Benjamin Franklin once famously wrote, “…but in this world, nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes.” We’d add two more items to the list:
- Your air conditioning will only go out during the heat of the summer.
- Your heating will only go out during the coldest winter days.
Of course, that makes sense when you think about it – or rather, when you think about it a little differently. You only find out that your air is broken because it stops working – and the only time it’s supposed to be working is when it’s hot out. The opposite holds with heating systems, where faults only show their head once you start needing the heat to keep winter’s chill at bay.
So, in other words, a breakdown in your HVAC system never happens at a convenient time. Usually, when you’re in need of repairs to your heating or cooling systems, the only question for a potential repair service that you want the answer to is, “How soon can you be here?”
But limiting your inquiry to that question may not lead to the good outcome you’re looking for. Choosing a heating and air conditioning repair team really should be based on more than just availability. Going with the wrong repair service provider can leave you back in the same place with a broken HVAC unit, but now with less cash on hand.
Before you hire a heating and air conditioning repair company, ask these questions.
Are You Insured and Licensed to Perform Heating and Air Conditioning Repair?
In Georgia, all HVAC repair technicians who are in commercial operation (they receive payment for their services) are required by law to be licensed by the Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board, Division of Conditioned Air Contractors. They’re also required to carry liability insurance to protect their customers from incurring additional expenses caused by the company’s work.
If a repair person or company is not willing to share their license number and liability insurance information with you, it’s time to keep looking.
Using an unlicensed repair team – and there are plenty of these shady operators out there – will lead to some significant adverse outcomes for you. For one thing, receiving service from a contractor without a valid license will probably void the warranties on all of your HVAC equipment, leaving you on the hook for any future repairs, even if they would usually be covered.
If that consideration isn’t frightening enough, turning to an unlicensed repair team means you’re also turning to an uninsured team. If their “repairs” cause further damage to your home, or if a member of their team or your family is injured in the process, you’ll be on the hook to make things right.
Do You Have Experience Performing HVAC Repair on This Manufacturer’s Systems?
All HVAC systems have some general similarities in terms of how they work to keep your home warm or cool as needed. But that’s where the similarities end. Each manufacturer has a different way of doing things. Choosing a repair team that’s unfamiliar with your particular equipment is a recipe for disaster.
As you talk to heating and air conditioning repair services, make sure to ask if they have experience working on your specific make and model of HVAC system. Ideally, you want to find a repair team that’s factory-authorized to make repairs on your model, but that may not be feasible in all cases.
How Do You Stand By Your Heating and Air Conditioning Repairs?
If death, taxes, and inconvenient HVAC failures are certainties of life, keeping a newly repaired system repaired is anything but. While your heating and air conditioning repair team will do everything they can to ensure that your unit remains operational, there’s no way to ensure that you won’t suffer another failure. A replacement part could be faulty, or a small error or oversight in the repair might cause another problem.
When that happens, how will your service company respond? A reputable company will stand by its repair work and offer a warranty on any new parts that are installed and a guarantee on their workmanship. If your HVAC goes out again for the same reason just a few months later, your chosen heating and air company should make it right, at no expense to you. If a company is unwilling to stand by its work, you can usually assume it’s because its work is subpar.
Is It Worth It to Pay for Heating and Air Conditioning Repair?
You’ve probably heard the term “the law of diminishing returns.” This economic concept essentially means that as a particular thing gets older, it returns less value to its owner/operator. Air conditioning and heating systems definitely obey the law of diminishing returns.
As complex machines that run for long periods, HVAC systems endure far more wear and tear from use than many other appliances. As a system reaches the end of its lifespan, the possible value of repairing it goes way down, and it eventually becomes more profitable to cut your losses and replace the system instead.
A good heating and air conditioning repair company will offer you an honest assessment of the value of a specific repair. If your system is on its last legs and repairs are just going to be throwing good money after bad, a reputable company will be upfront about the pros and cons of repair and replacement. That being said, if a replacement isn’t in your budget, a good HVAC company will try to figure out a way to get your system running long enough for you to figure out how to pay for a replacement.
The Team at Pruett Air Conditioning Can Help You Get Your HVAC Back!
Has a broken, old, or inefficient AC got you down? We can help. Our skilled technicians can evaluate your existing AC system and recommend repairs or replacement to get you back to comfortable living. Give us a call at , and breathe easier!
Pruett Air Conditioning has offices in Warner Robins and Eastman, GA, so no matter where in Middle Georgia you’re located, Pruett is your local HVAC company.
- Bonaire, GA
- Byron, GA
- Centerville, GA
- Cochran, GA
- Dublin, GA
- Eastman, GA
- Fort Valley, GA
- Kathleen, GA
- Macon, GA
- McRae, GA
- Perry, GA
- Warner Robins, GA