Local directory
HVAC Contractors
Heating, cooling and refrigeration contractors for service, replacement and duct work.
- Metro areas
- 51
- Listings
- 0
- States
- 31
The directory is still being built
There are no hvac contractors listed yet. We publish a listing only where the organization asked to be listed, or where every field came from a public licence register, and building that takes longer than scraping names into a page.
What the metro pages carry today is local cost adjustment, licensing requirements and the verification steps worth running before you hire. Listing is free and there is no paid placement.
What hvac contractors are licensed to do
EPA Section 608 is required nationwide to handle refrigerant. Many states add a separate HVAC contractor or mechanical license.
Install, service and troubleshoot the heating, cooling, ventilation and refrigeration systems buildings depend on.
Verify before hiring
- Licence number, current and correctly classified
- Certificate of insurance sent by the insurer
- Written scope with exclusions stated
- Who pulls the permit, in writing
What this directory covers
HVAC is two trades wearing one jacket: the refrigeration side is federally regulated, and the mechanical contracting side is state-regulated. A technician can legally change your filter without EPA credentials, but the moment refrigerant leaves the cylinder, Section 608 certification is required nationwide.
Replacement sizing, duct design and combustion safety are where most expensive mistakes happen — not in the hourly service rate. The sections below cover scope, federal credentials and the verification questions worth asking before someone opens your refrigerant circuit or your gas valve.
Trade context reviewed September 2026. Licensing rules vary by state — verify on the board lookup for your metro.
Typically in licence scope
- Air conditioner and heat pump service, repair and replacement
- Furnace and boiler service, repair and replacement
- Duct repair, sealing and limited modification
- Thermostat and control upgrades, including smart thermostats
- Refrigeration service on residential and light commercial equipment
Usually outside scope
- Balancing and design of commercial building automation without the appropriate licence class
- Industrial refrigeration plant work — often a separate credential and trade
- Asbestos abatement if duct work disturbs old insulation — requires EPA-certified abatement
- Major duct redesign that changes structure — may require engineering and a building permit beyond HVAC
Federal credentials that apply
EPA Section 608 Technician Certification
Required nationwide before purchasing or handling refrigerant. Four types: Type I (small appliances), Type II (high-pressure), Type III (low-pressure) and Universal. Venting refrigerant to atmosphere is a federal violation regardless of state rules.
Common jobs and what they should cost
National planning ranges from our cost guides. Apply the labor index on each metro page before using them as a local benchmark.
Cost guides
- HVAC System ReplacementReplacing a residential furnace, air conditioner or heat pump, including installation and startup.
- Air Conditioner RepairDiagnosing and repairing a residential air conditioning system that is not cooling properly.
- Mini-Split InstallationInstalling a ductless mini-split heat pump system with one or more wall-mounted or ceiling heads.
- Ductwork ReplacementRemoving and replacing deteriorated, undersized, or leaking supply and return ductwork in a home.
- Heat Pump ConversionConverting a gas furnace and AC system to a heat pump for year-round heating and cooling.
- Furnace ReplacementReplacing a gas or propane furnace while keeping the existing air conditioning system.
- AC Refrigerant RechargeDiagnosing a refrigerant leak, repairing it, and recharging the system to the correct charge level.
- Thermostat InstallationInstalling or replacing a thermostat, including smart Wi-Fi models with HVAC system integration.
Diagnose before you call
- Air Conditioner Not CoolingWork through the causes of an air conditioner that runs but does not cool, ordered from most to least likely.
- Furnace Not HeatingDiagnose a gas furnace that will not fire, short cycles, or blows cold air, starting with what you can safely check.
- Furnace Short CyclingA furnace that turns on and off every few minutes instead of running a full heating cycle — what causes it and what each fix costs.
- AC Freezing UpIce on your AC lines or evaporator coil — why it happens, what to do right now, and what the underlying repair costs.
- AC Blowing Warm AirYour air conditioner runs but the air from the vents is warm — work through the causes from cheapest to most expensive.
- Furnace Blowing Cold AirThe furnace runs but the air from your vents is cold or lukewarm — diagnose the cause before calling for an expensive repair.
- Furnace Blower Won't Stop RunningThe furnace blower runs continuously even when heating or cooling is not called — find out why and what it costs to fix.
- Thermostat Screen BlankA blank thermostat display usually means no power to the device — work through the causes before assuming the whole system has failed.
Red flags before you sign
Replacement quoted without a load calculation or room measurement
Oversized equipment short-cycles and removes humidity poorly; undersized equipment runs continuously and dies early. A replacement quote on square footage alone, with no load calculation or detailed measurement, is a guess billed as engineering.
Refrigerant added without leak search
Refrigerant is not consumed in normal operation. If the system is low, there is a leak. Adding refrigerant without locating and repairing the leak is not a repair — it is a recurring charge.
Combustion appliance serviced with no CO discussion
Furnace and boiler work affects carbon monoxide risk. A service visit that does not mention combustion analysis, heat exchanger inspection or CO alarms is incomplete on any gas appliance.
Cannot produce Section 608 credentials
Ask for the technician's EPA 608 card or certificate before they connect a refrigerant cylinder. Handling refrigerant without it is a federal violation.
Verification checklist
- Confirm state mechanical or HVAC contractor licence on the board lookup.
- Ask to see EPA Section 608 certification before any refrigerant work.
- For replacement, ask whether a Manual J load calculation or equivalent is included.
- Request line-item separation of equipment, labor, refrigerant, disposal and permit fees.
- Confirm who pulls the mechanical permit and whether inspection is included.
Common questions
Do HVAC technicians need a licence?
How often should HVAC equipment be serviced?
Is a permit required to replace an air conditioner?
What is the difference between a service call and a replacement quote?
Largest metro areas
Percentages show local labor cost against the national median — the adjustment worth applying to any national estimate before you use it.
- HVAC Contractors in New YorkNew York · 8,258,035 residents+29%
- HVAC Contractors in Los AngelesCalifornia · 3,820,914 residents+22%
- HVAC Contractors in ChicagoIllinois · 2,664,452 residents+14%
- HVAC Contractors in HoustonTexas · 2,314,157 residents-4%
- HVAC Contractors in PhoenixArizona · 1,650,070 residents-2%
- HVAC Contractors in PhiladelphiaPennsylvania · 1,550,542 residents+11%
- HVAC Contractors in San AntonioTexas · 1,495,295 residents-8%
- HVAC Contractors in San DiegoCalifornia · 1,388,320 residents+19%
- HVAC Contractors in DallasTexas · 1,302,868 residents-3%
- HVAC Contractors in JacksonvilleFlorida · 985,843 residents-6%
- HVAC Contractors in AustinTexas · 979,882 residents+2%
- HVAC Contractors in Fort WorthTexas · 978,468 residents-4%
- HVAC Contractors in San JoseCalifornia · 969,655 residents+35%
- HVAC Contractors in ColumbusOhio · 913,175 residents-5%
- HVAC Contractors in CharlotteNorth Carolina · 911,311 residents-5%
- HVAC Contractors in IndianapolisIndiana · 879,293 residents-8%
- HVAC Contractors in San FranciscoCalifornia · 808,988 residents+38%
- HVAC Contractors in SeattleWashington · 755,078 residents+24%
- HVAC Contractors in DenverColorado · 715,522 residents+6%
- HVAC Contractors in Oklahoma CityOklahoma · 702,767 residents-12%
- HVAC Contractors in NashvilleTennessee · 687,788 residents-4%
- HVAC Contractors in WashingtonDistrict of Columbia · 678,972 residents+23%
- HVAC Contractors in El PasoTexas · 678,815 residents-13%
- HVAC Contractors in Las VegasNevada · 660,929 residents+1%
- HVAC Contractors in BostonMassachusetts · 653,833 residents+27%
- HVAC Contractors in PortlandOregon · 635,749 residents+12%
- HVAC Contractors in DetroitMichigan · 633,218 residents+3%
- HVAC Contractors in LouisvilleKentucky · 622,981 residents-10%
- HVAC Contractors in MemphisTennessee · 618,639 residents-12%
- HVAC Contractors in BaltimoreMaryland · 565,239 residents+9%
All metros
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Other categories
- ElectriciansLicensed electrical contractors for panel work, wiring, troubleshooting and code corrections.
- PlumbersLicensed plumbing contractors for water heaters, leaks, drains, fixtures and repiping.
- RoofersRoofing contractors for leak repair, replacement, storm damage and inspections.
- CarpentersFraming, finish carpentry, decks, stairs and structural repair contractors.
- Trade SchoolsAccredited trade and technical schools offering programs in the skilled trades.
- Apprenticeship ProgramsRegistered apprenticeship programs through union locals, contractor associations and employers.