Monday, 12 October 2015

How to Find a Good HVAC Technician

It’s easy to compile a list of HVAC technicians in San Diego, but as someone who doesn’t work in the world of heating and air conditioning, how does one know what’s a fair bid? Are you spending too much or not enough on a contractor? The answers could help you distinguish the difference between a reputable technician and one who is out for your money, not for your customer satisfaction.




1. The details are out on the table

When a technician proposes his bid, the contract should state all conditions, terms and details about the job that is about to be done. When a technician doesn’t provide this, but asks for money, especially up front, this is red flag number one that you should run as fast as you can. When the technician presents the contract to you, make sure he has signed it and dated it with the current date to help assure you that he firmly believes in the work he’s signing over. If there is no signature and date from the technician, make sure to ask him to sign beforehand.

2. Obtain multiple bids

Find three HVAC technicians in San Diego County, but also try to see if there is one that has done work in your community such as El Cajon, Rancho Bernardo or Ramona. If you find a few that you like, obtain a bid from all three. Also ask for references and contract specifications so you can compare the pros and cons of each one. See which contractor goes the extra mile for the price and you’ll find out that a not-so-good technician may be charging you a whole lot for nothing. Choosing the lowest bidder does not help you in any way shape or form because you may be paying down the road for the poor job.

3. A fair bid will not ask for it all upfront

This is an important tip to remember. When a technician is giving a fair bid, a great one that is fair will not ask for the money in full up front. If they do, move onto the next contractor and ask for their contract and estimate.  A fair bid will only require partial payment up front, with the other half after the job is successfully done. This is so that the customer satisfaction is met on their terms, without the heating and cooling contractor losing out on money and a job.

In conclusion

During your search, make sure to read references and search around for non-biased reviews. Non-biased reviews are reviews that are not posted on their own website, but ones on Yelp and Facebook, as they do not allow negative reviews to be removed without a fight or reasoning with proof. It’s important to remember that the lowest bidder is not always the best and you ultimately get what you pay for, whether it’s instant or down the line. To know more you can visit Airmakers HVAC services in San Diego  

Friday, 28 August 2015

Finding a Good Air Conditioning Contractor in San Diego

Air Conditioning Contractors in San Diego that are reliable can be hard to find. That’s why we set out to help you identify the best contractor. There are plenty that hire anyone just to obtain more employees and more customers. In return, many customers would be presented with crap work that drains them of their money, but with no prior research, customers won’t know anything is wrong. Don’t be one of those people!

Finding a good contractor

We’ve all researched for a good dentist, hairstylist, tattoo artist, but have you really researched a great heating and cooling contractor? You might think, “oh, it’s an A/C, those are simple to put in”, making you believe that there isn’t anything that could go wrong – but there is.

Research local contractors – Make sure your contractor is licensed and up to date with requirements. If you currently have a central cooling system with a condenser or heat pump, make sure you know the specifications of that A/C unit. You also want to make note of its placement and which rooms that do not seem to get cool. This can help a potential contractor identify a problem with your system.

Keep the cost as low as the temperature – Make sure you look for energy efficient contractors by asking if they comply with ENERGY STAR standards. If you’re purchasing a new unit, this is an extremely helpful tip. ENERGY STAR has some strict energy-efficient standards that were set by the US government to insure efficient energy use for anything from batteries to HVAC systems. When a unit has complied with ENERGY STAR terms, this means it really is energy efficient and it isn’t just the name slapped on the logo. If a contractor doesn’t promote ENERGY STAR efficiency, they may be a stubborn contractor to work with and a bit out of touch. You may want to do more research for a better heating and air contractor.

The lowest price may not be the best – Often times, something that IS energy efficient costs a little more. When a contractor gives you a super low estimate, make sure to ask them if it’s ENERGY STAR compliant. Just because they hand you a low estimate, doesn’t mean your utility bills will be low in the future. This is a good sign that the contractor works for a company that only wants your money when they don’t present energy efficient products.

Find out how long they’ve been in business – This is crucial. If the shop is completely new, they still may be a good company, but you’ll have to research extra hard as they probably don’t have much of record for your to make a good judgement. There are plenty of companies that are out to take your money. Instead, find a local shop that has been in business for quite some time. This usually means that they’ve given quality work over time to stay in business this long. Also, ask if they’re a member of NATE (North American Technical Excellence).

 Ask about their refund policy – This is crucial. Any good contractor would have a refund policy ready in case you are not happy with their service. Most of the time, they will have one, as they are confident with the products they are selling you and with their installation quality. Some brands like Bryant have automatic guarantees. Other Brands like Rheem and Fujitsu come with good guarantees as well.


In conclusion

Before the Internet, I would have never thought about how to find a good contractor. We hope that others learn something new with this article, in return, helping them save money in the future and find a great contractor to refer others to. For more info visit at the site of Airmakers San Diego's Heating and Air conditioning specialist.

Monday, 17 August 2015

AIR CONDITIONING SAN DIEGO: MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE

Heating and Air Conditioning San Diego

It’s the summer time and you’re ready for some air conditioning installation in San Diego. California is hot and dry, but with the perfect room air conditioning system, you’ll be able to beat the heat efficiently.

Choosing the right air conditioner

You want to make sure that you first know the dimensions of your room; this is because it’s essential when choosing the AC unit with the right BTU power. Thankfully, there are online calculators in which you can insert your room size and it will tell you what BTU you will have to look for when purchasing an air conditioner.

But this isn’t the only thing to consider when purchasing an air conditioner. You also have to think about how many people are typically in the room. This isn’t because you want to make sure Martha and Fred are both cold, you want to calculate body heat to keep the air comfortable. When you have extra people in the room beside yourself, you want to add 600 BTUs per person. While you can’t change the BTU when people walk in and out of your room, you have to think about how many people are typically in your house. If Martha and Fred invite their 7 grand kids from north county San Diego for the week, you want to make sure you take that into account.

If you’re putting an AC unit in your kitchen window or a portable AC somewhere in the room, an air conditioning expert on popularmechanics.com suggests that you get a 4000 BTU air conditioner. But you also want to make sure that this AC isn’t in your only window. If you have a double window, make sure that it fits on one side. If the AC is in your only window, make sure you’re aware of fire safety incase that window is your only exit. As a San Diego resident, you know California forest fires happen too often as a result of our drought.

How to install an air conditioner

Diagrams and fancy words can be tough to follow, so if you’re someone who reads instructions better than you do pictures, we’ve got you covered.

Pre-installation
It’s the summer time and you’re ready for some air conditioning installation in San Diego. California is hot and dry, but with the perfect room air conditioning system, you’ll be able to beat the heat efficiently.

Choosing the right air conditioner

You want to make sure that you first know the dimensions of your room; this is because it’s essential when choosing the AC unit with the right BTU power. Thankfully, there are online calculators in which you can insert your room size and it will tell you what BTU you will have to look for when purchasing an air conditioner.

But this isn’t the only thing to consider when purchasing an air conditioner. You also have to think about how many people are typically in the room. This isn’t because you want to make sure Martha and Fred are both cold, you want to calculate body heat to keep the air comfortable. When you have extra people in the room beside yourself, you want to add 600 BTUs per person. While you can’t change the BTU when people walk in and out of your room, you have to think about how many people are typically in your house. If Martha and Fred invite their 7 grand kids from north county San Diego for the week, you want to make sure you take that into account.

If you’re putting an AC unit in your kitchen window or a portable AC somewhere in the room, an air conditioning expert on popularmechanics.com suggests that you get a 4000 BTU air conditioner. But you also want to make sure that this AC isn’t in your only window. If you have a double window, make sure that it fits on one side. If the AC is in your only window, make sure you’re aware of fire safety incase that window is your only exit. As a San Diego resident, you know California forest fires happen too often as a result of our drought.

How to install an air conditioner

Diagrams and fancy words can be tough to follow, so if you’re someone who reads instructions better than you do pictures, we’ve got you covered.

Pre-installation

Make sure your windowpane and surrounding areas are not rotted and they are in good condition. Air conditioners are typically heavy, so any movement in its surroundings can loosen and make the AC fall.

Tip: Choose a window that the sun doesn’t shine through in the afternoon. This will help save you money so the AC isn’t on overdrive.

You also want to make sure that the window is near an outlet or at least an extension chord that can be safely tucked away.

Step one

First you want to mount the air conditioner. If your AC has come with the accordion styled panels, you want to slide them on the sides of your air conditioner. This will help keep the weather out and the AC in after you close your window.

Step two

Grab an extra set of arms and lift the air conditioner into the window. You may have to have someone go outside to help hold the AC when you do so. Once this is done, you want to shut the window and slide the accordion panels toward the sides of the window.

Step three

Sometimes there will be gaps or weather stripping that come with your AC’s accessories. If you do have those, make sure to use them to fill the gaps. Kits may or may not also include brackets to help you secure the AC to the window or metal. If so, there will be two different types of screws.

In conclusion

Overall, there are many types of air conditioners that are energy efficient, and self-installation is pretty easy. If you’re looking for something that’s more like central air conditioning, a trusted San Diego air conditioning company (also referred to as HVAC)can help. They’ll save you time and help you get the best AC for your budget and home.  
Make sure your windowpane and surrounding areas are not rotted and they are in good condition. Air conditioners are typically heavy, so any movement in its surroundings can loosen and make the AC fall.
Air Conditoning Installation San Diego

Tip: Choose a window that the sun doesn’t shine through in the afternoon. This will help save you money so the AC isn’t on overdrive.

You also want to make sure that the window is near an outlet or at least an extension chord that can be safely tucked away.

Step one

First you want to mount the air conditioner. If your AC has come with the accordion styled panels, you want to slide them on the sides of your air conditioner. This will help keep the weather out and the AC in after you close your window.

Step two

Grab an extra set of arms and lift the air conditioner into the window. You may have to have someone go outside to help hold the AC when you do so. Once this is done, you want to shut the window and slide the accordion panels toward the sides of the window.

Step three

Sometimes there will be gaps or weather stripping that come with your AC’s accessories. If you do have those, make sure to use them to fill the gaps. Kits may or may not also include brackets to help you secure the AC to the window or metal. If so, there will be two different types of screws.

In conclusion


Overall, there are many types of air conditioners that are energy efficient, and self-installation is pretty easy. If you’re looking for something that’s more like central air conditioning, a trusted San Diego air conditioningcompany (also referred to as HVAC)can help. They’ll save you time and help you get the best AC for your budget and home.  

Friday, 31 July 2015

Fix HVAC on Time to Avoid Troubles and Huge Energy Costs

HVAC system is an important part of American households. It is essential for living comfortably and to escape from the harsh effects that weathers can have on us. This system typically includes several components for cooling, heating, and ventilation. All these components work collectively in making the space indoors comfortable and livable.  Just like any other complex machinery, if any of those components were to break down - the whole machine can come to a halt. It can lead to poor functioning of the unit.Components that are not functioning properly can influence the entire unit. If you want to make your family enjoy comfortable living you need to ensure that cooling,

Air Conditioning San Diego


 heating, and ventilations continues to work properly so that the overall utility energy costs remain affordable. Talk it out with  air conditioning contractors in San Diego as to what measures you can take in which the problems related to this unit can be stopped at the very initial stage.

You should know that HVAC units consume maximum energy and has major impact on energy bills. Somewhere around 54% of the total utility bills comes from using heating and cooling unit. That is significant! A malfunctioning system or poorly operating unit can further increase those costs. The thing is that majority of those problems are very cheap and easy to fix provided you get in touch with finest Heating and air conditioning contractors in San Diego. Instead of waiting for any of the HVAC problems to get fixed on their own, do take an early action because nobody likes having to look at huge energy bills at the end of the month. wdq

Whether the filter is dirty, or the thermostat is broken, or the dampers are not balanced properly; take these issues to an expert and let him handle the rest.