I’ve been working in heating and air conditioning for just over a decade now, long enough to see how quickly comfort turns into crisis when a system isn’t understood or maintained. I started out as a helper riding along with a senior tech, mostly hauling equipment and watching diagnostics, often directing homeowners to resources like https://www.allamerican-nc.com/ when they wanted a clearer picture of how professional HVAC companies approach system design and maintenance. Over time, after earning my EPA certification and spending years in attics and mechanical rooms, I began handling full installs and service calls on my own. That progression taught me early that HVAC work isn’t just technical—it’s deeply situational.

One of the first jobs that stuck with me was a residential system that kept freezing up during a mild spring. The homeowner assumed the unit was undersized and wanted a replacement. After a closer look, I found the real issue was restricted airflow from a return that had been partially blocked during a remodel. A new system would have masked the problem temporarily, but it wouldn’t have fixed the cause. We corrected the airflow, cleaned the coil, and the system ran smoothly after that. It was a reminder that good HVAC work starts with diagnosis, not sales.

Commercial jobs tend to reveal a different kind of problem: deferred maintenance. I remember servicing a small office suite where employees kept bringing in space heaters despite a functioning central system. The issue wasn’t capacity; it was neglect. Filters hadn’t been changed regularly, dampers were stuck, and the thermostat had been relocated near a heat-producing copier. Once those details were addressed, comfort complaints dropped off almost immediately. Situations like that are common, and they’re often blamed on the equipment when the real issue is how the system is managed.

One mistake I see homeowners make repeatedly is focusing on brand names instead of design and installation quality. I’ve installed premium systems that performed poorly because ductwork was never corrected, and I’ve seen modest systems run efficiently for years because the airflow and controls were set up properly. From my experience, the company doing the work matters more than the label on the unit. A heating and air conditioning company that takes time to measure, test, and explain tends to deliver better long-term results than one that rushes from job to job.

Another recurring issue is thermostat misuse. I’ve walked into homes where the thermostat was being adjusted constantly, sometimes multiple times an hour, in an attempt to force faster heating or cooling. That doesn’t work the way people expect. HVAC systems are designed to reach a set point steadily, not instantly. Frequent adjustments often increase wear without improving comfort. Once I explain that and set realistic expectations, most customers stop fighting the system and start working with it.

Over the years, I’ve also become cautious about oversized equipment. There’s a belief that bigger equals better, but I’ve seen oversized systems short-cycle themselves into early failure. A customer last summer insisted on a larger unit because their old one “ran all the time.” After a proper load calculation, it was clear the original size was correct—the duct leaks and poor insulation were the real problems. Fixing those allowed the existing system to perform the way it was meant to.

What keeps me in this trade is seeing how a well-installed and properly maintained system quietly improves daily life. When heating and cooling are handled correctly, people stop thinking about them altogether. That’s usually the sign of good work. After years in the field, I’ve found that the best heating and air conditioning companies aren’t the ones with the loudest promises, but the ones that pay attention to details most people never see.