Perfect Star Heating and Air Conditioning is a locally owned and operated family business that provides a wide range of HVAC services for residential clients in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. The company recently won a 2024 Best of Bay Area Award from SFGATE. In addition to maintaining and repairing all types of heating and air conditioning systems, it installs a variety of products that are designed to improve indoor air quality by eliminating allergens and pollutants, including whole house air purifiers and electrostatic filters.
Owner Chris Donzelli says Perfect Star Heating and Air Conditioning’s responsive, hands-on approach to HVAC work has been a key component in the company’s success. “Our clients know that whenever they need our help, we’re going to be there. We’re here to take care of them and provide them with everything they need to be comfortable in their homes.”
Perfect Star Heating and Air Conditioning offers numerous services that make the HVAC process simple and stress-free for its clients, including a monthly maintenance program and a software system that sends messages and reminders when its technicians are on the way. “We like to make sure our customers are in tune with what’s going on with their services so they know exactly what to expect,” says Mr. Donzelli. “They really appreciate how dedicated we are to their satisfaction.”
“Our motto is, ‘We keep you in your comfort zone,’ and that’s what we focus on with each job. Our clients’ needs always come first, so we do whatever it takes to make sure they’re happy with every aspect of our work.”
Due to the phase-out of Freon™, if your air conditioning system was manufactured before 2010, you should plan for a replacement by 2020.
“Many homeowners aren’t aware that Freon, the refrigerant currently used to charge air conditioning systems, is being phased out and will stop being produced entirely by 2020,” says Chris Donzelli, owner of Perfect Star Heating and Air Conditioning in Concord. “The reason is simple: Freon, which is also known as R22 refrigerant, contributes to depletion of the ozone layer. The industry is switching to a new refrigerant called R410A, which doesn’t have the same negative environmental effects.”
While switching to a more eco-friendly refrigerant is a good long-term solution, it has some short-term consequences for homeowners with older air conditioning systems. “Since Freon won’t be produced after 2020, it’s going to be a lot more expensive to obtain, which will drive up the cost of repairing systems that run on it,” explains Mr. Donzelli. “Since virtually every air conditioning unit manufactured before 2010 runs on Freon, this will obviously affect a lot of homeowners."
When asked if homeowners can simply use the new refrigerant to charge their old air conditioning systems, Mr. Donzelli says it’s unfortunately not that simple. “R410A isn’t compatible with Freon-based systems. The only way it would work is if you replaced the condenser unit and evaporator coil, at which point you might as well replace the entire thing. Using R410A in older air conditioning units has been found to cause premature system failure, and it’ll definitely void your warranty.”
While many people will be upset by the prospect of having to replace their HVAC systems, Mr. Donzelli points out some upsides to the situation. “By phasing out Freon, the government is basically forcing homeowners to replace their old HVAC systems with more eco-friendly, energy-efficient equipment,” he says. “Besides being better for the environment, these upgraded systems will allow homeowners to save money on their energy bills. Plus, with improved system performance, many will notice increased levels of comfort in their homes.”
HVAC companies are always looking for ways to differentiate themselves from their competition, and those that have earned the prestigious Diamond Certified award are already several steps ahead. In addition to its Diamond Certified status, Perfect Star Heating and Air Conditioning sets itself apart by embracing challenging jobs that other companies aren’t qualified to handle. “We’re not afraid to step up to the plate and take on more difficult projects,” affirms owner Chris Donzelli. “A lot of our competitors will turn down jobs that seem overly complex, but we never shy away from a challenge.”
Perfect Star Heating and Air Conditioning has been providing HVAC services for residential clients in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties since 2015. The company has the training and equipment to maintain and repair all types of heating and air conditioning systems, and it’s also qualified to install whole house air purifiers, electrostatic filters, and other products that are designed to improve indoor air quality.
Unlike HVAC companies that focus all their efforts on maximizing their workload volume and sacrifice attention to detail as a result, Perfect Star Heating and Air Conditioning takes the time to ensure every job is done correctly. “It doesn’t matter how high-quality an HVAC unit is—if it’s not installed properly, it won’t perform as well as it should,” says Mr. Donzelli. “That’s why we take the time to perform the necessary calculations and make sure each unit is correctly sized and up to code.”
Another distinguishing attribute of Perfect Star Heating and Air Conditioning is its integration of digital technology in every aspect of its work. “We use a software program called Service Titan that allows us to send notifications to our clients,” explains Mr. Donzelli. “Whether it’s an appointment reminder or an update on their technician’s ETA, this technology makes it easy for us to communicate with our customers about their upcoming services, which they really appreciate.”
