| Frequently Asked Questions |
  Heating & Cooling (scroll down for plumbing)
Q. What should I check before I schedule a service call? A. We go on many service calls that could have been avoided by checking a few simple things: Always check to see if the power switch and breaker switch is on to the unit. Check to make sure the thermostat batteries are not dead. Check your thermostat to see if it is in the correct mode (heat in the winter, cool in the summer). Check you fan selection on the thermostat and make sure it is set to auto. If your unit has ice on the copper lines, check your filter to see if it is clogged and replace if necessary then shut unit off for 3-4 hours and restart. If upon restarting the ice returns then call us and we can take care of the problem. We want your business but we don’t want to have to charge you for a service call that may have been avoidable. Q. When does a service call begin and end? A. A service call begins at the time our technician is dispatched to your home or place of business. Our technician will write the dispatch time on his work ticket. When he arrives on site he will check in with you. When he is finished with the service call he will check out with you as the customer. He will require a signature on the work ticket after the service call is complete. The service call ends when you sign the work ticket. We use GPS tracking reports on all of our service vehicles so if there is ever a question regarding when a technician was dispatched, please give us a call. Q. Why should I call Big Town Service? A. Big Town Service is licensed, bonded and insured. Our technicians are members of the Local 525 Plumbing, Pipefitting, and Refrigeration Union and have all been through an apprenticeship program, have access to continued training, and are drug tested regularly. Big Town Service is committed to providing the best customer service in town. We will not be happy until you as our customers are happy. Please give us an opportunity to show what a difference Big Town Service can make for your home or commercial facility. Q. How often should my filters be changed? A. How often your filters need to be changed is determined by the type of equipment, type of filter used, and the intended use of the equipment. Generally, Big Town Service recommends only using a pleated filter in all your air conditioning and heating equipment. Most manufacturers recommend changing pleated filters every three months or 4 times per year. In high traffic areas where equipment is exposed to more rigorous conditions, longer operating hours, or other regulations (i.e. medical etc.) filters may be changed more frequently to keep equipment operating as efficiently as possible. Q. What is the benefit of installing a programmable thermostat? A. Programmable thermostats have many benefits to a home or business owner. They allow you the ability to customize the settings for better control of comfort, energy savings, start and stop times, and unoccupied settings when the space is not occupied. They can also be locked out to only allow designated users the ability to change the settings and temperatures. Programmable thermostats gives you more control of the features that you feel are most important in your heating and cooling equipment. Q. What should the fan and mode settings be on my thermostat? A. Each thermostat is different, but the heat and cool settings and fan settings are present on most manual and programmable thermostats. If it is hot in the space and you want to cool it down, make sure the mode is set to cool. If it is cold in the space and you want to warm it up, make sure the mode is set to heat. The fan setting should always be set to auto. The auto setting means the fan will only come on if the unit is calling for heat or cool. If you turn the fan switch to on, the fan will run continuously regardless of whether the unit is calling for heat or cool or in off mode. We recommend leaving the fan switch in the auto position. Q. How can I get the most efficiency out of my heating and cooling system? A. The best way to get the most efficiency out of your heating and cooling system is to implement a preventative maintenance program. Changing filters is an essential part of any maintenance program and should be done at least 4 times per year. Coils should be cleaned at least one time per year. A test and inspection of all heating and cooling equipment is recommended to identify any warning signs, check electrical connections, lubricate moving parts, and keep your equipment running at it's maximum efficiency. We offer many preventative maintenance program options. Call us today to schedule a preventative maintenance options consultation. Q. How often should my heating and cooling system be serviced? A. If you are an owner or manager of a commercial facility, your equipment should be serviced 4 times per year or quarterly preventative maintenance. All major manufacturers of commercial equipment follow this guideline. Some manufacturers recommend monthly inspections even though quarterly is the industry standard. If you are a homeowner, your filters should be changed at least 4 times per year and your equipment should be serviced at least once per year. We recommend servicing your equipment twice annually: once just before cooling season and once just before heating season. This will ensure that your equipment will continue to operate at its maximum efficiency. Q. Does Big Town Service charge for estimates? A. We do not charge for estimates on new equipment. We also perform free equipment surveys for preventative maintenance agreements. If you want a free estimate on a repair or replacement, make sure to indicate that you would like to meet with, or speak to an estimator, rather than requesting a service technician. If we are asked to send a service technician to diagnose a problem, it will be a billable service call. If a service technician recommends a replacement of a piece of equipment, and you as the customer decide to purchase a new piece of equipment from Big Town Service, the cost of the service call will be credited toward the purchase of that new unit. Q. What is the real benefit of preventative maintenance agreements? A. Preventative maintenance has many benefits. The first and most recognizable is energy savings. Common sense tells us that if our equipment is clean, lubricated, calibrated, and aligned, that it will operate more efficiently. In short, the equipment will use less electricity to cool the same space because it won’t have to work as hard. The comfort level in the space will be reached much more quickly as well. During a preventative maintenance visit, our technicians look for warning signs that a part may be failing. If we can replace the small, inexpensive parts before they cause the larger more expensive parts to fail, you as the owner of the equipment will see significant savings in the operating cost of the equipment. Another major benefit is that the equipment will have a longer usable life and will not have to be changed out nearly as often. If a unit that is maintained has a usable life of 15- 20 years and one that is not, only has a usable life of 7-10 years before having to be replaced, a preventative maintenance program will pay for itself very quickly. Q. What is the benefit of replacing my current system with a new high efficient system? A. If your equipment is more that 10 years old, and especially if it has not been maintained, you are throwing money out the window every month on your electrical bill. In the last ten years there have been significant advances in technology that have resulted in equipment that can do the same job, and use much less electricity. Right now, the federal government is offering a $1,500.00 tax credit for homeowners who make the investment in higher efficient equipment (14 SEER and higher) and we offer financing options on high efficient equipment that allows you to make the switch and pay low monthly payments on your investment. If you couple that with the 10-30% energy savings that could be achieved with the new equipment, then it is an easy decision to upgrade. Call us for a free quote on new high efficient equipment today! Plumbing
Q. What should I do if there is water leaking out of the bottom of my water heater? A. More than likely your water heater tank has failed and the water heater needs to be replaced. There should be a water shut off valve near the water heater, normally directly above it. Turn the handle to the off position. This will keep more water from going directly into the water heater and onto the floor. Then take a garden hose and hook it up to the water connection near the bottom of the water heater. Run the hose outside to the gutter and then open up the valve to drain the water out of the tank. Call us and we can take it from there. If you don’t want to drain the water heater that is okay, we can do it when we get there. You will save yourself some money by draining the water heater before we get there if you choose to do so. When we arrive we will call in the model and serial number of the water heater to the manufacturer to see if it is under warranty. If so, we will return the heater to the manufacturer’s representative and process the warranty. If not, we will provide options for a new water heater from various manufacturers based on your needs and preferences. In some cases we can finance your water heater, especially if you are interested in a tankless water heater. Q. What are the benefits of a tankless water heater? A. Tankless water heaters provide you with endless hot water. They are also more energy efficient than the traditional tank model. They only heat the water that is being used at that time. The federal government is offering up to $1,500.00 in tax credits for homeowners that choose to upgrade their current water heater to a tankless model. We can finance your tankless water heater and offer you low monthly payments. Call us today for a free quote on a tankless water heater. Q. What should I do if my drains get plugged up? A. There any many types and sizes of drains. Big Town Service has the tools and the expertise to take care of all your drain stoppage problems. If you have a drain inside your home that is stopped up, we can clear it. If you have a mainline sewer drain stopped up, we can bring out our high pressure water jetter and restore full flow to your sewer. We have a drain camera that allows us to ensure that the stoppage will be completely removed and you as the customer can visually see what the condition of your drains are underground. If you have a break in the main sewer line we have the expertise and know how to dig up the drain, replace the broken section, and put everything back the way we found it. Restaurant owners often have trouble with grease lines being plugged up. Call us and we can clear your grease lines quickly and effectively. Please call Big Town Service for all your drain service needs. Q. Can Big Town Service replace or repair my plumbing fixtures, toilets, etc? A. Yes - Big Town Service can take care of all your plumbing needs. We can install new fixtures, replace old fixtures, install garbage disposals, fix leaks, install new water lines, clear drain stoppages, and take care of any other plumbing problem you may have. We can take care of all your residential and commercial plumbing needs and we are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. We will always respond to your plumbing emergency. Please give us an opportunity to take care of your plumbing service needs today. Q. Are Big Town Service plumbers qualified to perform the work that I need done? A. Yes - Our service plumbers are all signatory to the Local 525 Plumbing, Pipefittering, and Refrigeration Union and have gone through an extensive apprenticeship program to become recognized as journeyman plumbers. Big Town Service is licensed, bonded and insured. When you call Big Town Service for any of your service needs you will get the top technicians in the industry. Our technicians will be courteous and helpful in assessing the situation and addressing your plumbing service needs. Call us today and find out what Big Town Service is all about. |
