Go to the grocery store: Check. Sign up for soccer: Check. Plan a date night: Check. Make a checkup appointment for your air conditioning unit? Always last on the to-do list, if it even makes it! While air conditioning is something we use most EVERY DAY in Florida, it is often something our households forget to take care of until it stops working. Enter Snyder Heating & Air Conditioning, a locally-owned and operated business for over 42 years that understands our calendar is crammed with to-dos. They understand the need for working A/C to keep the moms and kiddos happy! My five-year-old A/C had been working fine, but every now and then when the temperatures soared, it wouldn’t seem to click on and cool. I’d try my “method” and turn it off for a bit, patiently waiting to turn it back on with fingers crossed it would start working. I honestly couldn’t remember the last time I had a “checkup” on my unit (or changed the filter!) so I knew it was time.
A quick call to the Snyder Company office and I was conveniently set up with a same-week appointment. I was told the service technician’s name, that he would call to confirm before he arrived, and that he would be in a Snyder truck and wearing a Snyder shirt, which I thought was a great customer service aspect to put the customer at ease. The day of my appointment, I received a call and was greeted promptly by Robert, my service technician. We chatted and he told me where he needed to start, and I showed him where our A/C parts were located. I mentioned immediately that my son was napping inside near the thermostat and if he could be quiet that would be great — he was a father himself and said he definitely understood! Never wake a sleeping toddler, right?
On to the 25-point “checkup.” This began inside by turning up the thermostat and then heading to our garage where our air handler/return is located. I honestly can tell you I know nothing about A/C units and was glad Robert took the time to explain things to me in terms I understood and also let me know about some important aspects of cleaning and maintaining the unit that can lead to a healthier home. Do you have black dirt-looking build up on the exterior or interior of your return/handler? This could potentially be mold or mildew with bacteria that can enter your home through the air ducts. Snyder makes sure to clean the unit during the bi-yearly maintenance checkups and installed a pan pad that can act as a deterrent towards any bacteria growth. He also changed the filter which I happened to have on hand and let me know you can order filters through the Snyder Company home delivery program. It is recommended that you replace your filters monthly.
The service technician also let me know about duct cleaning — this is something I also hadn’t thought about, but duct work does have a standard lifespan and Snyder recommends cleaning it every five years. Our home is approaching 25 years in age and these are the things we should keep top of mind! The last portion of the checkup was to check our outside unit to remove leaves and debris, and to clean and check the condenser and refrigerant levels to keep the A/C unit running cool and efficiently. For full details on what to expect with the 25 steps, click here for a maintenance checklist.
Robert also let me know that his recommendations are just that, and he prides himself on being honest when working with customers, which is the Snyder Air Conditioning way. He never likes to be the bearer of bad news, but knows A/C is a necessity in households and strives to work together with customers to ensure they have the best outcome and an operating unit. We also went ahead and booked our bi-annual appointment as part of the yearly maintenance plan, so I don’t have to remember to call and they will contact me as a reminder (and my heater will be ready when it dips below 50!). The service wasn’t complete without him offering my kids a few Snyderman capes to make them feel a part of the experience.
JMB Reader Offer
Snyder Heating & Air Conditioning is also offering a special JMB Reader offer with $30 off a yearly maintenance agreement and $200 off complete new system installation. Snyder carries, installs and repairs models from “big” names such as Daikin, Goodman-Amana, Carrier and Lennox. Call 1-888-476-2691 to schedule an appointment or receive a free estimate. Snyder Air Conditioning services the greater Jacksonville area including Arlington, Southside, Mandarin, Beaches/St. Johns, Westside, Northside and Orange Park/All Clay County.
