Tips To Choose a Maytag Air Conditioning Contractor

Last week, we went over two big tips for helping you choose a heating and cooling contractor in the Tampa Bay.  As a follow up, Castellano A/C Services is pleased to present you with tips 3 to 5:


Three more things to look for before opening your home—and your wallet:

3. Up-Front Pricing – Couple of points here. First and most common are the contractors who just say, “We’ll let you know how much it is and how long it’ll take once we take everything apart.” That’s dangerous, since you could be stuck with parts scattered everywhere or just a “guess” on the completion.

Legitimate heating and cooling contractors—and there are many—should give a price for services before work begins, and ask for payment only when work has been completed. We call this up-front pricing, and it’s the fairest, most convenient method.
Our technicians arrive, ask questions, diagnose and then give you a price and schedule for the work’s completion. Then you decide to go forward or not.

4. Scheduling – Think about it.  You’re hot or cold.  And your HVAC contractor has just said he’d be glad to come out and take a look at your system a week from Tuesday.  The fact is, if he can’t provide satisfactory relief, maybe you should keep looking. 

Sure, the more popular contractors will have scheduling issues in the middle of a busy season – us included - but the scheduling should be explained with the assurance that the contractor will get there as soon as he can. 

Many Contractors offer Maintenance Agreement programs that allow for Priority Scheduling – even in busiest times – which is one of many benefits. Regardless, when you schedule for a repair, ask for a specific time, and expect your contractor to keep it, with reasonable updates during any delays.

5. Guarantees – Most companies “say” they guarantee their work but sadly, the words often get conveniently forgotten if a problem arises. And that’s the only time you’ll know… or care. Without a guarantee on parts and labor, you may have another system breakdown and be expected to pay the same price to have it fixed again. That’s crazy.

Plus, on a replacement system, you’re investing in a long-term solution. That’s why MAYTAG  not only manufactures state-of-the-art reliability into new systems, but gives you real peace of mind with some of the longest warranties in the entire industry.

So if your contractor answers your questions with answers like “Oh, trust me it’ll be fine." or "What do you need a guarantee for?”, then you should make other arrangements.  MAYTAG contractors come with the assurance of having been pre-screened in their abilities to consistently provide prompt, efficient assistance for our customers.  As a MAYTAG approved contractor, your satisfaction, future business and referrals are too important to us to risk otherwise!

Remember, you are calling a contractor because you have a problem.  The contractor's job is to solve those problems – not add to them.  Understanding the above list can save you time, money, and quite possibly, a few gray hairs.

Want more solutions to these and other heating and cooling challenges and get more than you pay for? Contact Castellano Air Conditioning Tampa Bay Services at 813-877-6997 for more information.  24/7 emergency services available.

Mold in a Home or Building

Last week, we briefly discussed what mold is and how toxic mold can impair your indoor air quality and adversely affect your health.  Today, we will go over what you should do if you suspect you have mold in your home or building.

The first step is to alert your HVAC contractor and/or the building contractor (if the building is relatively new) regarding your concerns. The next step is education and exploring solutions. If mold is found, identifying the type will help establish whether any dangers are present. If health issues are present, evacuation, abatement, and remediation are necessary.  The identification of mold requires specialized testing and laboratory analysis to determine the type of mold and any of the health hazards that may be associated with it.  If your HVAC contractor does not perform mold analysis, abatement, and remediation, they may be able to identify a partnering company that is a trained and certified in this type of work.

How can I minimize mold growth?

Mold is a natural byproduct of the fungi family that thrive when nutrients—primarily organic substances and water—are found in the right conditions. These organic substances include materials commonly found in buildings: soil, dead plants, carpets, drywall, fiberboard, wood, paper, dust, lint, and etc.  Mold propagates via spores that can remain dormant—yet viable—for years during periods when moisture is not present. Mold issues require education, identification, remediation, and solutions to minimize mold growth in the environments we live.

Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) mechanical systems are not generators of mold. Their metallic surfaces do not provide the organic matter mold needs to grow.  However, systems that are not well maintained could support mold growth.

Have questions? Contact the indoor air quality and air conditioning experts at Castellano A/C Services in Tampa.  24/7 emergency services available. www.aircastellano.com

Indoor Air Quality and Mold

Mold is everywhere and can have many benefits.  Molds are the “bleu” in bleu cheese and Roquefort. Molds improve our wine. They produce penicillin and antibiotics and are used widely in
the food and beverage industry. Without mold and mold’s decaying mechanism, the natural environment would be overwhelmed with large amounts of dead organic matter.

Despite many harmless and beneficial molds, some molds can be toxic and pose very serious health threats to humans. The Environmental Protective Agency (EPA) cautions that all molds can cause health problems under the right conditions. The word “toxic” is used to refer to mold that produces toxic compounds, or mycotoxins.  Often included in the list of toxic molds is Stachybotrys Chartarum, a greenish-black mold, which can grow on high cellulose, low nitrogen materials such as fiberboard, drywall, paper, dust and lint in the presence of moisture.

Adverse Health Effects of Toxic Mold:

There are correlations of mold exposure contributing to the following symptoms:

• Allergic reactions, including irritation of the eyes, nose, or throat
• Flu-like symptoms, including fatigue,dizziness, headaches, and diarrhea
• Worsening of asthma.

Some molds can amplify poor Indoor Air Quality and are capable of making people sick.

If you are concerned about the quality of your indoor air, contact the air quality experts at Castellano A/C Services.  We provide 24/7 emergency service.

Check back for our next blog: If You Suspect Mold in Your Home or Building

The Importance of HVAC System Maintenance

Properly maintained HVAC systems can provide increased durability and prevent sudden problems like losing air in the middle of a hot night or your furnace dying on a cold day. Regular maintenance will ensure that your HVAC system continues to operate at peak performance.

 

 

If you have any questions about HVAC system maintenance, please contact the air quality experts at Castellano A/C Services in Tampa.