What To Look For In An AC Repair Company | Fort Worth, TX
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Most homeowners don’t know a lot about their HVAC systems. They know that their HVAC systems are responsible for the quality of air in their home and/or for cooling their Fort Worth, TX home. You also probably know that it is one of the most expensive appliances in your home, especially if you have had to replace it in the past. Outside of that, you probably simply depend on it to just work when you set the thermostat. Most of the time it probably does, which allows you to keep it in your peripheral since it doesn’t require your time or focus even though it is working every single day.
However, when it comes to your AC you don’t want to grow complacent because in this situation out of sight should not mean out of mind. The best way to keep an AC running is by offering it regular service and repair as needed by a qualified AC repair company. Just because you aren’t fiddling with it as much as you might be with your coffee machine, stove, or fridge doesn’t make its value to your home any less. Instead, it means it is doing its job without your help which makes it more invaluable.
While you may not need to supervise its function, you will certainly notice your AC system if it breaks down because it is the one thing that keeps your Fort Worth, TX home livable during the summer months. Losing your stove, fridge, or microwave would be extremely bothersome, but it won’t cause you to lose your home. However, an AC breakdown in the middle of the thick Texas summer will likely drive you to a hotel or a friend’s home as your home will become completely unlivable.
If you don’t want to find yourself in this situation, it is best to keep up with proper AC repair which means finding a Fort Worth, TX AC repair company that you can trust. Very few things in your home can make it unlivable, but the HVAC system is one which is why you need to pay it the proper respect it deserves. Keep in mind that no matter how well it functions on a normal basis, at the end of the day the HVAC system is still just a fancy piece of machinery that sits in the corner of your basement. All machinery will break down at some point, and that is when an AC repair company will really come in handy.
If you are in the midst of a breakdown right now, you may be looking for an AC repair company near you. The search results are probably stifling because there are so many AC repair options in Fort Worth, TX you have no idea who to choose or which to go with. While there are likely some great options on that first page of search results, there are probably some not-so-great AC repair company options as well which is why it pays to know what you are looking for.
As mentioned earlier, an HVAC system is easily one of the most expensive pieces of equipment/appliances in your home and it pays to make sure you let a professionally trained HVAC technician look at it. When you call for AC repair, you need a technician that can offer you a solution that is going to last, not someone who is going to provide you a temporary fix that will leave you baking in the hot sun again in just a few weeks. Here are a few things you should look for to help you narrow down the list of potential repair companies.
Take Your Time
First of all, resist the urge to just blindly click the top Google search result and actually take the time to look at different options. Coming up first in Google does not mean that an AC repair company is the best, it just means that they have a fairly good marketing team. It pays to do your research because you don’t know what you will find until you take a look. You wouldn’t blindly hire someone to perform surgery, so don’t blindly hire someone to essentially perform surgery on your HVAC system. Open the website of any repair company you are considering and take a close look to see if they appear professional or are just another company offering HVAC services next to a long line of other handyman services.
Look at How Long They Have Been in Business
Every Fort Worth, TX HVAC company has to start somewhere, so a new AC repair company is not necessarily a bad thing, but going with a company that has a long history in your area identifies a few things from the start about the company. First of all, it shows that they have a lot of experience with AC repair which will help you out since every machine and repair is unique. There are hundreds of different HVAC systems out there because of the huge discrepancy in age. Your HVAC system might only be a few years old, or it could potentially be 20 years old.
You need an HVAC technician who has dealt with both because this allows them to effectively and quickly work through the issues. Someone who has been in business for a few decades knows how to work with various machines and the common issues associated with them. They can quickly get to the bottom of your issues so that your HVAC is back up and running before you know it.
Another reason experience is always a plus while searching for an AC repair company is that it means they have been good to their customers. Customer service is always a big deal when shopping for an AC repair company, and a company that has been able to stand the test of time clearly has it. If they didn’t, then eventually they would build up a reputation for poor service and go out of business. People are extremely sensitive about the way they are treated, and typically AC repair companies that are not up to par will fade out.
Look for Their License and Insurance Information
The number one way to tell the difference between a handyman service and trained HVAC technicians is the presence of a license and/or insurance information on the AC repair company website. If they are a true HVAC company you should be able to find their license number that provides they can work on HVAC systems in the state of Texas. To obtain this license they have to meet basic educational and training requirements. If you can’t find it on the website, give them a call and ask straight out if their HVAC technicians are licensed. If they aren’t, it’s time to move onto another AC repair company.
While you are at it, you should also ensure that the AC repair company is properly insured. This is very important given the cost of the appliance that they are working on in your home. The insurance also protects you during the service call because it will cover any damages or injury that could occur to your property while your AC is being repaired. If they are trained it is highly unlikely they will damage other areas of your property, but there is always the chance of something odd and/or freaky occurring, and you need to be safe.
Analyze Their Pricing
Quality HVAC service comes with a price tag. What you are paying for within that price tag is the actual service as well as the cost of experience and education. You are also paying for premium manufacturer parts that are going to last once installed. If you find an AC repair company that is offering prices that seem way too good to be true, they probably are. This is one area where you should expect to spend some money to get results that will last. Always ask upfront if they use manufacturer parts and if they will offer a warranty on the parts they use or the job they complete. A company that is willing to stand behind its work is a company that you can trust.
Ask for a Written Quote
With that in mind, before you choose an AC repair company you should ask for a written quote that details how much you should expect to pay. While it is reasonable that additional problems might be discovered during the repair, which will then alter the price, any reputable AC repair company should be able to offer you an estimate based on what the job should cost if things go as planned.
You should never depend on a verbal quote because it is too easy for a company to walk it back or claim that is not what they said. An HVAC company cannot make a diagnosis over the phone, so anyone that is willing to confidently is probably someone that you shouldn’t trust. It is acceptable for them to say it sounds like something, but they should always offer to send out a technician to analyze the problem who can then provide you with a detailed written estimate of how much it will cost to fix it.
This estimate protects you from being forced to pay something you never agreed to, and more importantly, allows you to budget properly for the repair and/or decide if the repair is worth it. Depending on the age of your HVAC system it might make better sense to consider replacing the unit if the repair is going to be very costly. At that point, you will also want to shop around and get a handful of AC installation estimates before deciding on an AC repair company to handle the task.
Find Out What Services They Offer
While there is no reason why your AC can’t break down during the morning or afternoon hours, for some reason, it seems that HVAC emergencies always occur in the evening, over the weekend, or on major holidays. In Fort Worth, TX you can’t wait a few days or even a week to have an AC repair company come fix the problem because the high temperatures make it too unsafe. Therefore, when you choose an AC repair company you want to choose one that offers flexible 24/7 emergency repair services.
It is always helpful to stick with one company because they know your system and can help you proactively figure out problems, but the company can’t accommodate your schedule and they are not much use to you. Emergency services are extremely important as is fast response time. Local companies are great, but if they are short-staffed and can’t come out to your home for two weeks they aren’t going to be much aid. You need a company that can help you quickly when you need it.
Consider a Company That Offers a Maintenance Contract
Finally, you might want to look for an AC repair company that offers a maintenance contract. Annual service calls are the number one way to keep your AC running smoothly, and usually include better pricing and response times should an emergency occur. If you plan to have your AC service on a yearly basis the maintenance contract will probably be a comparable price and include extras like VIP treatment. It is to your benefit to take advantage of anything you can get so that you won’t be stranded in the hot sun.
Does it sound like a lot of work to check all of these attributes out? Save yourself some time and choose One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth. We check every single box listed and more. Give us a call today to talk about our service and repair options.