George "Butch" Welsch discusses how being the right HVAC service provider for his customers has kept Welsch Heating & Cooling in business for 115 years.
Not all HVAC service providers are created equal. Homeowners who seek service for existing systems, or want to replace worn-out systems, should do their homework and feel comfortable with who they hire to do the work.
George “Butch” Welsch, current president of Welsch Heating & Cooling in St. Louis, MO, can attest to the importance of customer service in the HVAC business. His company, founded by his great-grandfather, has been installing and servicing furnaces (and more recently, air conditioning systems) since 1895.
“When you call our company, the phone is always answered by a live person,” he says. “We don’t have any menus or reasons for a customer to take a spelling test.”
Welsch adds that his company has 20 radio-dispatched service personnel available to take care of any heating or cooling situation as well as availability 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for emergency situations.
“Our people are trained to inspect the home or business to determine the reason for the problem, and we have many solutions available to us depending on the problem,” he says.
Before You Call About HVAC Problems
Welsch says before calling, customers experiencing problems with their heating or cooling systems should check all switches, plus the thermostat, to make sure they are in the “on” position. They should also make sure the furnace filter is clean, not clogged. If these steps do not resolve the problem, then a call to an HVAC service provider is probably in order.
Just because Welsch’s company has been offering old-fashioned customer service since 1895, it doesn’t mean the company’s repair or replacement is from some other era. If Welsch determines that a new system is in order, the company offers a number of “green” and energy-efficient solutions.
New Technology in HVAC Systems
One of these solutions is the trend toward geothermal systems, Welsch says. These systems utilize the near-constant ground temperature to provide more efficient heating and cooling. Approximately 6′ down, the temperature hovers between 45- and 55-degree Fahrenheit, and a geothermal system can operate at approximately 50% the operating cost of a conventional HVAC system.
Here are 7 other technology solutions from Welsch–many of which can be considered “green”:
- Installing units using R140A refrigerant, which is not ozone depleting
- Recovering R22 freon from units being repaired or replaced
- Providing humidification and dehumidification systems for greater indoor air comfort and reduced furnace or air conditioner usage
- Offering several Energy Star thermostats, reducing unit operation and energy usage.
- Recommending air cleaning systems for healthier indoor air
- Recycling equipment that is removed and any waste products created in the manufacturing process
- Utilizing the most up-to-date dispatching systems to reduce driving and fuel usage
As a former chairman and current member of his local Better Business Bureau, Welsch says he is amazed at the number of companies that don’t put the customer first. “In fact, they don’t seem to care how many complaints they receive nor how many dissatisfied customers they have,” he says. “And many of these companies continue to stay in business and continue to take advantage of their customers. We’ve been in business for 115 years because we want to satisfy every customer who calls us,” he says. “This should give them a level of comfort.”
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