Heating and air conditioning companies are always looking for ways to distinguish themselves from their competition, and those that have earned the prestigious Diamond Certified award are already several steps ahead. In addition to its Diamond Certified status, One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning sets itself apart by offering a variety of comprehensive guarantees that are rarely seen in the heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) industry, including those that promise on-time performance and 100 percent satisfaction. “Essentially, we guarantee our customers’ comfort or give them their money back,” says Marketing Manager Diane DeRoo. “Ensuring their satisfaction has always been our main focus.”

One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning has been installing and maintaining all types of HVAC systems for residential clients in Sonoma, Marin, Napa and Solano Counties since 1991. As an independently owned franchise of a national corporation, the company has access to thousands of specialty parts and materials, which it uses to handle a wide variety of HVAC problems.

Unlike less experienced HVAC companies that become overwhelmed during peak heating and cooling seasons and let their work suffer as a result, One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning has the full capacity to take care of any situation at any time. “Our large size means we can be responsive in ways that smaller companies can’t, and that’s significant during seasons with extreme temperatures,” explains Ms. DeRoo. “We have enough technicians on staff to provide services and even replacements on very short notice.”

Another attribute that sets One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning apart from its competition is its commitment to punctuality in every aspect of its work, from setting and keeping service appointments within specific timeframes to offering satisfaction guarantees on all its work. “Many people are surprised at how often other HVAC companies keep them waiting for hours,” says Ms. DeRoo. “That’s not how we do business. If our technicians aren’t onsite when they’re supposed to be, we waive all the charges and the visit is free.”

Take simple steps to improve your home’s indoor air quality. As air-related health issues like allergies and asthma become more prevalent, so does the concern about indoor air quality (IAQ) for homeowners. The symptoms of these health issues can be aggravated by the presence of indoor pollution sources, which release harmful gases or particles into the atmosphere. Common indoor pollutants include combustion sources such as burning wood; gas or tobacco products; deteriorating building materials containing asbestos; wet or damp carpet; household cleaning and personal care products; and faulty central heating and cooling systems.

To improve your IAQ and reduce the chances of air related health problems, consider the following tips:

Eliminate pollutants. First, you need to identify the sources of indoor pollutants. Some will be easy to recognize, such as a visible accumulation of mold on a bathroom ceiling, but the presence of imperceptible pollutants such as radon can only be detected by a professional inspector or by using a do-it-yourself testing kit (available at most hardware stores). Once you’ve identified the pollution sources, eradicate them or at least sufficiently reduce their effects. Seal up areas compromised by asbestos leakage, adjust your gas stove to decrease its emissions and have your air conditioning ducts cleaned.

Improve home ventilation. Outdoor air dilutes toxic emissions from indoor pollution sources and moves them out of the home, but in an inadequately ventilated home, these pollution sources simply accumulate. Most homes are engineered to exclude outside air, so it’s important to be proactive about ventilating your home. You can install a mechanical ventilation system or purchase an indoor air cleaner.

Have your HVAC system regularly serviced. Well-tuned HVAC systems perform at optimized levels, just like cars when they keep regular maintenance schedules. PG&E recommends having a certified technician service your HVAC system once a year. This will improve its efficiency, lessen its energy consumption and save you money on your energy bill. Most homeowners tend to have their systems serviced before winter or summer, when usage is at its peak. This is similar to having your car tuned up before taking a long road trip.

Q: How qualified are your employees?

A: Our technicians are fully qualified to perform all types of HVAC services. One of the benefits of being part of a national franchise is we have access to excellent ongoing training programs. We even do video conferencing with the corporate office to provide training modules for our technicians so they’re up to date on the latest equipment and industry information. You can also be confident about the integrity of our employees. We perform background checks and random drug tests, which isn’t always a standard procedure in this industry.

Q: How does your on-time guarantee work?

A: We typically set our appointments within a four-hour window. If the technician arrives after the time window has expired, the service is free of charge. For a premium, we also offer appointments within one and two hour timeframes.

Q: Do you offer any kind of special maintenance programs?

A: Yes, we offer a club membership that covers comprehensive maintenance for less than $20 a month. Members receive four visits a year: one for heating, one for air conditioning, one for their electrical system and one for plumbing. In addition, we automatically waive any diagnostic fees if a problem arises with one of these systems. The club is a really affordable way to be proactive about maintenance and make sure your HVAC system is running smoothly and efficiently.

Q: Can you improve the air quality in my home?

A: Yes. In addition to our regular services, we offer an array of indoor air quality products, including affordable home filtration systems that greatly decrease the symptoms of allergies, asthma and other health problems related to poor indoor air quality.

Q: What’s your approach to quality control?

A: We’re fully committed to providing ongoing training for our employees and ensuring total customer satisfaction. If there are any issues with our work, we immediately go back and fix the problem. We also do our own in-house satisfaction survey after every installation to get feedback from the customer.