It's that time of year again, when the severe weather hits us here in San Antonio.  Texas thrunderstorms can create havoc with your  heating and air conditioning investment in the Fall and Spring seasons.

County Wide Service Company has always provided the best service for our valued customers.  For example, every system or piece of equipment we install has voltage/surge protection to help prevent damage to voltage sensitive loads and components such as your furnace circuit board, which is a small microprocessor not unlike your home computer.  Basically you would want to have surge protection to help prevent an expensive repair or replacement.  One surge protector for the indoor unit and another for the outdoor unit works togeter to protect your HVAC equipment for years to come.

• If a programmable thermostat isn't in your budget, try adjusting your sleep temperature 5 degrees lower and your away from the house temperature 10 degrees lower.  Consistently doing this can lower your heating costs up to 20%.
• Two-thirds of your hot water heating costs come from shower use. Simply shorten shower times by a few minutes and change your shower head to a low-flow model and it is possible to cut that usage in half.
• Lower the temperature on your water heater to 120 degrees.
• Caulk and weatherstripping around your home is an efficient way to reduce heating costs.
• Insulating the attic can make a big difference as well.  Check for dirty insulation which is an indicator of moving air so you can check and fill gaps in that area.

Answers to the following few questions will help you quickly identify good companies to provide service or replacement for your system.

• Are you state-licensed, bonded and insured for liability?
• Do you stock a wide variety of brands, or just one or two?
• Are your service technicians available every day or do you close weekends and holidays?
• How long has your company been doing business in San Antonio?
• What is your selection of payment plans and financing options?
• How many service technicians are available at your company? The larger the number, the likelier you'll get fast service when you need it.
• Do you offer any scheduled maintenance plans to protect my equipment from premature failure?
• Does your company provide continuing technical education to keep your service technicians current with changes in technology?
• The answers you get to these few questions will help you to recognize quality contractors from the range of companies you contact.