-certified technician has had enough real-world experience to have a solid practical understanding of HVAC service and installation. In fact, on average, NATE-certified technicians tend to stay in the HVACR profession longer than installers and service technicians who haven’t earned the same certificate.
10. They Do It Right the First Time
We understand your time is valuable. You don’t want to have a repair or service done, only to have to call the technician back for a second or third visit. NATE-certified technicians receive fewer call-backs than their non-certified counterparts. With a NATE-certified technician, you can rest assured the job will be done efficiently.
11. They Do the Math
Every NATE-certified technician has passed a background math and science knowledge exam. This knowledge is critical in heating, air conditioning, and indoor air quality, when the size of each room and the layout of your home and its duct work determine which equipment will give you the best results. When our NATE-certified technicians help you choose a heater or air conditioner for your home, you can be sure they’ve done the math to recommend the system that’s just right for your home’s size and layout.
NATE certification makes for more qualified, expert technicians. Expert technicians make for more satisfied customers. Not every service technician has what it takes to devote the time and study needed to pass the NATE-certification exams.
What Is NATE Certification?
NATE stands for North American Technician Excellence (NATE). The name belongs to a non-profit organization founded in 1997 in Arlington, Virginia. NATE certifies technicians in a specialty area within either HVACR Installation or HVACR Service. These specialties include:
- Air conditioning
- Air distribution
- Commercial refrigeration (Service only)
- Gas heating
- Gas hydronics (Service only)
- Ground source heat pump installer
- Heat pumps
- Light commercial refrigeration (service only)
- Oil heating
- Oil hydronics (service only)
- Senior-level efficiency analyst
Before becoming NATE certified, a technician has to pass two specialized exams. The first exam, known as the Core Exam, covers these basic areas of HVACR knowledge:
- Achieving desired conditions
- Basic construction
- Basic electrical
- Safety
- Taking temperature and humidity measurements
- Tools
- Using basic science
Each core exam is tailored to the area of expertise that the contractor specializes in. The Installation Specialty exams are given in air conditioning, air distribution, air-to-air heat pump, or gas heating. Other specialties listed above fall under service.
To pass the second exam, a technician has to be trained by a NATE-approved trainer who uses NATE’s Knowledge Areas of Technician Expertise. Only technicians who master this technical knowledge can earn an HVAC Support Technician certificate.
For technicians who want to master an even more comprehensive HVACR knowledge base, NATE offers the CHP-5 certification. It covers these five areas:
- Comfort and airflow
- Electrical and controls
- HVAC fundamentals
- Installation
- Service
In addition to passing these two exams, a NATE-certified technician has to keep up with re-certification requirements. Techs are required to be re-certified every two years. Each re-certification helps ensure they stay up-to-date on all the latest technologies and processes.
Contact Huft Home Services in Sacramento
When you need HVAC services Sacramento, CA and the surrounding areas, Huft Home Services is here for you. You want the most professional service available when an HVAC technician visits your home. That’s why we prefer to hire NATE-certified technicians.
Air conditioning services, heating services, and plumbing services are some of our specialties, and with a NATE-certified technician, you’ll always know that the tech we send to your home knows these areas backward and forward. When you need air conditioning, home heating, or plumbing services in the Sacramento, CA area, think of Huft Home Services first.
In addition to our reliable and skilled NATE-certified technicians, we have a wide range of professionals ready to meet your needs with fast, efficient, quality service in your price range. Contact us to learn more about our full range of HVACR services, plus plumbing, electrical, indoor air quality, and even more; we are happy to help you.
