Get Quotes from Top HVAC Contractors in Jacksonville, FL

Questions to Ask Before Hiring an HVAC Contractor in Jacksonville

According to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the energy efficiency of your heating, cooling, and ventilating system typically reduces when there are system issues like leaks, insufficient attic insulation, clogged drains, and bad heat exchanger. With Jacksonville residents paying 12.4¢/kWh, these issues increase your electricity bill significantly. However, hiring a good HVAC technician to install, maintain, and repair the heating and cooling system issues can boost the energy efficiency of this equipment by 30 percent, thereby saving you a lot of money.

Though, you can find competent HVAC contractors in Jacksonville by getting referrals from associates or searching online directories, ensure to ask the following questions to hire the most qualified contractor:

Are You Licensed to Practice as an HVAC Contractor in Jacksonville?

Professionals, technicians, and individuals who intend to provide HVAC-related services in Jacksonville must obtain the appropriate certificate from the Construction Trades Qualifying Board. HVAC-related certifications issued by the Construction Trades Qualifying Board include mechanical contractor certificate, master HAR mechanic certificate, journeyman HAR mechanic certificate, installer HAR mechanic certificate, and HAR contractor certificate. Failure to obtain the appropriate HVAC-related certificate before installing, repairing or maintaining a heating, ventilating, refrigerating, and air conditioning system may attract an administrative fine of up to $1,000. Additionally, this may lead to disqualification from applying for a contractor certificate for two years.

To obtain a certificate from the Construction Trades Qualifying Board, interested persons shall apply on the appropriate form prescribed by the Board. The application shall include the name and address of the applicant together with a notarized statement that the applicant is legally qualified to perform and supervise HVAC-related work. Applicants must submit the completed form to:

Construction Trades Qualifying Board
Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources
Room 207
11805 SouthWest, 26th Street
Miami, Florida 33175-2474

While the requirements for obtaining any of the aforementioned HVAC-related certifications vary by certification type, applicants are generally required to be above the age of 18, and must have adequate experience and training in HVAC-related trades. Applicants are additionally required to pass a state-approved examination, provide proof of financial responsibility, insurance compliance, and tax receipt indicating payment of the application fee. Interested individuals can contact the Construction Trades Qualifying Board at (904) 630-2657 to make inquiries concerning the requirements for obtaining their desired HVAC certificate.

Residents can also contact the aforementioned telephone number to confirm if the individual that they intend to hire is certified and eligible to do their work.

How Much Do You Charge Compared to Other HVAC Contractors in Jacksonville?

The hourly cost of hiring HVAC technicians in Jacksonville is dependent on factors like the nature of the work, the cost of materials required to complete the work, and the contractor's experience and local reputation. Considering how a change in any of the aforementioned factors may influence charges for HVAC work, it is always good to have a general idea about your project. You can achieve this by comparing estimates from different HVAC contractors. This will help you hire the right person and ensure that you do not fall victim to unscrupulous individuals who inflate their work prices.

An HVAC Contractor in Jacksonville earns an annual average wage of $49,340. The table below provides a cost comparison of the mean hourly wages for HVAC contractors in Jacksonville City against those of HVAC Contractors in the rest of Florida State as well as other major cities in the United States:

Jacksonville City HVAC Contractors Mean Hourly Wage
$23.72
Florida HVAC Contractors Mean Hourly Wage
$21.85
Los Angeles HVAC Contractors Mean Hourly Wage
$31.31
Chicago HVAC Contractors Mean Hourly Wage
$29.31
Houston HVAC Contractors Mean Hourly Wage
$26.40
Detroit HVAC Contractors Mean Hourly Wage
$24.55
Philadelphia HVAC Contractors Mean Hourly Wage
$28.80
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Do You Comply with Jacksonville Building Code for HVAC Work?

Hiring a professional, technician, or home improvement worker that is conversant with Jacksonville Mechanical Code to handle your HVAC-related work can help you avoid unnecessary fines and sanctions that are likely to result from Code violations. The city's Mechanical Code regulates the materials and equipment used in the installation, repair, maintenance, and alteration of appliances connected to heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and refrigerating systems within or adjacent to a building. Generally, it regulates HVAC-related works and projects. The Jacksonville Mechanical Code also establishes the minimum requirements for performing HVAC installation, repair, and maintenance. Note that violating any section of the Mechanical Code is also a violation of the city's Construction Trades Regulation punishable by a fine of up to $1,000. You can contact the Building Inspection Division at (904) 255-8500 to ask questions concerning both the city's Mechanical Code and the Construction Trades Regulations.

Will You Get the HVAC Permits as Required by Jacksonville Code?

Anyone who intends to perform HVAC-related work in Jacksonville must first apply for and obtain the appropriate permit for carrying out such work. Failure to obtain the necessary permits before performing HVAC-related work for which a permit is required can lead to the payment of twice the amount of the regular permit fees. In addition to this, starting a home improvement work without a permit is punishable by a fine of $250.

However, not all HVAC-related work requires a permit. HVAC-related work exempt from permit includes connection of portable equipment such as portable heating appliances, portable ventilation equipment, and portable evaporative coolers, and fixing self-contained refrigeration systems containing 10 pounds or less of refrigerant. Note that works exempt from permits still require approval of the Building Official and such approval is usually granted when the Building Official determines that such work will comply with the requirements of the city's Construction Trades Regulations. You can contact the city's Building Inspection Division at (904) 255-8500 to find out whether your HVAC work requires a permit or not.

Jacksonville Building Inspection Division handles the issuance of all kinds of home improvement work permits, including HVAC-related work. To obtain a permit for HVAC-related work, certified contractors must provide details of the work, and must submit plans and specifications where required. Once the necessary information about the work including the appropriate plans are submitted, the Building Inspection Division will review the application and may issue a permit. Where permits are issued, note that the permit will only be authenticated by payment of the permit fees. Applications for HVAC-related work permits can be made online, or in person at:

Building Inspection Division
Jacksonville
214 North Hogan Street
Jacksonville, Florida 32202

Besides the issuance of home improvement permits, Jacksonville also carries out inspections on HVAC-related works where necessary. Contractors can schedule an inspection as the construction work progresses. The name and phone numbers of an inspector assigned to an HVAC work are usually indicated on the permit authorizing the work and inspections can be scheduled by calling the inspector's telephone number. Alternatively, certified contractors can schedule inspections online. Common HVAC-related work inspections in Dallas include ductwork inspections, air conditioning equipment inspections, and heating equipment inspections. For further inquiries concerning permits and inspections, interested persons can contact the city's Building Inspection Division at (904) 255-8500.

What Kind of HVAC Services Do You Offer?

Before hiring any professional for your HVAC-related work, you should confirm whether the individual has the requisite skills and experience to provide the services you need. Considering that HVAC-related jobs involve different equipment and systems including air conditioning systems and refrigerating systems, you should ask the individual that you intend to hire about their experience and expertise. In addition, you should find out this contractor's charge rate so you can properly budget for the project.

Provided below are average cost estimates for common HVAC services in Jacksonville City:

Air conditioner installation
$3,300 - $4,500 (for two - three-ton units)
Air conditioner repair
$77 - $90 (for central ac tune-up)
Ductwork installation
$2,000 - $4,300
Central air purifier installation
$876 - $1,300 (for standard grade unit in a typical two-story home)
Central air purifier repair
$95 - $115 per hour (labor only)
Electric baseboard/wall heater installation
$230 - $350 per heater
Forced air furnace installation
$1,300 - $2,500 (for 80,000 - 100,000 btu electric furnace)
Forced air furnace installation
$1,500 - $4,500 (for 80,000 - 100,000 btu gas furnace)
Forced air furnace tune-up
$110 - $150
House humidifier installation
$342 - $420 (for flow-through mid-grade central humidifier)
Thermostat installation
$116 - $135 per hour (for mid-grade programmable thermostat)
Window air conditioner unit installation
$209 - $240 (for 5,000 btu unit)

Do You Offer Emergency HVAC Services in Jacksonville?

HVAC emergencies occur when any of your heating, ventilating, refrigerating, or air conditioning systems suddenly develops a fault that requires immediate attention. Common HVAC-related emergencies include, but are not limited to, frozen evaporator coil, bad heat exchanger, refrigerant leaks, and fan malfunctions. Once you discover an HVAC-related emergency in your home, you should contact a certified professional as soon as possible. This will reduce the impact of the fault on other parts of the equipment. In addition to preventing further damages to your HVAC system, performing emergency HVAC installation or repair can help you avoid energy wastage, which usually increases your utility bill. With residents of Jacksonville paying up to $9.25 for electricity monthly, mitigating such energy wastage is crucial.

However, when seeking a professional for emergency HVAC-related services, you should always ensure that the individual is competent and certified to handle the emergency. To make sure of this, you can find competent and certified HVAC technicians by exploring several online resources. These include directories provided by reputable trade associations like the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association and Air Conditioning Contractors of America. You can also find qualified HVAC technicians on third-party websites such as Better Business Bureau and Yelp. However, you should always ensure that the contractor you intend to hire from any of the aforementioned third-party websites is certified. You can confirm this by contacting the Construction Trades Qualifying Board at (904) 630-2657.

Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for HVAC Contractors in Jacksonville?

Jacksonville contractors are required by the State of Florida to carry general liability, workers' compensation, and employer's liability insurance before they can provide home improvement or construction-related services. Before hiring an HVAC technician near you, it is crucial to find out if they are insured as this will protect you from claims that may result from work accidents during your HVAC installation and repair. You can confirm your HVAC contractor's insurance status by requesting for their insurance certificate and further confirming from the issuing company. Similarly, you can confirm your contractor's workers' compensation insurance by calling the Florida Division of Workers' Compensation Compliance at (850) 488-2333.

Residents of Jacksonville must understand that work accidents may occur at any time during their home improvement work. Therefore, it is always important to hire a contractor that is duly insured. This is particularly essential considering that the construction industry recorded the second-highest number of work-related fatalities in Florida in 2019, with a total of 72 cases. 28 of these recorded cases involved installation, repair, and maintenance professionals.

How to File a Complaint Against a Bad HVAC Contractor in Jacksonville

HVAC installations and repairs require a lot of technical know-how, experience, and expertise. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that the individual you intend to hire is competent enough to do the job. In Jacksonville, there are lots of competent HVAC technicians that are always ready to provide you with the services you need. However, there are also many unscrupulous individuals looking for people to scam. According to a news release from the State's Office of the Attorney General, more than 100 homeowners got scammed by a contractor while trying to perform home improvement work like swimming pool installation on their properties. Considering the number of individuals a single contractor can scam across the state, it is crucial to be on the lookout for possible scammers. Unfortunately, home improvement scammers, including fraudulent HVAC technicians, employ various methods to steal from residents. These methods include performing shoddy and unnecessary work that will require repair soon, inflating the cost of repairs, purchasing inferior materials after billing for quality materials, and collecting money and not showing up to do the job. In another case reported around February 2020, two HVAC technicians collected $800 from an elderly woman to clean an air conditioner's duct system but refused to get the job done.

Listed below are common signs to help know that you are dealing with a fraudulent contractor:

  • The contractor tries to pressure you into making immediate repairs
  • The contractor tries to pressure you into agreeing to a deal and signing a contract without giving you time to read through the contract
  • The contractor makes you ridiculous offers
  • The contractor asks for a large deposit before starting the work
  • The contractor insists on cash payment only
  • The contractor fails to provide relevant references that you can confirm
  • The contractor fails to provide proof of insurance coverage

You can protect yourself from fraudulent HVAC contractors in Jacksonville City by taking the following steps:

  • Get two to three estimates from different contractors and ensure that each contractor submits a detailed bid for the work
  • Always ensure that your contractor is certified. You can contact the Construction Trades Qualifying Board at (904) 630-2657 to confirm your HVAC technician's certification status
  • Ensure that the contractor is insured. Ask for their insurance certificate and contact the insurance company that issued the certificate
  • Ask the contractor to provide references and check these references
  • Always ensure that the contractor has verifiable telephone numbers and office address
  • Ask for written contracts and do not sign a contract except you fully understand it
  • Avoid making full payment upfront. Also, try making payments with checks or credit cards, as these help with record-keeping
  • Always keep records and copies of documents related to the project
  • Do not make final payment until the work is completed and inspected

If you suspect an HVAC-related scam, report it to Jacksonville Citizen Active Response Effort Office by calling (904) 630-CITY(2489). You can also take further action by consulting with an attorney and filing the matter at the appropriate court. For matters involving a total amount of $8,000 or less, you can file a small claims case at the Duval County Small Claim Court.