HVAC, Heating and Air Conditioning Services
Texas summers can be very taxing on our Austin air conditioners, and regular AC system maintenance is extremely important. The quality and cost of professional HVAC service in Austin varies all over the map; and it's important to check out an AC services company before hiring them. We recommend looking them up on local ratings and reviews websites like Angie's List, Citysearch and Yelp to see what people have to say about the quality of service and HVAC repairs they have received. It's also instructive to see how the company handles poor reviews or customer complaints -- frequently this will be the best indication of how the air conditioning contractor treats its customers.
Consumers can also see what people are saying about prospective heating and AC maintenance contractors on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ or other social media sites; although these postings may be less reliable. There is a tendency to have more unfavorable reviews of HVAC service companies, because people are less likely to rave about a good AC repair job than they are to rant about a poor air conditioner repair -- that's just human nature. A professional HVAC service company will respond promptly and constructively to a customer complaint or unfavorable review, and readers can judge how well they are treating their customer.
The best resource is a recommendation from a neighbor, co-worker or someone you trust who has used the contractor's services. Second best would be to ask the HVAC contractor for references, although this can be problematic -- typically a service company will provide only favorable references -- perhaps from relatives!
It's also a good idea to ask if your heating and air conditioning technician has formal training in HVAC repairs and experience with your model of heater or AC subsystem. Although similar, a Carrier HVAC system can have a different design and diagnostic procedures than a Rheem or Trane unit. The electronics in an American Standard heater control system are much easier to troubleshoot than on a comparable Ruud heating repair problem. A good indication of how familiar your HVAC repair technician is with your brand and model of AC system is how many trips he needs to make back to the truck to get the right part or tool.
It takes extensive training and experience with heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems to be able to service HVAC systems. It can take several years for a technician to become familiar with the design, operational characteristics, common problems, diagnostic techniques and maintenance procedures necessary to keep a home furnace or commercial AC unit operating properly. Competent HVAC service also requires specialized heating and cooling system diagnostic equipment -- particularly for the complex electronics of thermostats, AC unit control boards or heater control systems. Professional repair technicians must also be familiar with multiple types of gas furnaces, oil furnaces, gas and electric AC units, as well as heat pump design and operation.
Periodic HVAC service is essential to the proper operation and energy efficiency of the air conditioner, heater and ventilation subsystems. AC systems should generally be checked in late Spring -- to make sure the unit is in good shape for the upcoming Summer cooling season. Heating systems should be inspected in the Fall -- to ensure the heater's components are prepared for a cold Winter. Any necessary cleaning or HVAC servicing can be performed during these periodic maintenance calls. Money invested in preventive maintenance and upkeep is well spent, and will cost less in the long run than repairing systems that have not been well maintained.
Consumers can also see what people are saying about prospective heating and AC maintenance contractors on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ or other social media sites; although these postings may be less reliable. There is a tendency to have more unfavorable reviews of HVAC service companies, because people are less likely to rave about a good AC repair job than they are to rant about a poor air conditioner repair -- that's just human nature. A professional HVAC service company will respond promptly and constructively to a customer complaint or unfavorable review, and readers can judge how well they are treating their customer.
The best resource is a recommendation from a neighbor, co-worker or someone you trust who has used the contractor's services. Second best would be to ask the HVAC contractor for references, although this can be problematic -- typically a service company will provide only favorable references -- perhaps from relatives!
It's also a good idea to ask if your heating and air conditioning technician has formal training in HVAC repairs and experience with your model of heater or AC subsystem. Although similar, a Carrier HVAC system can have a different design and diagnostic procedures than a Rheem or Trane unit. The electronics in an American Standard heater control system are much easier to troubleshoot than on a comparable Ruud heating repair problem. A good indication of how familiar your HVAC repair technician is with your brand and model of AC system is how many trips he needs to make back to the truck to get the right part or tool.
It takes extensive training and experience with heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems to be able to service HVAC systems. It can take several years for a technician to become familiar with the design, operational characteristics, common problems, diagnostic techniques and maintenance procedures necessary to keep a home furnace or commercial AC unit operating properly. Competent HVAC service also requires specialized heating and cooling system diagnostic equipment -- particularly for the complex electronics of thermostats, AC unit control boards or heater control systems. Professional repair technicians must also be familiar with multiple types of gas furnaces, oil furnaces, gas and electric AC units, as well as heat pump design and operation.
Periodic HVAC service is essential to the proper operation and energy efficiency of the air conditioner, heater and ventilation subsystems. AC systems should generally be checked in late Spring -- to make sure the unit is in good shape for the upcoming Summer cooling season. Heating systems should be inspected in the Fall -- to ensure the heater's components are prepared for a cold Winter. Any necessary cleaning or HVAC servicing can be performed during these periodic maintenance calls. Money invested in preventive maintenance and upkeep is well spent, and will cost less in the long run than repairing systems that have not been well maintained.