Maintaining customer satisfaction is a crucial aspect of any business, but it’s even more important for heating and air conditioning companies that have earned the prestigious Diamond Certified award. For Valley Comfort Heating and Air, the key to achieving and maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction is its ability to provide one of the most powerful incentives in the HVAC industry: a year-long “test drive” of its systems that allows customers to sell their equipment back to the company if they aren’t 100 percent satisfied. “It’s pretty simple–if a customer isn’t happy with their system after one year, we’ll come fix it or give them their money back,” explains owner Bryan Simning. “The timeframe is especially helpful because it allows for testing in both summer and winter weather.”

Valley Comfort Heating and Air has been providing and installing HVAC systems, repairing heaters and air conditioners, and cleaning and designing duct work for residential and commercial clients throughout Sonoma County since 2008. The family-owned and operated company is a factory-authorized dealer for industry leader Bryant, but it’s qualified to work on all types of HVAC equipment.

Unlike larger HVAC companies that emphasize the importance of maximizing workload volume but sacrifice personalized service in the process, Valley Comfort Heating and Air utilizes its family-owned and operated status to take a hands-on approach to every project. “Bryan is always on the jobsite, so our customers are really able to get to know him and vice versa,” says co-owner Jennifer Simning. “It’s an old-fashioned approach that’s all about building customer relationships, and it has been an important part of our success.”

Another distinguishing feature of Valley Comfort Heating and Air is its highly skilled and experienced technicians, all of whom are North American Technician Excellence (NATE)-certified and undergo continuous training provided by Bryant. “Maintaining customer satisfaction requires a lot of expertise on the part of our technicians, so we spend a lot of time keeping up with the latest advancements in the industry,” says Mr. Simning. “Everyone here takes part–in fact, I’m going to an all-day training session soon myself.”

When buying a heating system for your home, make sure you get the right size. According to Bryan Simning, owner of Valley Comfort Heating and Air in Santa Rosa, one of the biggest mistakes homeowners make when purchasing heating systems is oversizing them. “Most people think bigger is better, but that’s simply not true when it comes to heating systems,” he says. “If the system is too large for your home, it’s really no better than a bare furnace, even if it’s an energy-efficient model.”
The best way to ensure your heating system is the right size for your home is to have a professional HVAC technician provide a detailed estimate. Mr. Simning says it’s important to watch your technician as he’s giving the estimate and make sure he takes the time to do it right. “It takes about two hours to properly size a heating system, from doing the load calculations to studying the duct system to figuring out how to properly heat and cool specific rooms. If the technician tells you right away that he can replace your old system with something of a similar size, you should look for another company.”
Mr. Simning says it’s also important to inform your HVAC technician about various aspects of your lifestyle before deciding on a heating system. Does anyone in your home have respiratory problems like asthma or allergies? Do you have specific daily habits that necessitate the system being turned on or off at certain times? Are there any hot or cold spots in your house? These factors can have a big impact on the type and configuration of the heating system you choose.
When it comes to estimating energy savings, make sure you have a year’s worth of PG&E bills (covering both winter and summer) to show your HVAC technician. If your utility bill is relatively low (about $50 per month), a high-efficiency system won’t save you much money or greatly reduce your carbon footprint, so you’re probably better off with a less expensive and less efficient system. If you’re worried about the carbon footprint of a less efficient HVAC system, consider taking the money you save and applying it to reducing your energy usage somewhere else.

Q: Why do you primarily install Bryant HVAC systems?

A: Bryant is one of the top five heating and air conditioning manufacturers in the United States, and they produce very reliable and durable products. Focusing on Bryant makes us experts on those particular systems and allows us to carry a full range of their parts in our trucks, which means there are no delays or extra service calls.

Q: Do I really need to have my air ducts cleaned?

A: Yes. Duct cleaning is essential for maintaining the air quality in your home or business. In general, we recommend having your ducts cleaned every time you have your HVAC system serviced. If you have asthma or allergies, you should have your ducts cleaned more often.

Q: Are your technicians professional and reliable?

A: Absolutely. Each of our technicians is factory-trained and North American Technician Excellence (NATE)-certified, so you can be certain they’ll provide the necessary expertise to ensure your comfort.

Q: Do you charge for diagnostic work?

A: Yes, but if the problem turns out to be simple to diagnose and fix, we’ll just charge you for the parts and labor that are required for the repair.

Q: Do you provide free estimates?

A: We provide free estimates for HVAC system replacements.