Air Conditioning Services: How Much Are You Being Charged

This Blog was posted by Smithson Valley Services Air Conditioning. We serve the Texas Hill Country, including Blanco | Bulverde | Canyon Lake | Fisher | Kendalia | New Braunfels | North San Antonio | Sattler | Sisterdale | Smithson Valley | Spring Branch | Startzville

Warning: Most heating and air conditioning companies mark up their repair parts by 400% or more! If you want to know what those parts really cost them, please read.

This is not your typical website where you have to sift through a bunch of boring, irrelevant information on some company you have never heard of before to try and figure out if you want to give them a call to come to fix your AC.

I promise, no annoying logos of air conditioning equipment brands plastered all over the place that are only there because we have received a kickback to recommend them. Yes, it happens; it is called co-op.

No self-serving, silly pictures of the owners and employees… Okay, maybe a couple of silly pictures of the owner!

You’ll find none of the typical stuff you see on a million other air conditioning websites that do very little to help you choose a company you can trust and who will do the job right and at a price you can be comfortable with.

As I said, this is not a typical company site, but it will save you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars on heating and air-conditioning repairs or system replacements.

I’m not kidding when I say that, either. Unlike the other guys who may claim they have the lowest price in town, I’m prepared to prove it if you stick around for a while.

Before we get on with that, let me say that most folks know very little about their HVAC system, and air conditioning contractors will use that to their advantage. By the way, if you are wondering what HVAC stands for, it’s Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning.

Actually, it’s not surprising that most homeowners know very little about how the air conditioning system keeps them comfortable. Why would you? I mean, it is not something we learn in school or deal with very often or even think about much unless it is not working.

You set your thermostat to come on when it gets too hot or too cold in the house, and it kind of just does its magic. Maybe you change the air filters once a month or once a year?

I’ve been in this line of work for quite a few years now, and I’d have to say that at least 80% of the people I visit do not know where their air handling unit is located… or that they even have an air handling unit! The air handler is an integral piece of the heating and cooling system and is usually pretty big, yet many people have never even seen it!

They know nothing about the evaporator coil, contactor, capacitor, condensate drains, and on and on. Trust me, it’s certainly understandable, and there is a reason I’m beating this dead horse.

Service technicians know that they can talk a bunch of air conditioning trade lingo, and you will have no idea if they are being straight with you.

This is a tough economy we are going thru, and there are tons of heating and cooling companies in the area that are all trying to compete for the same customer. When many companies get a customer on the hook, there is no telling when the phone will ring again, so they get everything they can out of them!

But don’t take my word for it that many companies push their service technicians right up to the line of what can be considered unethical to maximize profits. You don’t know me any better than any other guy out there… at least not yet, anyway.

Let me tell you this. I’m sure you probably have heard of freon or refrigerant and maybe have had to add some to your system in the past. If someone such as yourself is going to know something about an air conditioner, it usually has to do with freon, right?

So, we have some common ground we can work with here. All air conditioners need freon to work. It is never supposed to need replacing, and if you have to add any to get your unit cooling again, you most likely have a leak, or it was never charged right to begin with.

Now, over time it is possible to develop very tiny leaks in your system, and if you add a couple of pounds of freon at the beginning of the summer, you can oftentimes make it to the fall without adding more. This is pretty common, and it is also a heating and cooling company’s best friend!

With a quick service call and a few pounds of freon, you are in and out the door in just a few minutes, but they still charge you an arm and a leg for that freon. Just call around, and you will see that most are charging from $65 a pound up to $200 -$300. Many won’t even tell you they charge and say they need to get out to your house and do a proper diagnostic before they can tell you anything.

Fair enough, but what happens when they charge you $89 to come out and then tell you that you need 3 lbs of freon at $100 per pound?

Here is where I come in. I charge just $25 per pound: the same refrigerant and the same method of putting it in the system. I use superheat readings to charge the system properly; most guys just put their hands on the pipe until it gets cold, which is not good.

I also have low service charges, much lower than most other companies. Just $39 gets me to your door and a proper diagnosis of your air conditioner in writing.

I’m properly licensed and have a fully stocked service van, and use the same parts everyone else does. The only difference is I do not mark those parts up by 400% or more like most other contractors. I list what the part cost me and everyone else on my main website!

I describe the repair and how long it should take and give you a price on what the job should cost on my website!

Need a new fan condenser motor? Most will charge well over $300 for that job. Some go as high as $600 or $700. My price? Generally under $180!

Need a contractor or dual capacitor? No problem, just look them up on my site and see what the part costs and how long the job will take. Then tell that repairman who quoted 5 times as much to please go away.

I have a video on my main company website that explains it all. But you may be asking how I can keep my prices low, right?

Simple really. I have very low overhead and make most of my income in online sales, not by charging outrageous repair prices.

When I say low overhead, that does not mean I drive an old pickup truck and work off the kitchen table. No backwoods mechanic here. All of my vehicles are paid for, meaning you are not making the monthly payments!

I sure don’t mean to beat up on other companies, and I will never name names, but you have to be careful. I’ve been in this business long enough to know home some guys operate.

The fact that I put what I pay for my parts on my website ought to give you peace of mind, and I’d sure like to earn the rest!

You can check out my video and all the info and then give me a call if you feel comfortable doing so. At the very least, use that information as a negotiating tool if you call on someone else, okay?

Oh, this site is a place where I will be documenting a lot of the service calls I go on as well as explaining some of the more common problems you might experience as your air conditioning unit begins to get some age on it.

I might talk a little about organizations like ACCA and ASHRAE and what they do to regulate our industry. I will also voice my opinion of the Better Business Bureau and the State Contractor’s Board.

This site will be a platform where I can educate, inform and express my opinions about the heating and air conditioning industry. I will, of course, talk about the various heating and cooling equipment brands like Trane, Carrier, York, and Goodman, but I will tell you upfront they are all roughly the same. What matters is how they are installed and by whom.

So come back and visit often and if you need help, give me a call, and I’ll do whatever it takes to win your loyalty.

Thanks, and hope to see you soon!

Pest Infestations – Pest Control

This Blog was posted for you By Your Pest Control San Antonio – Jenkins Pest and Lawn

Pest Infestations – Pest Control

Whenever there is any pest infestation, you need to call the experts to handle the situation. When you see an infestation, don’t wait just call in an exterminator. Our company is the best Pest Control exterminator in town. We provide great service we help anyone who needs their house to be cleaned of all those pests. We are a professional company that offers you service and helps you eliminate all kinds of pests like roaches, bedbugs, and dust mites. residential pest control
We eliminate any kind of infestation in your home or office or any kind of residential or commercial area. Pests are commonly seen around houses and restaurants where leftover food attracts this pest. We offer our services to keep these pests under control. We provide quality service with our years of experience; we assure you the best quality of solution to all your pest problems.

We are experts, and our staff is well trained with years of experience under their belts. Our dedicated Pest Control staff is well trained and experienced in handling any kind of pest infestation. We even teach you how you need to do your part in keeping these pests away from your house, offices, shops, or other commercial or residential establishments, to get the job done in the right way. We have the proper tools to handle any kind of situation. We can even handle an urgent or heavy infestation of roaches or rats. Some exterminators are specialists in certain pests, but we have a broader repertoire. We have alternate tools and methods for all different kinds of pests. Be it a roach or a rat; we have a solution for all your problems. You name it; we have it. We have guys who can take care of any kind of pest.

Roaches, rats, and bugs can invade without us being aware of their presence. As we know, pests can multiply rapidly and overrun a house. When you notice infestations around, don’t wait; if they are not controlled, they can cause various kinds of disease and distress to the family and pets. But, have no fear as our professional team is here to help you against all these pests. Once you call us, we will come in for an inspection, let you know our service charges, and set them according to your needs.

Once we have evaluated your house, you come to our office, or we will send in the quotation in whichever way possible. We work according to our client’s needs. We can alter services to facilitate our clients. For example, our Pest Control company sees that our client is satisfied with our service. Regarding controlling pests, we are your best friend and are happy to serve you with our excellent team and dedicated staff. We are at your command. Stay in touch with us and keep your office, houses, and establishments clean and pest-free.

CALL NOW FOR A FREE ESTIMATE!

Residential Pest Control – Spiders

Residential Pest Control – Spiders

No doubt you have noticed, the spider population has increased this year. Remember that over the past few years, we were in a drought, or recovering from a drought. So the insect and spider population was noticeably down. But now, we have had an increase in moisture which brings about an increase in insects. And when insects increase, their predators also increase – thus, the increase in spiders. What can we do about it?spider control - exterminators

One method of control for insects and spiders is an obvious one – having a clean home. Dusting and vacuuming are very good methods for controlling spiders inside your house. When you go outside, you may see webs and spiders around your porch lights, on your eves, under your decks, under the siding around your house, and even in your mulch or bushes around your property.

You may see a beautifully made circular web, and just a few inches to the right or left you’ll see a very large spider called a web orb spider. Although they may not cause any harm to you or me, they look like a big crab sitting underneath your deck. They eat a lot of insects! With the attraction of available food comes other types of spiders, such as black widows, wolf spiders, and cellar spiders – all wanting in on the feast.

Being a homeowner like me, you don’t want to share your home with bad or even good predators, and that’s why you need professional help to treat and get rid of spiders. Your typical household spider sprays do not have the strength to permanently eliminate a spider issue.

Spiders are killed by contact, or they may be killed ingesting a poisoned insect, or through specially designed pesticide dust – and sometimes even just a good old broom.spiders - pest control

Today’s chemicals used by a professional exterminator are residual – which means they last long enough in the area applied to allow spiders and insects to pass through and absorb through their exoskeleton or be poisoned by eating another poisoned insect, or possibly even by grooming themselves in a treated area. The point is, today’s professionals have the education necessary to access and determine the best possible treatment for your specific needs and protection.

This Blog was posted for you By Your Pest Control San Antonio – Jenkins Pest and Lawn