Maintaining customer satisfaction is a crucial aspect of any business, but it’s even more important for heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) companies that have earned the prestigious Diamond Certified award. For the employees of Air Flow Pros, being 100 percent committed to customer satisfaction is the most important part of the job. “Our goal is to give our customers the most value without compromising our quality of service,” says President Jose Sandoval. “We’re open and honest, and our customers trust us to do the work correctly the first time.”

Air Flow Pros has been providing HVAC services for residential and commercial clients throughout San Francisco, the Peninsula, the South Bay and Marin County since 2009. In addition to installing, maintaining and repairing all brands of HVAC systems (including 24/7 emergency service), the family-owned and operated company provides systems and components from major heating and cooling manufacturers such as Carrier and Trane.

Unlike other HVAC companies that sometimes employ inexperienced technicians to cut costs, Air Flow Pros provides each customer with the combined experience of Mr. Sandoval and his father, Rudolfo Valderrama, both of whom have been working in the HVAC industry for their entire professional lives and perform most installations and repairs themselves. “We’re industry professionals, so we’re able to put ourselves in our clients’ positions,” says Mr. Sandoval. “We always consider what we would want if we were working on our own homes.”

Rather than giving customers price quotes for one-size-fits-all HVAC units, Air Flow Pros helps them choose the right systems for their particular needs–a hands-on approach Mr. Sandoval credits for his company’s customer service reputation. “I start each project with a free estimate and determine exactly what the client needs and wants from their HVAC system,” he explains. “I want to be sure I find the products and equipment that will best suit my customers’ homes and pocketbooks.”

When choosing the best HVAC system for your family, it’s crucial to understand your options. With dozens of HVAC brands and hundreds of heating and cooling systems to choose from, it can be difficult to narrow down your choices to the right combination of quality manufacturer and system components. Hiring an experienced HVAC contractor is the first step, but the following tips can give you added confidence to choose the best home heating and cooling system for your particular needs.

• Good HVAC contractors will measure every room in your home and know the volume of each. This helps them determine the load requirements (power requirements) of your new system.
• Find out what energy source (gas, electric, natural gas, etc.) is most economical in your area. You may want to buy equipment that runs from this energy source to save money on heating and cooling. Your local utilities may also offer energy audits to help you decide which energy source is best for your HVAC unit.
• Name-brand equipment often appears to be more costly upfront, but major manufacturers usually offer better warranties and longer service contracts than unknown brands, which can save you money over the lifespan of your unit. Before you make a decision, ask your HVAC contractor which brands offer the best product warranties and customer care.
• Ease of use is important to many HVAC consumers. Good HVAC systems should have controls and thermostats that are easy to program and run, clear maintenance instructions, and even long-term maintenance agreements that keep the systems running with little attention from homeowners.
• Determine the temperature control settings that are important to you. You can install multiple system HVAC zones consisting of more than one heating and cooling system, zone damper systems that allow you to open and close heating and cooling ducts in various rooms or control temperature via several thermostats throughout your home, or programmable thermostats that maintain a constant temperature throughout the home based on the day and time.
• Consider a system that includes air humidifier and dehumidifier settings. Some HVAC systems allow you to control the humidity in your home and can offer benefits that include a healthier environment, less static electricity, and preservation of home furnishings and wood floors.
• Most modern HVAC units are designed and installed to run quietly. Depending on your home and family needs, you may require a system that offers added noise control. Options include vibration isolation, acoustic system linings, insulated compartments and variable speed equipment that let you choose the amount of noise generated versus air output.
• Many systems include indoor air quality features such as HEPA filters, electronic air cleaning devices and even ultra-violet air treatment. If anyone in your household suffers from allergies or has sensitivities to air quality, you may want to invest in a system that has additional air quality protections.
• If your HVAC contractor isn’t willing to answer every question you have, look for another installer. Heating and cooling systems are some of the largest investments homeowners make, so your provider should be patient and respectful of your time and budget.

Q: How do I know if I need to replace or repair my HVAC system?

A: We’ll do a full assessment of your current and projected needs to determine if alterations can be made to your existing equipment. If not, we’ll make recommendations for installing new equipment.

Q: How much will it cost to repair or replace my HVAC system?

A: Before we can provide you with a free estimate, we’ll assess your issues and determine what you’d like to accomplish. Most projects require you to consider several options based on your needs and budget, as well as the long-term effectiveness of your system.

Q: How soon can you start the job?

A: Our lead time is usually one week or less.

Q: Does an increase in utility bills indicate a problem with my air conditioning equipment?

A: High efficiency equipment can help most systems operate at lower costs, but it often depends on how you operate the system. Unfortunately, a lot of people purchase higher efficiency units and then operate them differently from their old systems, thus reducing their expected savings.

Q: Is it important to perform regular maintenance on my HVAC system?

A: Yes. Regular maintenance will prevent small problems from becoming big problems, reduce utility bills and repairs, provide a more comfortable environment and ensure you’re getting the optimal performance out of your system. Instead of on-demand maintenance calls, we offer annual maintenance agreements to reduce costs for our customers.