When do you think most about your air conditioning unit? If you’re like me, you mostly think about it when it is hot and it is not keeping you that cool! I also give it some thought when I am in my backyard and I think: “What can I do with this giant humming metal box in my backyard so I don’t have to look at it?!” I think for 97% of us, that is about the extent of our thoughts on our AC unit. It is a wonderful device though. It is one that cools us in the summertime and allows us to live and work comfortably. I mean, we are pretty spoiled in terms of weather here in the Bay Area, but it can get awfully warm in cities like Napa, Vacaville and Walnut Creek during the summer and, while I enjoy the sunshine, it is great to be able to get out of the heat sometimes.
Heaters—same deal—great invention, but much older. I mean even the GEICO cavemen had a heater; it was called fire (and still is). The modern AC unit, though, is only a little more than 100 years old and while many still consider it a luxury, when the mercury rises over 90, most will think it is a necessity. We are focusing our business spotlight this month on a team of people that help keep us cool on those hot days and warm on those cold ones, and who help us save some money while doing it. A-1 Guaranteed of Vallejo.
Now, if you happen to live or work in Vallejo or Benicia (or if you’re a frequent reader of this magazine) I am sure that you have heard of A-1 Guaranteed, even if you do not own an AC unit, because of all the giving that they do in the community. It is hard to go to some fundraiser in those cities and not hear their names mentioned. They are able to give back so much because they created a wonderful business built on treating people the way they wanted to be treated.
Richard and Krissy Hiteshew met when they were both 16 in high school. Rich went to work in the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Business, or HVAC as it is referred to in the trade. They started a family and one day, about 17 years ago, Rich was forced to miss his daughters’ birthday for work; he knew something had to change. That change resulted in A-1 Guaranteed coming to life.
They started out with their new business in their garage and, by giving great service, their customers grew and they moved into an official place of business, ultimately arriving at their current location at 1768 Broadway St. in Vallejo. During that time, they grew from just the two of them to a team of 21 dedicated members, and they added two more children to their own team to bring that count up to four (two of which now work for the company). They were not satisfied though, with just keeping their clients cool in the summer and warm in the winter; they wanted to help do that and help them keep some money in their pocket as well.
About 2 years ago, California and PG&E thought that it was a good idea if people started to save energy to help reduce demand statewide and they set out to create a system that would do that. Richard and Krissy thought that was an excellent idea as well. They got on board with the “Energy Upgrade California” program and became certified to help their customers save some money on their PG&E bill and the cost of the retrofit via rebates. They have done such a great job with it that they were recently recognized as one of the best companies in helping people realize these state rebates. The average consumer participating in the program is saving about $2,250 via rebates, but A-1 Guaranteed’s customers are saving an average of $3,100—almost a 40% better savings! What A-1 Guaranteed does in the program is provide a whole house energy audit, which allows the homeowner to see where they are wasting energy and losing money, and not with just their AC unit either. Every aspect of the home is evaluated—doors, windows, insulation, water heaters, duct work, you name it—they review it to see how you can cut costs and save money. This not just a review though. They work with the homeowner to implement the changes and coordinate not only the work, but the entire process, so that you get the maximum amount of savings in the program; one of the reasons they are able to save their customers so much money. They believe so much in saving energy that A-1 Guaranteed was the 1st Business in Vallejo and only the 6th business in Solano County to become a “Certified Green Business” as well! They practice what they preach to their customers.
A lot of companies talk about providing great service— A-1 Guaranteed lives it. They shut their company down once a month so that they can get together as a team to review both the positives and the negatives of their service reviews by customers. Not just part of the company—the whole company, so that they can be sure to have the time to spend with their team which allows them to be better at taking care of their bread and butter: YOU, their customer. They also spend the time and money to have all of their installers certified by North American Technician Excellence (N.A.T.E.) a non-profit trade organization in the HVAC world dedicated to making sure people working in the industry know what they are doing. They do not have to spend the money or time to have them certified by N.A.T.E. but they want their customers to be cared for by a team that knows what they are doing. Finally, they stand behind their work 100%. If you are unhappy with their work at anytime during the year following the installation they will work to fix it. If they are unable to make you happy they will give you your money back. They will be the first to admit that they have been unable to make 100% of their customers happy, but they will try, and if they can’t they will give them back 100% of their money! Not many companies will do that in any field, much less the construction trade, but they do because they know that the bulk of their business comes from repeat customers and referrals. All that hard work has paid off for them. They are “Diamond Certified” for service with a 98% approval rating and they have won Angie’s List Super Service award two years in a row!
I also mentioned that they give back to the community in both time and money. They support a number of both charitable and civic projects in the community. They also allow their customers to give back as well. They have started their own program called the Give Back Program where they will donate 5% of the cost of the work they do for you (up to $100) to the charity of your choice. All you have to do is tell them which charity you would wish to donate to. Last year Richard and Krissy were given the Spirit of Solano Award for their for their outstanding community support in recognition for all that they do.
Their team services the same area that Local Happenings does: Solano, Napa and Contra Costa counties, so if you want to keep it cool, warm it up, save some money or all three, A-1 Guaranteed is the company to call to take care of you. And remember to let them know who you want to help in the community and they will Give Back to them on your behalf. It is hard to beat that combination of service, quality and savings in one company. Give them a call today and let them know you read about them in Local Happenings!
Robert Briseño – When he is not spending time with his own HVAC compressor he loves spending it with his family and friends.
