Is it worth getting your AC/ heater checked out once or twice a year? and what company should I use for this?

located in CS

Where are you located?

rancher1953 said:

---

Where are you located?

---

CS. sorry

If you want the best then call Tru Service AC and Heating . Caleb Truix is an Aggie and has been in the AC/heating business since he was in high school. His service is second to none. You will be pleased both his knowledge, service and pricing. You will thank me later. His number is (979) 422-0148.

https://www.truserviceac.com/

+1 for TruServ

TruServe and Caleb are the best in Texas.

Carl Walthall - Superior Air Repair. 25 years in business in B/CS.

Definitely worth it if you trust the business / tech doing the work.

Always worth it!!!!!!!!

J/K, I had to say that. Being completely honest with you if you had asked me this question ten plus years ago I would have said to check the AC every year and the heater every other. With the lower quality of equipment on the market now it's best to do both every year.

The key though is finding someone that is actually servicing the unit and not on a sales mission. A compressor will run with a weak capacitor or with an improper refrigerant charge. Catching these things in the spring will normally extend the life
of your unit and prevent untimely breakdowns. If an AC company (that is not a sole proprietor) tells you they can service your AC for less than $120 you will know you've hired a sales man.
We offer a yearly maintenance contract and it's priced where we are not losing money, might make a little money, but most importantly where we are not required to sell anything to cover our overhead.
If you'd like to hear more about what we offer reach out to us at 979-422-0148.

Caleb, I'm also looking for an HVAC company but, unfortunately, do not live in CS or even Texas. Any words of advice on how a layperson can go about finding a company that's top notch? Other than Google ratings, what else can a layperson do?

Such a tough question. I'd say the best bet is social media these days. I get a lot of my new customers from Facebook and TexAgs. I don't advertise anywhere but TexAgs and if I'm being completely honest it's mainly because I get co-op dollars from my manufacturer that I either use or lose. I get emails and calls daily from marketing firms that know the Google review game and how to manipulate it, Angie's list is paid for by the company as is Yelp. The industry says word of mouth is dead but my growth says otherwise. Generally speaking I avoid companies that advertise a lot. I also avoid companies that promise free upgrades or cheap maintenance checks. Overhead costs today are astronomical. Go price a new service truck. When I started in this industry $60/hr was a high service rate and you could make money, now that barely covers the employees cost.
The biggest take away is use your instinct to gauge whether you feel the technician is talking facts or trying to make a sell. I appreciate you asking and I'm happy to answer as many questions as I can.

Check utility companies. CPS energy in SA will do a free one (or contract it out) for customers every 5 years