Anyone searching for the search term “heating repair near me” is likely facing a broken or malfunctioning heater. To the extent this accurately describes you and your heater, this guide can be helpful as you navigate finding a trustworthy and reliable local repair service.

1. Search the Yellow Pages. Yes, looking up companies in the phone book is a little old school, but it’s still a great way to get connected to providers in your area.

2. Search online and filter results by zip codes and neighborhoods. The added benefit of searching for providers online is that you can often read other customers’ experiences with the provider. Google reviews and Yelp can help you vet which providers are worthy of your time and money, and assist you in avoiding some real lemons.

3. Use your network. Heating repairs are extremely common, especially in the wintertime when people are worried that their heaters are going to break down and leave them stranded in the cold. Chances are high that your neighbors, friends, coworkers, and other acquaintances have found a heating repair service that they like and use, and chances are similarly high that they’ll be willing to give you a recommendation.

4. Create a shortlist based on steps #1-3. If a company is consistently recommended on the Yellow Pages, Yelp, Google reviews, and by friends and family, that’s a sign that this provider can be trusted to do a good job. If a company is consistently getting flagged as problematic or inexperienced, that’s knowledge to keep in your back pocket. Leverage information that you obtain from your research as you enter negotiations with these companies, since sometimes providers will be willing to give you a discount if you’ve been referred by a current customer of theirs, or if they have something to prove about their business.