Not All Heating & Air Companies Created Equal

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sacramento, California, United States of America (Free-Press-Release.com) March 17, 2011 --

Question: How do you choose the right heating and air company? If you live in Sacramento, that's not necessarily an easy question to answer. The reason? Just look in the phone book. Because of its weather—especially Sacramento's hot, sweltering summers—the state capital is something of a mecca for heating and air conditioning companies.

Let's face it, if you're going to live in the Sacramento Valley region, you're going to have to have a heating and air conditioning system; and if you have a heating and air conditioning system, you're going to want it to work and work well. To do otherwise risks extreme discomfort during the summer months, high heating and cooling bills, or in many cases both (which isn't to say you can't come close to freezing to death in the winter—but since summer's on the horizon, that will be our slant).

Therefore, the choice of the right heating and air company looms very important. Choose wisely and you will save money, time, effort and stay cool and comfortable for may years to come. Choose unwisely, and you can easily open a Pandora's Box of expensive problems that will plague you for longer than you know.

“Choosing a heating and air company isn't the easiest thing in the world for the average consumer,” says Joe Bertolucci, owner of Affordable Heating & Air in Sacramento. “And unfortunately, not all heating and air companies are created equal. There are most definitely some important differences which the consumer should be aware of when trying to find the HVAC company that is right for them.”

Bertolucci recommends not waiting until you have an emergency situation before having to call an HVAC company. A little prevention, in other words, can give the homeowner the time necessary to check out potential candidates.

“Unless you have a fairly new cooling system, the best way to prevent problems is to have an air conditioning company come out and check out your system,” states Bertolucci. “Not only do you get the best 'deals' in the off-season before the weather gets hot,” he says, “but you also get the chance to check out various companies and do some comparison shopping.”

Additionally, because many expensive heating and air conditioning repairs are the result of lack of maintenance, you save money in the long run. But a service call can also give you the opportunity to get a “feel” for the way the HVAC company does business with minimal risk. According to Bertolucci, there are certain tactics that should be watched for.

“Beware of the 'high-pressure' sale or 'up-sale',” he cautions, “Some companies use service repairs or system checks as a means to get their foot in the door and then try and sell you something you may not need. This is a red flag. A good contractor will give you the information you need in order to make the right decision, not pressure you. A reputable company isn't going to need you to make a decision right on the spot, so there's really no reason for them to push—take your time and think about finding someone else if it doesn't feel rightor they'rew being too 'pushy'.”

Another thing to look for is the warranties that the company offers and how well it stands behind their installations and service calls. Find out what brand of HVAC equipment that the heating and air company sells and what kind of warranties come with the equipment. With service calls, find out whether or not the company will stand behind the repairs they make.

“If a company makes a repair on your heating and air system, then they should guarantee their work against defect for a certain period of time,” Bertolucci remarks. “Provided the system is not too old, any repair made should fix the problem, and if it doesn't or if the system malfunctions, then the company should fix it again on their own dime.”

“Nowadays, there are some really great manufacturer warranties,” he continues. “Some heating and air manufacturers will warranty their parts for 8 years or more. It really just depends on the brand. And speaking of brands, a well-known, highly advertised brand isn't always the one with the best performance or warranty. Again, ask questions and shop around.”

Bertolucci himself has spent over 20 years building up a reputation of great customer service and standing behind his work. Over the years he has relied heavily on word-of-mouth to build his business into one of the better-known and most trusted heating and air companies in the greater Sacramento area.

“I'm just a strong believer in being honest with the customer and doing what I say I'm going to do without giving someone the runaround,” he says in conclusion. “I really try and treat customers the way that I want to be treated, and I think that philosophy is the basis of what has made us so successful over the years.”

For more information, visit the website at www.SacramentoHeatingandAir.com or watch Joe's video at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cobt0yZnAtU

More information can be found online at http://www.SacramentoHeatingandAir.com