Just like any mechanical and electronic unit, your HVAC can develop issues out of the blue. If such happens during a scorching afternoon or a frigid night, for many of us, this can be categorized as a disaster. As a result, finding an emergency HVAC technician is a necessity.
Therefore, this article will guide you on what you can do when this disaster occurs. We’ll also reveal how emergency technicians can help you. Finally, we’ll guide you on how to find a reliable technician.
When Disaster Strikes: Emergency HVAC and AC Repairs
When disaster strikes, your first instinct might be to find a technician to fix the problem. You can visit https://www.angi.com/articles/5-diy-solutions-common-hvac-problems.htm to find out some common HVAC problems you’ll likely encounter. However, there are things you can do yourself first before making that call. Therefore, we’ll guide you on what you can do, and when you need to call professionals, and what they can do.
Immediate Actions You Can Take
When the system breaks down, do the following:
Ensure Safety
Turn off your HVAC once you notice an issue. This action is important to ensure your safety. Trying to fix the issue while the unit is still running can lead to electrical shock or physical damage.
Check your Thermostat
The thermostat controls the temperature output of the HVAC. If the issue has to do with inconsistent temperature, then the thermostat might just be the culprit. Therefore, you need to check the thermostat and adjust the mode and temperature.
Reset Circuit Breaker
Sometimes circuit breakers connected to the HVAC might have tripped. Therefore, you need to examine these circuit breakers. If you find a tripped breaker, reset it.
Replace Air Filter
The HVAC might not work properly due to clogged air filters. Preventing and fixing this from occurring involves cleanup from time to time. You can also replace the filter if it’s been more than 90 days since you last replaced it.
When You Need Professionals
If you’ve tried those actions and the problem persists, then you need to call the professionals. Also, if you feel that handling the issue on your own can lead to safety or health risks, these technicians are trained to handle the problem without these risks. Finally, with their help, they can thoroughly inspect the HVAC for other issues that might pop up in the future.
24/7 Emergency Air Conditioning Assistance
The fact that it’s an emergency doesn’t mean you hire the first technician you encounter. Instead, you need to carefully choose out of the HVAC services that are in the industry. Since it’s an emergency, you need professionals that will be available 24/7. Therefore, in this section, we’ll reveal tips you need to follow to find a 24/7 emergency air condition assistance company.
Research and Create a List
When you need an HVAC professional to fix your unit, the first thing you need to do is to carry out research. Look for contractors in your area that deal with emergencies. This can be done by carrying out certain actions.
First of all, get recommendations from folks in your social circle. This includes family, friends, colleagues, neighbors, etc. Find out if they’ve used any emergency HVAC contractors in the past. When they say they have, get the names and contacts of those contractors.
Another way you can get a reliable company is to use the Internet. You can run a Google search or use online directories. Either way, the idea is to find companies near you that offer these services.
We also recommend that you read customer testimonials if you found the companies on the internet. This is an important step to ensure the reliability of the company. It’ll also help you decide if you want to work with them. Once you are done with this first round of research, list out the companies or contractors you consider reliable.
Confirm their Round-the-Clock Readiness & Response Time
For a company to function as an emergency provider, it must be always available and have a quick response time. That means there are no off days or holidays. From the list you have at hand, contact the companies one after the other to find out their operation days. If a company is not always available, strike them off the list.
Apart from their readiness, find out what their response time is. This has to do with how soon they can get to your home or office to fix the problem. Their promptness to respond to calls should also be considered.
Find Out if They are Licensed and Insured
The next step is to confirm that the providers still on your list are licensed and insured. A contractor without a license is operating illegally. As such, there is no guarantee of their expertise or professionalism.
Furthermore, the company must have proper insurance coverage for all its staff. With insurance, you aren’t held responsible for treatment if a professional gets injured while working on your unit. To save yourself from any of such liability, only leave contractors with insurance and license on the list.
Assess their Experience and Certifications
Emergencies mean there’s no time for the technician to determine how to fix the problem. Usually, professionals who deal with emergencies are experts with years of experience in the repertoire. Therefore, you need to find out what the experience of the professional coming for the repair is.
Certifications are another proof of a technician’s ability to handle emergencies and training. You can ask them if they possess NATE certification, EPA 608 certification, or other industry-related certification. You can read this article to find out what NATE certification is. If they don’t have proper experience and certifications, take their names off your list.
Conclusion
Dealing with HVAC emergencies can be a bother especially if you don’t know what to do. However, this article has provided you with actions you can take to assess and fix these emergencies without the help of an HVAC repair service. These actions can be carried out by anybody. We then provide you with tips on how to find a reliable emergency HVAC repair service in case you can’t handle the issue yourself.
