Statewide alert comes after multiple complaints, especially from the elderly SACRAMENTO — The California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) is urging consumers to be aware of home improvement offers by individuals who use unethical business practices to gain entry into their homes, and then use illegal, high-pressure sales or scare tactics to up-sell unneeded services or equipment. “Service advertisements are common from the heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning industry, especially during hot or cold weather,” said CSLB Registrar Steve Sands. “We’re noticing a significant number of consumer complaints related to this sector, but we also believe it’s important to protect and uphold the reputation of more than 11,000 licensed and honest contractors in the HVAC industry and other trades.” Many of the complaints CSLB is receiving are from older adults who are falling victim to unscrupulous operators who make promises of low-cost equipment service over the phone, only to have onsite technicians make false statements that persuade them to increase their purchase.

(Only the licensed contractor or salespeople for a contracting company who are registered with CSLB are authorized to sell additional services or work.) In one case, an elderly woman was persuaded to sign over her home to the company. In a different case, an older property owner was convinced that all of her home’s ductwork needed replacing but, when a second opinion was obtained, it was determined that repair work was unnecessary. CSLB asks California property owners to stay vigilant about low-cost home improvement offers for cooling, electrical, plumbing or any other similar “tune-up” offers that may not be what they seem. Be wary of telemarketers offering special deals for air duct cleaning or seasonal HVAC tune-ups. Many are calling from “boiler room” operations or call centers that pretend to be different types of service and repair companies, and make multiple calls until a homeowner takes the bait for a service call. Always ask for the state contractor license number before considering any offer.

Make informed decisions about hiring a contractor or company by first checking CSLB’s website and review the contractor’s detail page to assure the license is in good standing. If you’re not sure about a company’s offer, get a second opinion from a different, licensed contractor or company.Fishing Rod Ring Whipping Talk to your utility company to verify the accuracy of costs and potential savings the telemarketer offers for HVAC systems.Old House For Sale In Maraimalai Nagar Make sure the contract contains the notice about the three-day right to cancel.Digital Photo Frame Jogja It is equally important for consumers to pay attention to the work contract. If your home’s operating systems happen to fail and you call a company for immediate service, remember that your three-day right to cancel the contract is different depending on if it is a service and repair contract or a standard home improvement contract.

CSLB encourages consumers to always “Check the License First” by visiting www.cslb.ca.gov or calling CSLB’s toll-free automated line: 800.321.CSLB (2757). Also, visit CSLB’s website for tips about how to hire a contractor and to sign up for CSLB email alerts. The California Contractors State License Board operates under the umbrella of the Department of Consumer Affairs. CSLB licenses and regulates California’s 288,000 contractors, and is regarded as one of the leading consumer protection agencies in the United States. In fiscal year 2012-13, CSLB helped recover nearly $51 million in ordered restitution for consumers. Releases 2010 and EarlierCharles Cassani - Construction Expert Witness Restoration, Remediation, Fire and Water Damage, Air and Soil Quality, Biological Events, Engineering Charles has over forty years of construction experience related to restoration, remediation, fire, water, vandalism and biological events. Charles has consulted as an appraiser, umpire, and expert witness for insurance companies, public entities, individuals, businesses, attorneys and the California State Department of Consumer Affairs and as a qualified Expert Witness in Superior Court and Federal Court, Sacramento, California, in personal property appraisal, cleaning, restoration and remediation.

Charles is also a Project Consultant for the non-profit organization, Citizens Voice, that provides Safely Out™ Kits to vulnerable citizens, bourne out of the devastation and loss-of-life lessons from Hurricane Katrina. California General Contractor #697339 - B, 1994 C61/D64 Specialty License, Air Duct Cleaning, 1995 A - General Engineering License HAZ - Hazardous Substance Removal, 2009 ASB - Asbestos, 2009 DOSH Certification #973, 2010 Certifications, Training & Qualifications: Certified, California Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Regulations, January 1993 Certified 29 CFR 1910.120 Hazardous Material Responder Technician, Level I, July 1993 Qualified, Expert Witness, Property Appraiser, Restoration Contractor, Superior Court, Sacramento, CA, 1997 Qualified Expert Witness, Remediation Contractor, Federal Court, Sacramento, CA, 2000 Microbial Remediation Technician Training, 1998 Air Systems Cleaning Specialist (ASCS) National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA), 2003

Certified Restorer #46, Restoration Industry Association (RIA), 1989 to present. Over 800 inspections, investigations and reports have been performed. Certified Carpet & Upholstery Technician, Institue of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), Certified Journeyman Technician, Certified Textile Inspector, #246, 1972-1993. Over 1400 Certified textile inspections performed. Chairman, Steamatic Executive Counsel, 2004 - 2006 Board of Directors, RIA, 2009 - 2010 Board of Advisors, Project Consultant, Citizen Voice, Safely Out Campaign, 2006 - 2011 Request an Expert CVSo you’re intrigued by the California HVAC salary information and growing job market, and you’ve done your research on HVAC education and training requirements in California. But before you dive headfirst into HVAC training at one of the many HVAC schools in California, it is worth taking a bit more time to learn how the certification process works. In California, the Contractor’s State License Board (CSLB) oversees the construction industry, including heating, ventilation, and air conditioning technicians.

Any HVAC contractor or subcontractor that performs installation, maintenance, or repair services totaling five hundred dollars or more in labor and materials must be licensed by the CSLB. In order to apply for HVAC licensure, the contractor must be at least eighteen years old, have a minimum of four years of verifiable experience in the field, and pass licensing examinations. There are no formal education requirements to qualify for an HVAC license. A license may be issued to an individual, a partnership, a corporation, or a joint venture by the CSLB. Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning contractors are considered within a specialized building trade and are required to hold a Class C certificate in at least one of four specialties based on the work they complete. The C-4 Boiler, Hot-Water Heating and Steam Fitting certification is designed for contractors who install, service, and repair power boiler installations, hot-water heating systems, and steam fitting. The CSLB defines the C-20 Warm-Air Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning contractor as one that fabricates, installs, maintains, services, and repairs warm-air heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems, including those which utilize solar power.

The third classification specialty is C-38 Refrigeration. A refrigeration contractor constructs, fabricates, erects, installs, maintains, services, and repairs refrigerators, refrigerated rooms, and systems and thermostatic controls for the control of air, liquid and/or gas temperatures below fifty degrees Fahrenheit. The final classification for HVAC contractors is the C-46 Solar which is a specialty in installing, modifying, maintaining, and repairing thermal and photovoltaic solar energy systems. A licensee classified in this specialty is not licensed to perform other building or construction trades, crafts, or skills, except when required to install a thermal or photovoltaic solar energy system. Any person who performs maintenance, service, repair or refrigerant disposal that could be reasonably expected to release refrigerants into the atmosphere requires Environmental Protective Agency (EPA) 608 Certification. This includes anyone identified as a “technician” who attaches and detaches hoses and gauges to and from an appliance to measure pressure or adds refrigerant to or removes refrigerant from an appliance.

The type of certification a contract needs depends on the work be conducted. Type 1 certification is for technicians who only work on small appliances containing five pounds or less of refrigerant. Type II certification allows technicians to work on medium, high, and very high pressure appliances. HVAC technicians that work on low pressure appliances must have a Type III certificate. For those technicians that work on a wide variety of appliances with refrigerants typically get the universal certificate which is equivalent to having a Type I, II, and III certificate.San Joaquin Valley CollegePrograms:Degree - Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and RefrigerationCertificate - Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and RefrigerationLocations: BakersfieldInstitute of Technology You can get started on a new career with Institute of Technology. We offer diploma and associate degree programs for careers in the culinary, technical, medical, business, and legal fields. For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program, and other important information, please visit our website at www.iot.edu/disclosure.

Programs:Heating, Ventilation, and ACLocations: Clovis The Contractor’s State License Board (CSLB) administers licensing exams, investigates complaints against contractors, and issues, suspends, and revokes licenses. Within ten years before applying for licensure, the HVAC contractor must be able to provide verifiable evidence of at least four years’ experience within the HVAC trade as a journeyman, a foreman or supervisor, a contractor, or an owner-builder. Education, technical training, or apprenticeship training may go towards a portion of the required four years of practical experience. At least one year must be a hands-on experience. A criminal history background check, fingerprinting, and proof of being bonded are also requirements. Being a resident of California is not mandatory for licensure. The cost of applying for HVAC licensure varies based on the number of specialty classifications the contractor wants to pursue. All applicants must have a working capital of at least $2,500.

In addition, all applicants must also file a bond with the Registrar in the amount of $12,500. There is an initial $300 application fee which includes the initial certification exam fee. Additional certification exams currently cost $75 per classification. The initial two-year licensing fee is $180. Renewal after two years is $360 if the license is active and renewed prior to the expiration date. Each Class C specialty exam consist of trade-related multiple-choice questions on system evaluation  and design, fabrication, system installation and start up, service, maintenance, repair, and safety. Multiple testing sites are set up around the state. The CSLB offers specific trade study guides to support applicants in successfully completing the trade exam. Along with completing the CSLB classification exams with a pre-determined level of accuracy, applicants must pass additional certification exams in order to gain full HVAC licensure in California. The first exam is the Law and Business Examination which consists of multiple choice questions related to business management and construction law.

Specifically, the Law and Business Examination is divided into eight sections. The sections include business organization, business financial, employment requirements, bonds, insurance, and liens, contract requirements and execution, licensing requirements, safety requirements, and public works. The CSBL also provides guidance on how to prepare for this test. To gain EPA 608 Certification, a minimum of passing two exams is required. All candidates for licensure must complete the CORE exam. This exam tests the applicants knowledge on ozone depletion, the Clean Air Act and Montreal Protocol, Section 608 regulations, substitute refrigerants and oils, refrigeration, definitions of recover, recycle, and reclaim, recovery techniques, dehydration evacuation, and shipping, and safety. Each of the Type I, II, and III exams focus on leak detection, leak repair, recovery, refrigeration, and safety based on the type of appliances covered in the certification. Only HVAC technicians and contractors from Arizona, Nevada, and Utah can apply for a California contractor’s license through a reciprocal agreement between the four states.