In a resent article in the Santa Clarita Signal Newspaper, 29 unlicensed contractors were arrested. All of them face misdemeanor charges of illegal advertising, contracting without a license and charging excessive down payments, according to a report from the CSLB.

Read the full article from the Signal

More and more consumers are getting taken advantage of from unlicensed contractors. Consumers looking for a low price could be developing bigger problems by using someone without the experience. When you hire a licensed contractor you have protection from the state if that person or company fails to do a good job or creates other damage. Using unlicensed contractors you are taking all the risk yourself.

Your air conditioner and heating system  is not some small simple thing, and one of the most expensive appliances in your home or business.  If not serviced properly can become expensive very fast. We have seen this in the past, customers thinking they are getting a deal from someone who says they know how to repair their A/C unit finds new problems come up afterwords. A-1 Ocean Breeze is licensed, bonded and insured.

We look forward to helping you when you need us.

NATE stands for North American Technician Excellence. It is the leading non-profit certification program for HVAC/R (heating, ventilating, air conditioning, refrigeration) technicians.

Often people ask what HVAC/R means.  This stands for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning.  The R after the slash stands for Refrigeration.

Why is it important for an HVAC/R tech to become NATE-certified?

The answer is simple: it’s a win-win situation for everybody.

For a business owner/contractor such as myself, I would like to have as many NATE-certified technicians in my group, because being NATE-certified is a different level of professionalism. These are the people who are willing to receive continued education, attend seminars, and the like. Because our industry is constantly changing, it is important to keep up-to-date with the latest news and information. NATE-certified techs are those who are passionate about being in the HVAC/R business.

For our company, having NATE-certified technicians means that our employees are top-notch professionals. We get less callbacks. We are able to provide better service to our customers, and they are in turn more apt to make use of our services. An employee who is NATE-certified is also prouder and has a sense of self-fulfillment. Many of our technicians are NATE-certified, and those who aren’t are in the process of earning their certification.

For our customers, hiring a company whose technicians are NATE-certified means that they are getting quality service. They can be assured that this person doesn’t just say they know what they’re doing, doesn’t just think they know what they’re doing. NATE-certified technicians really know what they’re doing.

NATE is a third party program supported by all major air conditioning names in the industry. It is an educational as well as an exam process. It filters out a lot of people in the trade who don’t necessarily know what they’re doing.

To earn NATE certification, you don’t just take a test. You really have to know your stuff. All the training in the world won’t really help. It’s plenty of work experience that will allow you to learn everything you need to know.

The scary thing about this industry is that an individual doesn’t need a license or anything of the sort in order to become an HVAC/R technician. There are no formal requirements for entering the industry. Some people may have started out as a part-time helper, became an installer, and then somehow ended up being pushed into something that they aren’t really qualified for.

If someone is NATE-certified, it means that they’ve been around and have worked in the industry. They didn’t just decide to do HVAC/R, or they wouldn’t have gotten that far. Again, these are the people who are serious about what they do.

HVAC/R systems are major investments. So if you need someone for equipment installation, service, maintenance, and repair, make sure you hire a company that hires NATE-certified technicians and installers.

A-1 Ocean Breeze is you local source for NATE-certified technicians.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

A-1 Ocean Breeze, Inc.

26845 Oak Avenue, Unit 16
Canyon Country, CA 91351
(661) 252-6800 / 1-877-A1OCEAN (216-2326)

www.a1ocean.com

A-1 Ocean Breeze, Inc. Customers Receive Added Assurance with NATE Certification

Clients can count on high quality installation and service of HVACR units with the company’s knowledgeable, skilled, and experienced NATE-certified technicians.

Canyon Country, CA – September 10, 2009 – HVACR (heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and refrigeration) systems are major investments in the home and workplace. Therefore, it would make sense to hire the right technicians for equipment installation, service, maintenance, and repair. The question is, how does one choose the persons that are fit for the job?

A-1 Ocean Breeze, Inc. is a Californian company specializing in residential and commercial air conditioning, heating, refrigeration, and ice machines. All of their on-site technicians are trained and EPA certified. They employ NATE (North American Technician Excellence) certified technicians, placing them among the best in the business.

NATE is the leading non-profit certification program for HVACR technicians, and is the only test supported by the entire industry. To become NATE-certified, a technician must pass both a core and a specialty test of his/her choice.

The core test covers the candidate’s general knowledge, construction knowledge, and HVACR specific knowledge in the areas of safety/tools/soft skills, heat transfer/comfort, and electrical systems. The specialty exam tests the candidates in the knowledge of the installation, service maintenance, and/or repair of HVACR systems.

While there are no formal educational requirements for certification, NATE strongly recommends that examinees have prior training and work experience.

By passing the nationally recognized NATE certification tests, the technicians of A-1 Ocean Breeze, Inc. have proven their proficiency in the HVACR industry. Their expertise assures clients of superior installation and service. This gives customers’ heating and cooling units a longer life, which translates to more energy savings, lower utility bills, less call-backs and warranty returns, additional home comfort, and a greater peace of mind.

A-1 Ocean Breeze, Inc. is located in Canyon Country, California, and has been servicing Santa Clarita Valley and San Fernando Valley since 1989. The company handles new/replacement installations, repairs, and preventive maintenance for all makes and models of central air conditioning, heating, commercial refrigeration, and ice machines. A-1 Ocean Breeze, Inc. is dedicated to the highest quality of customer service delivered with a sense of warmth, friendliness, individual pride, and company spirit.