Asked a Contractor for References, Got a List of Inspectors

[Porksoda]

Hi all,

As my last step of vetting contractors for a new furnace, I asked one of them for references. His response was a list of phone numbers for area heating inspectors. On the one hand I'd think an inspector would be a good judge of a quality installation, but at the same time they know nothing of the long-term performance and reliability of the system, or the customer's experience. This is a contractor that I already feel a bit wary of.

How should I interpret being offered inspectors, not actual homeowners, as references?

[beenthere]

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[second opinion]

well here the inspection department will not recommend any hvac contractor because their job is to enforce the codes therefore they have to be impartial would be conflict of intrest to recommend anyone.

X2

[mark beiser]

Several code enforcement and inspections department people from a couple of the towns in my service area are also customers of mine!
I wouldn't put them on the spot to act as references though. ;)

To be honest, most homeowners could have the most god awful hacked together system installation, and they would be perfectly happy, and give great reviews of it, so long as it continued to blow cold air...