Q. Can you tell me
exactly how much this job will cost me?
A. In our years of
experience we have found that our customers prefer an accurate price based on
their exact problem. While other companies may quote you an hourly rate that
sounds cheap, the workers they send will come out intent on staying at your
location as long as they can in order to make more money.
Why? Because they are
getting paid by the hour. So what's the rush? And while other companies may give
you a quote over the phone, you must understand that the quote will very likely
change once the service technician is at your home. We don't think that either
is fair to you. By allowing us to send a plumber to your home for an absolute
"free estimate" he can then diagnose your problem in person. Only then will
he and you know exactly what it will take to get the job done and the price to
do it.
At Aaron's Heating
Services, you approve the price
before any work is performed. We make sure you have all the information
necessary to make the best decision possible with the options we give. You will
always have a choice and never have to deal with getting an unapproved invoice
after the work is completed. We are very upfront with our costs to avoid the
customer any surprises. Our trained technicians will walk you through each step
of the way to ensure your complete satisfaction.
Q. Why is my bill so
big?
A. This is what happens
when you get charged for "time and material" as the technician gets paid more the
longer it takes him. Only at Aaron's Heating Services do you get
straight-forward pricing. This shows you the EXACT amount it will cost so that
you can decide before the work even begins.
Q. Are your employees licensed?
A. Yes, with over 20 years of experience we have
amongst our employees, we are licensed by the State of Illinois. We also are
bonded and insured. Our technicians attend a continuing education class each year
required by the State of Illinois.
Q. I have never had to call a
heating specialist before, what
should I expect?
A. Plumbing Services is
serious about customer service and safety. We background check and drug screen
every employee to ensure we have the best personnel in your home. Your first
interaction with our company will be a friendly voice of one of our professional
customer service people eager to assist you in setting up an appointment.
Our technicians will
call you before heading to your home to ensure you are home and to let you know
who is coming. Our technician will arrive in a truck within the time
frame we have agreed to in your schedule. You will be greeted with a clean,
friendly representative from our company who will not only respect you and your
home but listen to you so we can come up with the best solutions for you. We
guarantee your satisfaction so in the event we don't meet you expectations
simply lets us know and we will make it right.
Q. My husband and I work during the week and cannot
stay home to wait for a heating specialist, do you have any options for us?
A. We operate 7 days a week with a full office staff
and technicians ready to exceed your expectations of service. We do not charge
additional for Saturday or Sunday appointments so please call now to set one up
today.
Q. What if my job turns into a larger project, do
you have any payment options?
A. We offer easy to apply for financing with approval
on the spot. Our customers often have multiple jobs for us to take care of and
love the option to spread out the cost with financing. We also accept all major
credit cards, cash and checks.
Q. I am a busy person and in the past I have had
contractors who make multiple trips to fix the problem, do you operate that way?
A. We arrive at your home in a fully stocked super
truck with all the equipment we will need for most home repairs. If we don't
have it with us, one of our delivery vehicles will bring it to your home in
minutes so we can be efficient with your time. On the other hand, many of our
customers have us do while you're here work and we are happy to stay and take
care of anything they want in one trip. This saves you money because we are able
to group the jobs together and discount the overall cost.
Q. What kind of warranty
or guarantee do you offer?
A. Other heating
specialists have a
"Concrete Guarantee"- when their truck leaves your concrete driveway their
guarantee expires! Not with Aaron's Heating Services! With us you have a 100%
SATISFACTION 2-YEAR GUARANTEE.
Q. Do you offer 24 hour emergency service?
A. We are available 24 hours a day/7 days a week to
help with all your heating issues. Call us anytime to be connected to a live
person that can help resolve your heating problem.
Q. Do you offer preventative maintenance programs?
A. Yes, we offer a variety of maintenance programs
including annual sump pump, battery back-up and RPZ inspections to ensure
everything is functioning properly. Feel free to give us call to find out more
details.
Q. What types of
heating services do you offer?
A. We specialize in all types of
heating services
including, new construction, remodeling, commercial work and service work. Feel
free to take a look at our services page for more details.
Q. Why should I
replace my existing furnace or air conditioner?
A. You may wish to consider replacing your furnace or air conditioner if
it is old, inefficient or in need of repair. Today's systems are as much
as 60% more efficient than those systems manufactured as little as ten
years ago. In addition, if not properly maintained, wear and tear on a
furnace or air conditioner can reduce the actual or realized efficiency
of the system. If you are concerned about utility bills or are faced
with an expensive repair, you may want to consider replacing your
heating or cooling equipment rather than enduring another costly season
or paying to replace an expensive component. The utility cost savings of
a new unit may provide an attractive return on your investment. If you
plan on financing the purchase, the monthly savings on your utility bill
should be considered when determining the actual monthly cost of
replacing a system. The offsetting savings may permit you to purchase a
more efficient system.
Q. How
expensive are air conditioners and heat pumps?
A. Many factors affect the cost of a heating or air conditioning system,
including the size of your home, the type and condition of the ductwork
installed and accessories you might need such as a thermostat or an
electronic air cleaner. We have a complete range of systems and
accessories available to meet all your needs, including your financial
ones! We will be happy to assist you in finding the right system to meet
not only your comfort needs but also your household budget.
Q. How
do I select the right heating and cooling products?
A. First, make sure the unit is properly sized. Your comfort consultant
will provide a load calculation for your home. Next, consider any
comfort issues in the home. Some products can reduce air stratification
and uneven temperatures from room to room. If you have allergies, an
indoor unit with an ECM motor will allow you to circulate the air in
your home continuously while filtering the air for about the same cost
as operating a standard light bulb. Finally, know your budget parameters
and the efficiency of the system being proposed. Does the system offer a
payback? In other words, will the monthly savings over time offset the
cost of the new unit or efficiency option being considered?
Q. What
is involved in replacing an old furnace or air conditioner?
A. Aside from the placement of the new equipment, we will inspect
several items and make a determination of whether or not these items
need to be supplied or replaced. Some of the items include: ductwork,
insulation, refrigerant piping, electrical service, wiring, thermostat,
condensate piping, flue piping, flue terminations, chimney liner, slabs,
filter, driers, registers, grills, drain pans and evaporator coil.
Q. What
is involved in installing a new heating or air conditioning system?
A. If a forced air system is being added to the home for the first time,
most of the items noted in the previous Q. and A. may be required to
install the new system. Besides the equipment, the most significant
component is ductwork. The ductwork can be either metal or fiberglass
ductwork. The ductwork needs to be properly sized to deliver the right
amount of air to each room. The ductwork consists of supply and return
ductwork. The supply duct is attached to the outlet of the furnace or
air handler and delivers air to individual zones in your home. We will
determine the size of the ductwork going into a space by the amount of
air that needs to be delivered to the space.
Q. How
long can I expect a new furnace or air conditioner to last?
A. If you have a qualified technician perform regular preventative
maintenance and service suggested for your unit, industry averages
suggest that an air conditioner should last 12-15 years (sea coast
applications may be less) and a gas furnace should last as many as 20-25
years.
Q. What
are some preventative maintenance things I should be aware of?
A. With the proper attention, heating and cooling systems can keep you
comfortable year-round. Heat pumps and oil-fired furnaces and boilers
need a yearly professional tune-up. Gas-fired equipment, on the other
hand, burns cleaner and can be serviced every other year. A close
inspection will uncover leaks, soot, rust, rot, corroded electrical
contacts and frayed wires. In furnace (forced-air) and boiler
(hot-water) systems, the inspection should also cover the chimney,
ductwork or pipes, dampers or valves, blower or pump, registers or
radiators, the fuel line and the gas meter or oil tank — as well as
every part of the furnace or boiler itself.
Next, the system
should be run through a full heating cycle to ensure that it has plenty
of combustion air and chimney draft. Finally, cleaning the burner and
heat exchanger to remove soot and other gunk will prevent such buildup
from impeding smooth operation. For the burner, efficiency hinges on
adjusting the flame to the right size and color, adjusting the flow of
gas or changing the fuel filter in an oil-fired system. A check of the
heat pump should include an inspection of the compressor, fan, indoor
and outdoor coils and refrigerant lines. Indoor and outdoor coils should
be cleaned, and the refrigerant pressure should be checked.
Q. How important
is adding humidity to my home?
A. As we heat our
homes, the air has a tendency to dry out. This dry air can damage the
woodwork and furniture you have in your home as well as zap the moisture
from your skin. Dry air even makes you feel cooler because your body
senses heat as a combination of temperature and humidity. Adding
humidity to offset this drying process will improve your comfort as well
as preserve the woodwork in your home. As an added benefit, you may
actually be able to lower your thermostat a couple of degrees. You will
not only feel warmer but you may actually lower your heating bill!
Adding this much
needed moisture will make your home a healthier and more comfortable
place to spend your time. Contact us and we will be happy to discuss
your choices and provide you with pricing for adding a humidifier to
your home.
Q. How important
is an air filter in my heating and cooling system?
A. It's a fact:
the trapped air we breathe in our homes can be loaded with dust, pollen,
plant spores, and other pollutant particles. In many cases, it's worse
than the air outside.
Q. After my air
conditioner runs for a while, ice forms on the big pipe outside and it
stops cooling. What could be the problem?
A. More than
likely, it's either low on refrigerant or low on airflow. As a
homeowner, replace your filter and allow the unit to thaw out. If the
problem reoccurs, call us to schedule service on your system. We
recommend having annual maintenance performed to keep your systems in
peak operating conditions.
Q. How big of a
furnace or air conditioner do I need for my home?
A. The only way to
size a furnace or air conditioner for your home is to do a heat load
calculation. The capacity needed is based upon how quickly your home
gains or loses heat, not by square footage alone. ACCA's Manual J is an
industry-approved method that we use to insure the proper system is
selected for you.
Q. What does SEER
and AFUE mean?
A. SEER stands for
“Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio”. Basically it tells you how
efficiently it converts electricity to cooling comfort. The higher the
SEER rating, the more efficient the system. By federal law all units
must be a 10 SEER or higher. We recommend having a representative come
to your home and perform a heat load calculation to insure the proper
size unit is installed. This is a free service to our customers that may
help you save money and increase your indoor comfort.
AFUE stands for
“Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency”. This rating tells you how much of
your heating dollars are converted to heat energy put into your home and
how much is lost up the flue pipe. Most older furnaces are 50% to 60%
efficient. That means that for every dollar you spend for gas from your
utility company, $.40 to $.50 are being sent up the flue pipe to the
outdoors. Federal law mandates that all furnaces being produced today be
at least 80% efficient. We offer several different sizes of furnaces up
to 96% efficient. That means that for every dollar you spend on gas from
the utility company $.96 is converted to heat your home and only $.04 is
sent out the flue pipe.
We can visit your
home, perform a heat load calculation and recommend the proper system to
keep you comfortable and save you money. In many cases, homeowners have
saved enough on their utility bills to more than cover the investment of
a new comfort system.
Q. Why is the
upstairs of my house always hotter in summer and cooler in the winter
when I only have one unit? What should I do?
A. Heat rises,
thus the reason it's hotter in the summer. Assuming the system was sized
and installed correctly, you should consider installing a zone system if
possible. Sometimes the addition of return air ductwork will help
improve air movement and help make upper levels more comfortable.
Q. Should I get my
ducts cleaned?
A. Cleaning your
ducts may be beneficial in improving your indoor air quality. A premium
whole-house duct cleaning will help decrease the spread of contaminates
in your ductwork and home. New construction homes can benefit from
having the ductwork cleaned to remove drywall dust, sawdust and other
debris from the construction process.
Q. What's that
black stuff on my ceilings and vents?
A. Burning candles
can be the culprit for the black on your walls and ceilings as well as
polluting the air your family breathes. Keep wicks trimmed to no longer
than 1/4th of an inch to help reduce soot from the candles.
Q. Should I be
concerned about carbon monoxide?
A. Carbon
monoxide, also known as the silent killer, can pose a serious threat in
some instances and is yet another reason to have your furnace and water
heater inspected by us. A carbon monoxide detector is a wise investment.
We offer a high quality carbon monoxide detector that has a 5-year
warranty.
Q. During the
winter the fan occasionally shuts off on my heat pump outside unit, then
restarts with a big puff of smoke. What is wrong with it?
A. Nothing is
wrong with your unit. What appears to be smoke is steam from the outdoor
coil after it completes a defrost cycle. After extended run times the
outdoor unit will start to build frost or ice on the coil. The system is
designed to go in a defrost mode when needed to clear the ice away and
keep the efficiency level up.
Q. I have friends
and relatives that have installed UV lights on their furnace. What are
they for and why do I need one?
A. UV is the
abbreviation for ultraviolet. Located in the return air ductwork and by
the indoor cooling coil, the ultraviolet air treatment system
continuously emits high – intensity ultraviolet (UV) energy. The energy
eliminates (kills) a very high percentage of airborne bacteria and germs
passing over the UV light field inside the ductwork. The UV light
mounted next to the indoor cooling coil will help eliminate the growth
of mold, mildew and other contaminates from the drain pan and coil
surface. We recommend installing non-ozone-producing UV products.
Q. My furnace and
air conditioner are both new. Do I really need to have it cleaned?
A. Yes! Even
though your system is new, it still needs to have annual maintenance
performed. This will help keep the warranty in effect. Most all
equipment manufactures state in the terms of their warranty that annual
maintenance must be performed by a qualified technician. Keeping your
system maintained will give you assurance that it is operating at peak
efficiency and safety.
Q. In the world of
plumbing, what is a vent and what does it do?
A. Vents are the
pipes (about 12" high) that stick out of your roof. Vents are necessary
to vent sewer gasses outside of the home. You can think of a vent pipe
like a straw. When you put your thumb over the end of a straw, you can
pull liquid up from the cup. What happens when you remove your thumb?
The liquid drains out and the straw fills with air. Similarly, when
liquid goes down a pipe, air needs to follow it. This air is pulled from
the vent pipe. Without a vent pipe, the liquid will try to pull air
through the P-traps on plumbing fixtures such as your tub and sink! If
this happens, you'll know from the smell! Likewise, without a vent,
draining one fixture may cause another fixture in the house to back up!
Q. Why do I have
hot water in my toilet?
A. You may have
hot water in your toilet because of a bad flapper in the toilet tank or
a bad fill valve. When a toilet has a mixing valve (to prevent
condensation), a little hot water is added to bring the temperature up.
When this system is not functioning correctly, you can get a bowl full
of hot water!
Q. What should I
do in case of a plumbing emergency like water dripping from my ceiling?
A. The first thing
you should remember is that safety comes first. If there are any
electrical appliances nearby, turn the electricity off at the main
breaker. Then, turn off your main water shut off valve. It's a must to
know where this is! (Did you know that a broken pipe or washing machine
hose could flood your home with more than ten gallons of water a
minute?) If you have a water meter, that is where your main valve should
be located. Once the immediate water flow is stopped, call Dial One Hour
to have a plumbing technician promptly sent to your home.
Q. Does Aaron's Heating
Services accept credit
cards?
A. Yes, we accept American Express, Visa, MasterCard,
and Discover credit cards.
