A-1 Guaranteed Heating & Air, Inc. is a family-owned and operated HVAC business that serves residential clients in Solano, Contra Costa, and Napa Counties. The company installs, replaces, repairs and maintains a wide variety of HVAC systems, including furnaces, evaporator coils, compressors, vents and ducts. One of the first electrification contractors in California, A-1 Guaranteed has also partnered with Energy Upgrade California to increase its customers’ overall energy efficiency and achieve even greater savings by upgrading their homes. Currently, the company has been converting homes to Zero Net Energy homes, resulting in major utility savings and in some cases even eliminating the electrical portion of the bill.
Owners Richard and Krissy Hiteshew established A-1 Guaranteed Heating & Air 29 years ago, and they’ve since expanded to serve thousands of Bay Area customers. The company’s efforts have also translated to community recognition—it has received 17 awards for “Best HVAC Company in Solano” from the Vallejo Times-Herald, the “Spirit of Solano” award and KRON 4’s coveted “Best of the Bay” award for four years.
A-1 Guaranteed Heating & Air is a factory-authorized dealer of Bryant, Coleman, Fujitsu and Bosch HVAC systems. A new “Kasey’s Klub” membership program was created in 2017, which offers discounts and optional levels for the maintenance of existing HVAC systems.
“We’re honest and upfront with our customers, and we make sure they get exactly what we promise. If there’s ever a problem, we’ll do everything we can to make it right, whether that means removing a system or completely refunding an investment. The happiness and comfort of our clients is the most important aspect of our business.”
With HVAC services, poor quality work isn’t just a nuisance—it’s potentially dangerous. There are many reasons to hire licensed HVAC technicians to install or repair your heating or air conditioning systems. You’ll get better-quality work that lasts longer and, most likely, saves you money on energy bills. However, it’s important to also remember that a poorly installed or maintained unit is actually a safety hazard. Air conditioning units contain harmful chemicals, such as Freon, that require special training to properly handle.
“HVAC is about more than just putting a unit in someone’s house,” says Krissy Hiteshew, co-owner of A-1 Guaranteed Heating and Air, Inc. “It also has to do with the quality of incoming air, which can affect people who have asthma or lung problems. There are many variables.”
Your HVAC contractor should also conduct duct pressure testing, now required by California law, to check for leaks. Not only do leaky ducts drain efficiency from HVAC systems, they can also carry contaminated air into your home.
There are safety control designs built into every HVAC system that reduce the risk of personal injury and fires. These protective devices vary slightly from one unit to another, depending on whether the air conditioner or furnace is gas or electric. Take the following steps to make sure your system performs safely and efficiently.
Regularly clean the air filters in your furnace and air conditioning systems.
If the filters get clogged with dirt, dust or debris, it restricts air flow throughout the system. This can lead to motor strain and overheating, which pose a fire hazard.
Check your thermostat to make sure it’s set properly.
Make sure the reading is set on "Heat" and at the proper temperature. When the air conditioner is running, make sure the "Cool" setting is at an appropriate temperature to avoid constant operation.
Purchase a simple volt meter at your local hardware or home improvement store.
Use it to check your circuit breaker to see how many volts of electricity are going to your HVAC unit. The circuit breaker is one of the most important safety controls on your system. If a power surge of more than 240 volts occurs, the circuit breaker should trip, shutting off the unit.
Secure the wiring. The low-voltage wires on your HVAC system are part of the safety controls. Check all electrical connections and make sure they’re tight.
Customer service is so important to A-1 Guaranteed Heating and Air, Inc., says vice president Krissy Hiteshew, that most of its business comes from referrals. The family-run HVAC (heating, ventilating and air conditioning) contractor operates under the golden role of customer service: Treat people as you'd like to be treated. The company believes in doing "whatever we can to make customers happy," says Mrs. Hiteshew.
Mrs. Hiteshew estimates that A-1 Guaranteed Heating and Air has the highest percentage of NATE (North American Technician Excellence)-certified technicians of any South Bay HVAC company. That's important, she says, since NATE is the number one testing program for the HVAC industry and requires its technicians to undergo continuous training to keep their certifications in good standing. A-1 Guaranteed Heating and Air also holds monthly information and training meetings to keep its technicians updated.
Mrs. Hiteshew, who co-owns A-1 Guaranteed Heating and Air with her husband, Richard, says the company takes an honest approach with its customers. "We're with them for life," she says, with a crew of factory-trained technicians and a pledge to be "courteous, fair, thorough, and professional in every service we provide."
To help it honor that pledge, A-1 Guaranteed Hearing and Air records and listens to phone calls made to and from its offices. Mrs. Hiteshew personally calls every customer following the completion of their job. In addition, the company distributes a survey to customers–satisfied or otherwise–in which they can offer feedback and voice concerns.
A-1 Guaranteed Hearing and Air also offers a full line of Green products for home energy efficiency and holds the distinction of being Solano County's first Green HVAC company.
