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Frequently
Asked Questions:
1. What should
I do before I place a service call if it is too hot or too cold?
There are several
quick things to check to ensure a technician is required to repair the system:
- Check to ensure
the circuit breakers have not tripped.
If they have tripped reset and check if this has caused equipment to come back
on.
- Check the thermostat
settings.
The system switch should be in the auto position and the fan switch should
be in the on position. The temperature setting for cooling should be no lower
than 20° and heating should be between 20° and 22°.
- Hold your hand
up to the grille (diffuser) where the air comes out and verify that there is air
flow and whether the air is hot or cold. If there is no air flow there is a fan
issue.
- If there is air
flow but the air is blowing hot there is a problem that should be checked by a
technician.
If you've done
the above and you are still not comfortable, a service call should be placed to
your service provider.
2. Why is there
such a large difference in the price between service agreements from contractors?
Heating and air
conditioning service agreements have two elements that combine to make up the
price. These two elements are:
- Hourly charge
out rate.
- The amount of
time allowed to service the equipment.
Each contractor
uses a charge out rate to sell their skills and the difference in charge out rates
may be large, but they do not have a corresponding effect on the price of a service
agreement.
For example, contractor
A charges $75.00 per hour and contractor B charges $80.00 per hour. The $5.00
per hour difference represents a price difference of 6.67%.
If contractor A
allows 10 minutes per unit to service 10 rooftop units and contractor B allows
20 minutes per unit, contractor B's price is double.
To ensure that
you receive value, a minimum time should be established for servicing each particular
piece of equipment taking into account the type of equipment, access to the equipment,
usage, operating hours and frequency of inspection. 
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