As a licensed and insured HVAC contractor in the Miami area, my technicians are often called to homes where a system has failed. And, after looking the system over, it’s easy to see that the previous work was done by an unlicensed worker. Sometimes the homeowner cannot locate the person responsible and calls us in frustration. Many times, the owner has already tried to get a repair reimbursed by the manufacturer, only to be told it was not installed by a licensed contractor, which voids the manufacturer’s warranty.
There are many more stories like this, and, unfortunately, even though there are laws and regulations against unlicensed contractors in most U.S. counties, enforcement is often slow or nonexistent. This leaves homeowners in precarious positions. Do they demand to see a license before hiring a contractor? And, even if they do ask for one, how do they know it’s valid or even real? It’s difficult for homeowners to know what to do and how to protect themselves from being taken advantage of.