What To Look For In A Heating And AC Repair Company | Fort Worth, TX
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The thing about heating and AC repair is that most people don’t think about it until they have an emergency, then you are in a rush looking for a heating and AC repair company in Fort Worth, TX. When you are in the midst of an emergency you often can’t afford to be picky, but if you do a bit of investigative research before the furnace or AC dies then you can have a good heating and AC repair company saved on your phone so that you don’t have to worry about being taken advantage of.
In reality, it is a good idea to have your HVAC system serviced at least once a year, so you should choose a company you trust to handle your monthly service as well, and then you will have them in the wings should something happen. A lot of people just have their system serviced by whatever heating and AC repair company happens to be running a promotion in Fort Worth, TX at the time they are thinking of it, but this is not always the best idea.
First of all, if they have to run a promotion to get customers this might not be the best indication of a heating and AC repair company that you want inside of your home. Of course, if the company is brand new to the area this can explain why they are trying to drum up business. It may also just be a small promotion that the same company runs every summer to help their loyal customers out, but if you are a loyal customer you would already know this and not be looking for a new heating and AC repair company.
The problem with these types of advertisements that you often see in Facebook groups or in mailers in your mailbox is the companies are not actual HVAC companies. Usually, they are not properly certified or even licensed to work on HVAC machines. They are just a group of guys trying to make money cleaning out HVAC systems. You run a risk going with this type of offer that they will break or damage something inside of your machine, and that is not worth saving a few bucks under. The bottom line is if the deal is too good to be true, then you should move on.
Choose a Trusted Company for Your Heating and AC Repair Company
This is not to say that you shouldn’t get an annual cleaning, by all means, you absolutely should. An annual servicing is the best way to troubleshoot issues before they become major. It is also a great way to ensure that the air in your home is fresh and free of contaminants. During the long summers in Fort Worth, TX the only air circulation in your air comes from your HVAC system, so it pays to have all of the dust removed from both the indoor and outdoor components.
It is to your benefit to find a great heating and AC repair company to handle your annual servicing because then you will have a natural in should you experience an emergency at any time during the year. If you use a regular heating and AC repair company every year for your servicing they will already know you and your machine. This means you can tell the problem and they may already have an idea what could be wrong before they show up which benefits you because if they have the potential part around they may bring the tools and parts when they show up.
Even if they don’t have an idea, it benefits you to have a regular heating and AC repair company on standby so to speak in Fort Worth, TX because most companies will treat their customers better. It is hard to find an HVAC company with an opening in the middle of the hot Texas summer, but if you have faithfully used a company for years they may find time to squeeze you in or make a regular call after hours without the extra charge. People tend to go the extra mile for other people who treat them right, and being a regular client is a great way to establish a strong relationship.
At the very least, using the same heating and AC repair company means that you have a place to call when in the middle of the night you discover that your AC has stopped working and your entire family is roasting. Anyone who has lived in Fort Worth, TX for a summer knows that you cannot just open the windows and tough it out. The summer is just too brutal once the thick of it sets in, so you need an HVAC company you know will always be there for you.
How to Find a Heating and AC Repair Company
Of course, before you can hope to build a solid relationship with a heating and AC repair company you need to find one that you can trust. If you are new to the area or your old company is no longer operating, then you may have to do some looking around. It is also possible that you just had your AC serviced and this got you to think that you should pay attention to a regular servicing schedule.
Of course, if you are a new homeowner you may not have had to worry about using a heating and AC repair company, but now it is just another responsibility that you have to add to your to-do list. Luckily, this task does not have to be extremely difficult if you utilize a few pointers that we can offer along the way. Before calling the first HVAC company that you see in Google search or the first one that comes to mind, take a minute to check out this list and make sure your final choice is the right one for your home. Keep in mind that your HVAC system is the most expensive appliance in your home, so it really does matter who you hire to take care of it.
Are They Licensed?
The very first thing you need to look at when contemplating heating and AC repair companies is whether or not they are state-licensed. A license proves that they meet the experience and training levels of Texas. A lot of handymen lack these qualifications, so while they may advertise that they can help with HVAC systems, they don’t have the same level of training or experience. A state license is the best way to prove that the HVAC technician at least completed an appropriate training program before coming into your home.
In Texas to become a licensed and certified HVAC technician you must have at least two years of experience working alongside a licensed contractor, complete a training program of at least 2,000 hours that is approved by Texas, and pass the licensing exam. None of these sites are quick or easy, so you know if you hire a licensed HVAC technician they are serious about the field and their job. While you should be able to find this on the heating and AC repair company website, if you can’t the best thing you can do is ask.
Are They N.A.T.E Certified?
State licensing is great, but if you want a heating and AC repair company that is even more professional, look for one that only employs contractors who are N.A.T.E. certified. N.A.T.E, or North American Training Excellence, is the only individual certification available to HVAC techs and is considered one of the most elite in the US. Qualified contractors who care about their credentials and performance all hold the N.A.T.E. certification, and if you care about the way your HVAC is serviced you want a technician who has taken the time to go the extra mile.
In order to achieve their certification, HVAC contractors must pass four different training areas that focus on service and installation of HVAC systems such as basic service, customer etiquette, installation techniques, electrical circuits, and safety procedures. In order to keep the N.A.T.E certification valid a contractor has to complete at least 16 credit hours of continuing education bi-annually. This alone proves that your HVAC technician is keeping up with modern trends which is beneficial to you as a homeowner, especially if the time comes that you need to install a newer HVAC system and need advice.
Ask About Their Tool Policies
It may seem odd to ask a heating and AC repair company about their tool policy, but there is actually a reason behind the question. HVAC contractors somewhat blend the training of several different trades because of how many different things are involved in the installation of an HVAC company. Therefore, it is not uncommon for an HVAC tech to need access to the tools of an electrician, carpenter, plumber, and sheet metal worker during just one installation or repair. As if this isn’t bad enough, sometimes tools are even more specialized if working with a certain HVAC manufacturer.
Some companies have tool programs for their HVAC contractors so that they have proper access to all of the tools they will need to complete a job. Other companies expect the contractors to show up with their own tools. This happens more often when a job is subcontracted. The problem with this is if the contractor doesn’t have the right tool they may just make do with what they have, which means the result you get may not always be the most optimal. Keep in mind that proper installation is the number one factor that determines how long an HVAC system will last. Therefore, you want a heating and AC repair company that is looking out for the customers via a tool exchange program.
Check Out Online Reviews
Now that you have those basic questions out of the way, it is time to actually look closer at potential companies and narrow down your list to one heating and AC repair company. A great way to do this is by popping online and reading people’s reviews. Keep in mind that while almost every company will have testimonials on their websites, they tend to only post the positive ones.
Therefore, you may have better luck sticking to the reviews that you find on Google, Yelp, or Facebook business pages. It is okay if you read a few negative reviews so long as most of the reviews are positive. Sometimes people just don’t mesh, and that happens in every service industry. However, it shouldn’t be the predominant theme of reviews. If there are a lot of unhappy customers versus happy ones this is a very revealing sign that it is time to move onto the next one.
Social media is actually a great tool to utilize if you want to hear personal reviews from friends and family members. People are usually very happy to share their own personal recommendations so take a minute to reach out to them on your Facebook page. This will give you something to think about from people that you generally trust.
Use Your Annual Service Call as a Test
Once you have a shortlist, take your favorite and call to book your annual HVAC service. This is a great time to get to know the company and see what they have to offer. If you are looking for a heating and AC repair company in Fort Worth, TX we encourage you to give One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth a call. We work with a number of your neighbors and all of our techs are state-licensed and N.A.T.E. certified so you can expect the best.