In the dog days of summer, when your home or business’s air conditioner (AC) suddenly goes on the fritz, you don’t care what it takes to get it fixed. In sheer desperation, you end up hiring the first company you call, an extremely expensive and less-than-reputable service contractor who promises the world. For a brief period after the contractor leaves, everything is back to normal until, suddenly, it isn’t.

Unfortunately, this is an all-too-common occurrence for residential homeowners and businesses. There are far too many dishonest service contractors that cut corners and can’t back up their claims. However, there are some things you can do to ensure you’re hiring the right contractor for the job. With this past July being the hottest month ever recorded in history, here are some tips to ensure you hire an expert AC repair services company.

Comprehensive Service Offering

Look for AC repair companies that offer a comprehensive solution. These are the service contractors that operate 365 days out of the year, provide 24/7 emergency service and offer proactive AC maintenance programs. These are the contractors that excel in selling, servicing, maintaining, and installing AC units.

You’ll typically find that these contractors are Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) specialists. They typically align themselves with some of the best AC brands in the market and they are always well-equipped to handle any emergency.

Vast Selection of Spare Parts

Sometimes replacement parts are needed. Sometimes the AC unit needs to be refurbished, repaired, or replaced entirely. If the service contractor you’ve hired doesn’t have the ability to immediately replace your AC unit, isn’t familiar with your AC unit, or doesn’t have important spare parts, then you could be out for days or even weeks.

The best AC repair contractors carry urgent replacements. These are readily available so that you’re not stuck waiting for that all-important component. While some repairs are relatively easy – such as replacing a thermostat or cleaning the air filters – others are more complex and may involve replacing the fan’s motor or the compressor.

Ask your chosen contractor if they carry spares and what they’ll do if they can’t immediately repair your AC unit. They should be able to provide you with some guarantee that you won’t be left waiting endlessly.

Years in Business

Always check how many years the company has been in business. Make sure they’re a member of your local Better Business Bureau. Check their credentials, accreditations, and organization memberships. Many of these will be listed on their website.

Going with a contractor that just started is a risky proposition. It’s best to choose a contractor with a proven history of performance and one with an established reputation for excellent service. You can easily test how proactive they are by how fast they respond to your calls. The best AC repair service contractors will respond immediately.

Online Reputation

Always check the contractor’s online reputation. Online review services like Google, Yelp, and Facebook are excellent resources. These online resources combine multiple customer reviews and grade the contractor on a score from zero to five. You’ll be able to see what grade they received from customers, what their overall grade is, and be able to read some of the comments.

Trained, Licensed, and Insured Technicians

Your chosen AC service contractor must have the proper licenses and insurance. They should have general liability insurance and insurance that covers their vehicles and the technicians who perform the work. Most importantly, they should be more than happy to show you their certificates attesting to their insurance coverage.

The best AC repair contractors employ highly-trained and professional service technicians. They present themselves well, are on time, and are more than willing to explain what they’re doing and how they’ll help.

Comfort Systems: Wichita’s 24-HR Emergency Solution

Since 1995, Comfort Systems has been raising the bar on service excellence for customers in and around Wichita, KS. Our solutions and professionalism have helped to position us as the first and only choice for residential and commercial customers needing urgent heating, cooling, and plumbing solutions.

We operate 365 days a year and combine our 24-HR emergency service with a dedicated and committed team of highly-trained technicians.

If you need emergency AC repairs or are interested in a new AC unit, contact us now.

Posted in Air Conditioning