by Cooper Climate Control
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Your family’s comfort depends on your air-conditioning system. But it’s much more than a box you adjust to control your home’s interior temperature. It influences indoor moisture levels, mold growth, the quality of air your family breathes, all occupants’ health, how much money you spend and save, and the energy amounts you use and conserve. These criteria depend on you developing a good working relationship with a qualified professional contractor. Review these tips so you can make a well-informed decision.
Service Provider Essentials
If your comfort system doesn’t come to mind until it malfunctions, you could choose the wrong company during your mad dash to get immediate service. Installing, maintaining, and repairing this complicated mechanical system properly requires the right training, knowledge, skills, and experience. Unfortunately, some service providers try to confuse homeowners, keep their processes and pricing mysterious, and rush customers into misguided options abruptly.
But planning ahead to select your AC contractor and signing up for a service plan while everything’s running smoothly gives you someone trustworthy to call when something goes awry. To find a competent service specialist who can resolve all cooling problems, look into the company’s background. Check Internet ratings and read customer reviews.
Recommended Questions
The professionals at Cooper Climate Control care about your family’s comfort, safety, and health, so we’re glad to answer your questions. But first, you need to know what to ask and expected responses. The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) recommends addressing these points:
Q: Does your company have proper licensing?
A: Yes. Every state, county, or city could have varying contractor licensing rules, so request technician I.D. and license numbers as proof.
Q: Did your techs earn NATE certifications?
A: Yes. Don’t accept anyone who doesn’t meet the industry’s standard of excellence by passing AC working knowledge tests. We only hire Arizona Heat Pump Council Master Technicians at Cooper Climate Control.
Q: Will your specialists adhere to industry standards?
A: Yes. Ask about two specifically. Anyone handling an air-conditioning installation at your home should use Manual J, the industry standard for determining how large a system your home’s type and size require. Quality Installation (QI) denotes the ANSI/ACCA Quality Installation Specification. It details the steps your contractor must follow to install your AC system for the best quality possible.
Q: Do you provide continuing education for your employees?
A: Yes. Skilled workers must stay up on the latest technologies and rapidly changing industry modifications. Reputable contractors also cover technicians’ safety equipment, licensing, bonding, and insurance. If a representative can’t describe the training program sufficiently, move on to your next candidate. At Cooper Climate Control, we encourage all of our technicians to stay current in the industry with continuing education hours.
Q: Can you supply local references?
A: Yes. Get contact information to consult nearby neighbors who have used the AC company’s services before scheduling yours. You can check our rave reviews to see some of the things our customers have to say about us.
Q: Does your company offer service options?
A: Yes: Service policies maintain your equipment properly so it will run more efficiently and last longer. Cooper Climate Control’s unique annual maintenance plan features inspections, maintenance, tune-ups, discounted repairs, and priority emergency services.
Other Considerations
True professionals share your internal and external environmental concerns, inquire about your routines and needs, and can help you reduce your energy bills. Be suspicious of substantially cheaper prices because they usually indicate that service providers are cutting corners by ignoring laws, using untrained laborers, or possibly advocating unnecessary repairs. What may sound like a better deal can be much worse. The next time you need an unscrupulous company’s services, you may not be able to reach anyone.
Maintenance Procedures
Like your car needing regular oil changes and tune-ups, your AC’s mechanical system requires routine maintenance by qualified specialists. Skipping regular servicing can lead to more frequent breakdowns, higher costs throughout your system’s shortened lifespan, and earlier replacements while also possibly risking your family’s health.
The U.S. Department of Energy advises that professional maintenance should include:
- Making sure your refrigerant amount is correct
- Capturing refrigerant that technicians must evacuate from your system rather than releasing it in to the atmosphere illegally
- Testing for and repair any refrigerant leaks
- Recharging your refrigerant to the proper level if it’s low
- Detecting and sealing any leaking ducts
- Measuring the airflow through your evaporator coil
- Verifying that your electric control sequence is correct and being sure your cooling and heating systems can’t run simultaneously
- Inspecting your electric terminals, cleansing and adjusting loose connections, and perhaps adding a non-conductive coating
- Checking your belts for wear and tightness
- Oiling your motors
- Confirming that your thermostat is working accurately