Hiring guide
Before you hire an HVAC contractor in Washington
Washington does not leave contractor checks to guesswork. A registration lookup takes a minute and tells you a lot.
(509) 461-5781
Registration with L&I
Washington requires construction contractors, including those who repair or install equipment attached to a home, to register with the Department of Labor and Industries. State law makes it a gross misdemeanor for a contractor to advertise, offer to work, bid or work without being registered.
Contractor advertising that shows the contractor's name or address must also show the current registration number, with a narrow exception for radio and TV ads. So the number should be easy to find on a contractor's own truck, website or estimate.
Sources: RCW 18.27.010; RCW 18.27.020; RCW 18.27.100. A summary, not legal advice.
Check a contractor in a few minutes
Get the number
Ask for the Washington contractor registration number before anyone starts work.
Look it up
Enter it in L&I contractor verification. L&I says the tool shows license status, bond and insurance, safety and license history, including past lawsuits or violations.
Ask about electrical
HVAC work includes wiring. In Washington, electrical work needs an L&I electrician certificate, and HVAC/refrigeration is one of the specialty types.
Get it in writing
L&I suggests several written bids, checking references and a written contract you understand.
Questions worth asking on the phone
- Are you registered with L&I, and what is the number?
- Who will do the electrical part of the job?
- Who pulls the permit, and is the inspection part of the price?
- Will the bid list the exact equipment model?
- How do you handle a problem after the job is finished?
If something goes wrong
L&I's guidance points homeowners to its hiring a contractor pages, which cover bonds, insurance and the Homeowner Recovery Fund for eligible homeowners. Registration is not a promise of good work, but L&I notes it can give you protections you would not otherwise have.
Where this site fits
Spokane Furnace Repair is not a contractor and is not registered as one. It does not bid on or perform HVAC work. Calling the number reaches an independent contractor, and the checks above apply to that contractor like any other.
Cold house in Spokane? Talk to a contractor now.
Dial the number and explain what the heat or cooling is doing. The person who picks up runs an independent HVAC business working in Spokane and the towns nearby.