Buying an air conditioner or a heat pump is not like buying an appliance. Sizing the unit means reading the house: its ventilation, its electrical service, its insulation, its layout. Get that wrong and a good machine underperforms for its entire life, which is why the contractor matters at least as much as the equipment, and why a few checks are worth making before you sign anything. Our air conditioner buyer’s guide covers the equipment side of the same decision.
Start with the licence. In Quebec, this work requires a Régie du bâtiment du Québec licence, and the number is public. Ask for it and look it up. Membership in the CMMTQ or the CMEQ, the provincial corporations for mechanical and electrical contractors, is a second signal worth asking about. Allard & Emond holds RBQ licence 5588-4639-01 and both memberships, listed on our about page. Any contractor should be able to answer this question in one sentence.
A good contractor assesses before quoting. Be wary of a price given over the phone. Analysing the ventilation system, the electrical installation and everything else a unit needs to run properly takes a visit and real knowledge, and installing and servicing a central system is specialist work. Someone quoting without looking is guessing, and you will pay for the guess later.
Judge how they communicate. Skill and experience are the baseline. What separates a good contractor from an adequate one is everything around it: clear explanations, prompt and relevant answers, flexibility, and being reachable when you need them. Nothing is more frustrating than buying a system that does not meet your actual needs, and that outcome usually traces back to someone who did not listen at the start.
Read the warranty, and ask who honours it. Efficient as they are, air conditioners and heat pumps are machines and machines fail. Ask what the warranty covers on parts and on labour, how long each runs, and who you call. A warranty is only as good as the company standing behind it, which is also why regular maintenance matters: most manufacturers expect the system to be serviced, and we recommend two visits a year.
On price and honesty about savings. Price decides most purchases, and a good supplier’s job is to offer the right solution at a fair price and to be straight about what it will actually save you. Be careful with anyone promising savings without having seen your house, and check what qualifies for government rebates, because that can change which option is cheapest overall.
Our advisors will look at your home before recommending anything, and our range covers cooling, heat pumps and heating from the leading brands. Get in touch or request an estimate online and we will come back to you quickly.
