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Heating and cooling emergencies in Des Moines

Heating contractors and plumbers for breakdowns.

50 pros in Des Moines

Heating and cooling problems in Des Moines are shaped by a real winter and by the memory of a major storm. The National Weather Service Des Moines January summary puts the average daily temperature at 22.3°F, and the lowest daily average on record for January is -21, set on January 12, 1912. A furnace failure in that season is urgent, and frozen pipes can follow. The August 10, 2020 derecho left more than 280,000 MidAmerican Energy customers without power, a reminder that outages can also trigger heating and cooling trouble. When you hire, check that the person holds a licence from Iowa's Plumbing & Mechanical Systems Board, which covers HVAC, refrigeration, hydronic and sheet metal work; a service technician HVAC specialty licence is one type. Ask for the licence details in writing. If the job involves an installation in an existing home, ask who will pull the City of Des Moines mechanical permit.

Sources: MidAmerican Energy (source, opens in a new tab), National Weather Service Des Moines (source, opens in a new tab)

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Before you hire

  1. Have fuel-burning appliances such as a furnace or boiler inspected by a professional at least once a year.

    Source: canada.ca (source, opens in a new tab)

  2. Get written quotes from at least three contractors for the same work, and check references from recent clients.

    Source: ised-isde.canada.ca (source, opens in a new tab)

  3. Put it in a written contract: the work, price, deposit, start and finish dates, warranty, permits and clean-up. Paying cash to skip it leaves you no recourse.

    Source: ised-isde.canada.ca (source, opens in a new tab)

Questions about hiring in Des Moines

Who is allowed to repair a furnace or air conditioner in Iowa?

Iowa law bars anyone from installing or repairing HVAC, refrigeration, hydronic, plumbing or sheet metal systems without a licence from the state board. An owner may work on their own principal residence if it is an existing single-family-size dwelling, but a hired contractor needs a licence. Iowa Legislature (source, opens in a new tab)

What kinds of licence should I ask a heating and cooling company about?

The Plumbing & Mechanical Systems Board licenses HVAC, hydronic, refrigeration and sheet metal trades. Its licence types include a contractor licence and a service technician HVAC specialty licence. Ask to see the licence that fits the work being quoted, and note the number on your written quote. Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing (source, opens in a new tab)

Do I need a permit for a furnace or AC installation in Des Moines?

The City of Des Moines Permit and Development Center lists a mechanical permit for installations tied to alterations and additions to existing dwellings, and a separate one for new dwellings. Ask the contractor whether a permit applies and who will obtain it before work begins. City of Des Moines (source, opens in a new tab)

What should a quote for an emergency repair include?

Ask for a written quote naming the contractor's licence, the work to be done, parts, labour, any permit, and warranty terms. For an emergency you may have little time, but you can still compare two quotes by asking each to list the same items so they match.

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