Maintaining customer satisfaction is a crucial aspect of any business, but it’s even more important for HVAC contractors that have earned the prestigious Diamond Certified award. For Contra Costa Heating & AC, the keys to keeping clients happy are simple: always treat them like family and provide them with the best possible service, regardless of the size of their projects. “We understand the importance of doing an honest, ethical job and making sure the customer’s needs are met,” says owner Anthony Wehbe. “Instead of using high-pressure sales tactics, we give our clients plenty of options so they can make the best decisions for their situations.”

Contra Costa Heating & AC has been providing indoor air quality services for residential and commercial clients in San Mateo, Contra Costa, Alameda, San Francisco, and Santa Clara Counties since 1970. The company has the in-house capabilities to install, maintain, and repair all types of HVAC and air filtration systems, and it’s also qualified to perform air quality audits, design and fabricate ductwork, and more.

Unlike less experienced HVAC contractors that bid deceptively low and make money by raising their rates with change orders, Contra Costa Heating & AC is honest from the first contact. “We train our technicians to give the correct price up front,” affirms Mr. Wehbe. “Less than two percent of our jobs have change orders, and most of those are due to the customer making changes, not something we missed in the estimate. Also, we always alert our clients to potential issues and give them detailed price quotes before work begins so there are no surprises.”

Ultimately, Mr. Wehbe sees Contra Costa Heating & AC’s collective industry experience as one of its most important attributes. “I’ve been in this industry for more than 25 years and my team has nearly 200 years of combined experience with HVAC and indoor air quality work, so we’ve seen and fixed all kinds of problems, which is a huge competitive advantage for us,” he explains. “Our estimators know exactly what they’re looking at, which means they can accurately price jobs, and our installers know how to solve even the most complicated problems. We’re very good at what we do, and that’s why we’re able to take better care of our customers.”

Jump into the future with smart home technology for HVAC and indoor air quality systems.
“Smart” devices and systems are increasing in popularity and use, and there’s no question why. When used correctly, they can increase energy efficiency, make life more convenient and save money. That’s the case for smart HVAC and indoor air quality (IAQ) systems as well. Options range from relatively simple (smart thermostats with app control) to complex (completely integrated systems that allow you to control every aspect of your HVAC system with your voice or an app).

Anthony Wehbe, owner of Contra Costa Heating & AC in San Leandro, says many HVAC and IAQ contractors offer a range of smart technologies and IoT (internet of things) assistance. “A qualified contractor can install systems that are capable of working with smart home technology like Alexa, Google Home and Siri. You can be anywhere in the world and use this technology to monitor your home. For example, if you think you left your HVAC system on, you can check it on your phone and even monitor the temperature inside your house.”

Here are some smart IAQ and HVAC products you should consider installing in your home:

Smart thermostats
Programmable thermostats have evolved to connect to smart devices like phones, tablets and speakers, so they can be operated manually, by voice or by app. Some products even allow users to set their preferences and adjust automatically based on phone location. Most generate energy efficiency and usage reports.

Smart A/C systems
These can include Wi-Fi air conditioners and smart A/C controls, such as apps that allow remote and voice temperature adjustment. Converters can turn standard A/C units into smart units.

Smart vents
These vents can be programmed to recognize whether anyone is in a particular room and open/close accordingly, which saves energy and keeps spaces comfortable.

Smart air purifiers
These can be included in HVAC systems and wired into thermostats or run as standalone units operating via app or voice control. Some can even detect air pollution levels and allergens.

Q: Are your employees trustworthy?
A: Absolutely. All of our employees have passed drug tests and background checks, so you can be sure they’re safe to work in your home.

Q: Will you give me a written estimate?
A: Yes. Normally, it will arrive via email and include anywhere from one to four options for the project. You can sign it electronically or in person. We can also do virtual estimates or a video call if that’s easier for you. We don’t need to come into your house until the work is ready to begin.

Q: Will my job need a permit?
A: Yes, we always need permits to do HVAC work. We can pull the permits for you because we have a business license in every city that we work in. Permits do add to the cost of the job, so some contractors will tell you they aren’t required, but that can leave you with surprise charges or a job that isn’t done legally.

Q: What’s a HERS test?
A: HERS stands for ‘home energy rating system,’ and a HERS test is the Title 24 regulation for duct leak testing. We have a third party do the test. The report gets sent to the State of California, and they have to register the house before they’ll issue a permit.

Q: Is it possible to cut my energy use but still have the indoor comfort that I want?
A: Yes. There are a lot of energy-efficient products coming out on the market today. They use much less energy than their older counterparts, so you can cut down on your bills with the same amount of energy consumption. If you have solar on your house, the new systems run on a lot less energy, so your solar panels can power them.

Q: Can you connect my HVAC system to my smart home system?
A: Yes, we can install systems that are capable of working with smart home technology like Alexa, Google Home and Siri. You can be anywhere in the world and monitor your home from your smartphone. For example, if you’re worried that you forgot to turn off your heater, you can check to see if the system is on and even check the temperature inside your home.