Listen for ads from North American Technician Excellence on popular sports and radio talk shows this year. 

HVAC certification organization North American Technician Excellence is increasing efforts to educate U.S. homeowners about the need to hire contractors that use trained technicians.

NATE has purchased ad time on national radio programs airing this spring and fall to remind consumers that using a certified technician offers peace of mind. It tells them to go to the association’s consumer-oriented website .

  Programs where NATE is advertising include “The Dennis Miller Show” and “NFL Primetime Football.”

As part of the campaign, a number of manufacturers - including Lennox, Goodman and Johnson Controls - are mentioning NATE within their own advertisements, and the association is attempting to get NATE featured in newspaper articles and on TV reports, the association said.

“We kicked off this consumer awareness program in 2011, and our goal is to continue to increase these efforts every year,” said Don Frendberg, chairman of the NATE’s trustee board. “By partnering with manufacturers to include NATE in their radio advertisements, we’re able to extend the reach of our message to a greater number of homeowners, educating them about NATE certification and helping to connect them with contractors who are dedicated to superior installation and service."