Recommend a contractor.

[jmb]

I live in Rowlett. A town around Dallas Texas. I would like to know if anyone could recommend a contractor to come out and look at my AC system. Thanks, jmb

[faith]

jmb;

Are you in need of a Service Call? If so I would recommend that you select a company that employees NATE certified technicians. In fact I would insist that it be serviced by a NATE certified tech (ask for his/her NATE ID number)

Here's TRANE's take on NATE

http://www.trane.com/Residential/New...ealer/NATE.asp

That said... I would then select a company that is affiliated with the vendor of your unit to assure that the tech has had an opportunity to be trained by factory reps...

Case in point: If you have a TRANE unit (likely in TX) then you could go to

http://asc.know-where.com/trane/

and find a TRANE comfort specialist in your area. TRANE provides aggressive training programs through its network of distributors.

If however you are told that your unit is "not worth the expense of being repaired" which BTW unfortunately is a common sales methodology in the industry. Then by all means obtain a minimum of three written estimates for a replacement unit. Verbal estimates are meaningless, and generally the subject of massive add-ons, any shop that wants to give you a price over the phone without visiting the site doesn't warranty your consideration, understood?

If you have been pleased with the capacity of the old unit, then you may not need a Manual J load analysis on your structure to determine if it is the proper capacity. But if there was a problem with it's ability to meet your expectations then be prepared to pay an extra several hundred dollars to have a load analysis preformed on your dwelling. Note: Some dealers will do the study anyway owing to liability issues, but don't expect them to share their results with competitors, make senses?

Good luck, and God bless...

[Mr Bill]

Originally posted by faith
jmb;

Are you in need of a Service Call? If so I would recommend that you select a company that employees NATE certified technicians. In fact I would insist that it be serviced by a NATE certified tech (ask for his/her NATE ID number)

Yes, by all means if their not nate certified they are clueless for the past 100 years before nate came along all service guys did not have a clue until today, thank God for nate now you can get you a/c fixed properly. By the way if you want to know what kind of service some nate certified techs. do, I will send a picture to you on a call we had last Friday I just about got the hell shocked out of me when one of these naters installed a fan cap last year that was not mounted and fell out on my arm when i removed the service door, yes for a peace of mind call a nate certified tech.

[smokin68]

Right on about NATE MrBillpro.....it just shows some level of competance,not a guarantee.. What do they call the student who finished dead last in medical school? DOCTOR. Same with A/C or any trade.

[dash]

I'd go with the NATE certified guys.It shows the company that has them at least cares enough to insist on their certification.


Improves your odds of getting good service.Understand that the company will be listed if just one or two of the techs passed the exam,so ask for the tech(s) that have a NATE card.

[Jultzya]

Originally posted by mrbillpro

Originally posted by faith
jmb;

Are you in need of a Service Call? If so I would recommend that you select a company that employees NATE certified technicians. In fact I would insist that it be serviced by a NATE certified tech (ask for his/her NATE ID number)

Yes, by all means if their not nate certified they are clueless for the past 100 years before nate came along all service guys did not have a clue until today, thank God for nate now you can get you a/c fixed properly. By the way if you want to know what kind of service some nate certified techs. do, I will send a picture to you on a call we had last Friday I just about got the hell shocked out of me when one of these naters installed a fan cap last year that was not mounted and fell out on my arm when i removed the service door, yes for a peace of mind call a nate certified tech.

Couldn't have said it better!

But, what the hell are you doing pulling a service cover off without pulling the disconnect FIRST!!

[DeltaT]

Not knocking nate on this post anyway, but there is an interesting article in this weeks NEWS or Tin Snips magazine, I read both of them yesterday so I don't remember which one had the article, about a survey done with homeowners and recognization of being nate certified.

The author stated that most homeowners have never heard of nate. According to this article, nate has some more selling to do for the recognition that they advertise they already have.

Too bad it not a training tool more and a selling tool less. Opps, there I go again.

[dash]

It was in Snips,but no survey was done ,just the authors opinion.IMO he's likely right but ittakes time and money to spread the word,we have the NAte logo ,in our ads,plus on the trucks,along with http://www.natex.org so they can learn more about what it means.


The NATE website was recently revamped,so check it out,even if you've been there before.

[Edited by dash on 06-21-2005 at 04:40 PM]

[mark beiser]

Most homeowners don't know what the heck NATE is, thats a fact.
I havn't ever had anyone ask about my NATE certification in the 6 years I have been ACE/NATE certified.
Some notice the patch on my sleve, but I get the impression that they only see "CERTIFIED", and thats about it.
I could have a patch that said "CERTIFIED by Mr. Ed" and they wouldn't notice, lol.

Interestingly, I have had 2 customers that saw my RSES Technical Institute "Certificate Member" patch on my tool bag and knew what it was.

[DeltaT]

I think nate ought to change its name cause if I were just a common person wanting my furnace fixed I would think some guy named nate taught a class and gave me the patch.

RSES at least have the word "engineers" in it. Everyone can relate to that.