Where do I find air conditioner repair near me?

There are still plenty of weeks remaining of hot, sticky weather and living through it without a fully-functional air conditioning unit is too uncomfortable to contemplate.

If the unthinkable does happen, however, make sure to search for an air conditioner repair option that offers the right mixture of experience, expertise and customer service to fix the problem quickly, fully and with the type of service you deserve.

The thing is, when you’re sitting there sweating and wondering, “what company provides the best air conditioner repair near me?” there are a number of questions you need to answer first before determining the ultimate answer.

First, ask questions of your neighbors, friends and co-workers. Who do they use? Who has provided a great experience? Who has provided a bad experience? Word-of-mouth advertising is perhaps the oldest form of media available and is still a solid method of gathering information. You’ll also want to ask when they had the work performed (if it was a while ago, things could have changed at the company), the name of the technician (you can always request a technician by name).

Next, you should check the company out – either via their website or a phone call – for a number of factors:

When I do find air conditioner repair near me, how long have they been in business?

If you have an older unit that needs repair, it won’t do to have your technician familiar only with newer technology. And companies that have been around for several years have demonstrated both staying power in the market and the ability to grow with HVAC industry, which is constantly evolving at a very fast pace.

Do they continue to train and teach their technicians on new technology?

Even if you have an older system, it’s always a good idea for a company’s technicians to know new technology and methodologies. The more they know, the more options they will have when working.

Are their technicians NATE certified and fully insured?

You want your air conditioning repair company to stand behind its work, and by employing nationally-accredited and insured technicians, it shows a commitment to quality and service.

What type of air conditioning units and parts do they themselves sell and supply?

Certainly, there are some universal technologies in HVAC repair and servicing. But it’s always a good idea to check and see if the company you intend to hire sells or is familiar with the type of air conditioner you have in your home already.

What kind of emphasis do they put on customer service?

It’s a fair question to ask, and there are several ways to determine how important it is to them. For example, do they drug test their employees? A commitment to this policy shows how serious a company is about their reputation. The same goes for safety training.

Will they give me a quote in person and in writing?

No HVAC company worth its salt will offer to give you a quote over the phone. They need to come out and see the issue firsthand and get to know your home. Every system’s parameters and needs are unique because of the home that they are cooling, so while they may be able to come up with the likely issue via phone call, they will not want to make an estimate of the work without knowing the specifics of what the unit must accomplish. Also, you need a repair/service contract in writing so that you have permanent documentation.

These are just a handful of questions you should ask before committing to an HVAC company for service or repair.

It does take a commitment from you, the homeowner, but these are not difficult questions and can be answered from very simple investigations.