Every summer someone in Tucson pays a stranger with a truck to replace their air conditioner, and every summer some of those systems are installed wrong, undersized, unpermitted or never finished. When it goes badly, the homeowner discovers that the "company" was one person with no license, no insurance and no obligation to make it right.
Arizona gives you a simple tool to avoid this. It takes about two minutes.
What the ROC license means
The Arizona Registrar of Contractors licenses and regulates contractors in the state. To hold a license, a contractor has to pass a trade exam and a business exam, carry a bond, and stay in good standing. If a licensed contractor does defective work and will not fix it, you can file a complaint with the Registrar, and in many residential cases you can be reimbursed from the Residential Contractors' Recovery Fund.
Arizona law requires a license for any contracting work, including HVAC, where the total cost of labor and materials is $1,000 or more, or where a building permit is required. A new air conditioner clears that bar easily. So does most repair work beyond a service call.
An unlicensed contractor gives you none of those protections. If the work is bad, you are on your own.
How to look up a license
- Go to the Registrar of Contractors website at azroc.gov and open the contractor search.
- Search by the company name or, better, by the license number the contractor gave you. Every licensed contractor is required to put their license number on their advertising, their proposals and their invoices.
- Confirm the license is active and in good standing, not expired, suspended or revoked.
- Check the license classification. HVAC work falls under specific residential and commercial classifications for air conditioning and refrigeration. A general handyman license or a plumbing license does not cover it.
- Look at the complaint history. Complaints happen to good companies now and then; a long list of unresolved ones is a different story.
- Note the business name and address on the license and make sure they match the company you are actually dealing with. A common trick is to quote someone else's license number.
Beyond the license
The license is the floor, not the ceiling. A few more things worth asking any HVAC contractor before you sign:
- Insurance. Ask for a certificate of general liability insurance. If a technician damages your roof or your ceiling, this is what pays for it.
- Who is doing the work. Some companies sell the job and subcontract the installation to whoever is available. Ask whether the people who show up work for the company.
- Permits. A system replacement needs a permit in Tucson and Pima County. A contractor who suggests skipping it is saving themselves time at your expense.
- A written estimate. Equipment model numbers, scope of work, price, and what happens if something unexpected comes up. Verbal quotes are worth what you paid for them.
- Reviews from real customers. Look for specifics about how the company handled problems, not just star counts. Ours are here.
Our license
Grand Canyon Air Solutions is licensed, bonded and insured under Arizona ROC #363567. You will find it on our website, our estimates and our invoices, and you are welcome to look it up before we ever come to your house. We think that is exactly what a homeowner should do, and we would rather you check than take our word for it.
If you would like a licensed technician to look at your system, schedule a visit or call (520) 261-3909. You can read more about how we work on our About page.