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This morning, I got a message from Ryan that works for the City of North Charleston. He reported on Twitter and via our website (www.ArcticAirIncSC.com) that one of our vans were stopped in “Do Not Block Fire Station Entrance/Exit”, and sent us a photo as proof. This message was retweeted by a couple of news agencies (ABC – @ABCNews4WebGrrl and  Live 5 News – @AnnLive5News), and other followers of these news sources.

Here is our response… “Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We will get with our technician to find out his version, explain how important it is to pay attention to these signs, and to be sure that he is not a “distracted” driver.

In addition, at our next Safety Meeting, our Safety Officer will go over the importance of paying attention while driving, including: traffic signs, pedestrians, other motorist, moving over for emergency vehicles, speeding,  distracted driving, texting while on SC roads, taking photos on SC roads, etc.”  I have called Ryan at the City of North Charleston to discuss our actions with him, and to see if there are any other concerns.

He responded that “The blocking of that fire station entrance is a common occurrence, which we are trying to correct and prevent. Your van was the most identifiable, which is why I contacted you.” I also asked him if our driver was texting while driving? He responded, “No, texting was not observed. Thank you for addressing this in your safety meeting”.

In an effort to help reduce this issue at intersections like this, we are posting this on our Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and our website (www.Arcticairincsc.com) .

Arctic Air is a heating and air conditioning repair, service and replacement company for over 23 years, and plan to be in business for many more. We believe in the safety of EVERYONE that we come in contact, whether on the road, or at a home or business.

We are all human and make mistakes, however, we are actively trying to reduce/prevent the number of mistakes that we make.

Please feel free to contact Mike at 843-821-0937 if you would like to discuss this further.

Arctic Air Inc. was contacted by an old handyman in Daniel Island. The handyman had moved into a small house to retire. He tried to fix the furnace himself when it seemed to be malfunctioning, but it was a new model that he had no experience with. He called us, because he knew we are the top company for heating and air in Daniel Island. We let him know that we would be able to come out that very same afternoon, which pleased the retired man.

The Arctic Air Inc. heating and air specialists arrived at the Daniel Island home and the homeowner showed us the furnace. Our HVAC professionals took a look at the furnace and we were able to fix the furnace quickly for the homeowner as it was just an issue with the thermostat, which is a common problem that can occur. We showed the homeowner how to use the furnace and he was very grateful for our services. The handyman said that he is pretty good at fixing things, but when he looked at the newer furnace he had no idea what to do. He said that is when he knew that he needed a professional heating and air company to come out and look it over. He said that Arctic Air Inc. is that professional heating and air company Daniel Island homeowners can depend on for all their heating needs, especially when it is as simple as just a new thermostat.

As I think about this time of year, I am reminded of my childhood. School was out, so staying up late and sleeping in was the norm. The excitement of Christmas was oozing from everyone… well, at least us kids! My Mom and Dad worked throughout the day, so when we got old enough, we would stay at home by ourselves, which opened a whole new can of worms.  My sister and I were … well, I guess NOSEY was the best way to describe it. We always wanted to find out what purchases had been made.

My Mom used true guilt to help prevent some of the looting that was taking place while she was not at home. She would put our items in black trash bags. These bags were sealed with tape and they had a message on them.  The message you might ask … Yes, on a piece of paper written with a Black Magic Marker … “GOD IS WATCHING YOU!”  Well, that did it for me! My sister… I am not so sure. She was a bit on the sneaky side.

As this week winds down, and we all scurry about, we would like to remind you to focus on the most important things … those things that cannot be bought. Spending time with those you love. Life. A compliment. Words of encouragement. Did I mention QUALITY TIME?

On a side note… Quality time is NOT being in the same room with everyone being on their phones or ipads. I am talking about just talking. Playing a game. Taking a walk together. Use this as a time to connect. Make great memories. I think I am going to take my own advice.

Thank you for taking time to read this. I know that you are busy! This is so weird to say at this time of year, but if you run into trouble with your air conditioner, don’t hesitate to call!

From all of us at Arctic Air, THANK YOU for your continued support! Whether you are a customer, friend, family member, etc., we appreciate you.

NOW, GO MAKE SOME GREAT CHRISTMAS MEMORIES!

Christmas Special – up to $1750 off a NEW RUUD AC/Heating System! For residents of Summerville SC, Goose Creek SC, North Charleston SC, Charleston SC, Mt. Pleasant SC, Ladson SC, Johns Island SC, James Island SC, Hanahan SC and Moncks Corner SC.

We were contacted by a golfer in our area. The golfer knew it was time to call our company for the best services for HVAC and Air Conditioning in James Island, because daylight savings had just happened and this was the sign that the avid golfer took a cue from, because he had less time to golf during the day and it was also getting cooler.

Our team came to the customer’s home and performed some light maintenance on the golfer’s furnace. The maintenance included an in depth cleaning along with oiling the furnace, then we put a new filter in, and made sure the duct work was sealed and performing properly. The team of techs made sure the furnace was operating properly and efficiently for the homeowner so that he would stay warm during the colder months while he practiced his short game indoors. The golfing enthusiast was thrilled that he called us to provide quality Air Conditioning services for him. He said all homeowners in James Island should do the same so their homes are ready for the cold winter months that was quickly approaching. The golfer said he knows that when daylight savings time occurs that is his reminder to have his furnace maintained. He says that is the only way he can remember to do it, but he knows to always call the Air Conditioning team with Arctic Air Inc. because we come out quickly and get the job done right.

Just a quick reminder to set your clocks back 1 hour.

and

Check your air filters.

Happy Friday and Happy Halloween to everyone!

As quitting time approaches for the week, I have a few weekend reminders.  The first is to check out these Halloween Safety Tips, if you have children or grandchildren that are planning to go Trick or Treating tomorrow. In addition, if you are planning to be celebrating yourself, please use caution as you travel to and fro. Children will be in the streets… be on guard. I could not imagine the heartache that would be felt if I injured or killed a child (or anyone else for that matter). Be safe and don’t drink and drive!

The second reminder is… it is time to check your ac filter. If your filter is dirty and clogged with dust, dirt and other contaminants, it is time to change it. The health of your ac/heating system depends on it! The strain and damage that is put on your ac/heating unit is not anything to take lightly.

Coastal Carolina Fair – photo from the Post and Courier, Charleston SC

The final reminder is… it is time for the Coastal Carolina Fair. Take time this beautiful weekend to enjoy the time with your family and friends. It looks like the weather is going to be great for getting out this weekend.  Normally, at this time it is cold and rainy… but not this year.

Halloween Safety Tips

It is amazing how fast time flies when you get older.  It just seems like we were in the heat of summer. Now, fall has rolled in, and we are moving towards the end of the year holidays (ie, Thanksgiving and Christmas). But, before we celebrate those holidays, we have Halloween.

We can all remember how exciting it was to go “trick or treating”. Dressing up, and getting a bunch of assorted candy was certainly fun! This year, it is going to be hard to hold the little ones (and not so little ones) back from getting out and visiting a bunch of homes. But before you send the kiddos out, please take time to review some safety tips to help keep them safe!

According to the SafeKids.org website,  children are twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year. Sorry to be the “Debbie Downer” but it is so important to get this information out there.

Here are some safety tips to go over BEFORE heading out to “Trick or Treat”.

• Be sure to cross streets at the corners. If available, use traffic signals and crosswalks

• Before stepping out into a roadway, look both ways. Look towards the left, then look right and finally left again. As you cross the road, keep looking!

A popular butcher in Summerville, South Carolina decided to expand his operations. His customers were all requesting sausage, other meats, and specialty items, but before he could expand he would need more walk-in cooler space to hold all the meats in. He currently didn’t have that space in his current cooler, so he devoted a section of his butcher space, and then he called the best company for restaurant refrigeration Summerville SC had to offer, Arctic Air, Inc.

The Arctic Air HVACR specialists arrived at the butcher’s location, and he walked our team into his cooler and where he wanted to expand it. He showed us exactly how he wanted it done, because he had really put a lot of thought and preparation into this. Our team understood his needs, and let him know that we were the restaurant refrigeration Summerville SC experts, because we have done this for other businesses as well. Once the contractor had finished the building and was ready for us, we went out and supplied the refrigeration. The cooler was successfully expanded, and business for the butcher is busier than ever. He is making all types of sausages and meats that his customers are really enjoying. Arctic Air Heating & Cooling is pleased that we could assist this customer in achieving another one of his goals with his expansion. We are the refrigeration company that all Summerville, South Carolina business owners contact for all their coolant needs.

Do you need to hire a contractor?

(If you have someone that might need this information, please share it with them. On Facebook, click the “share” button. This information could save a lot of pain, heartache and money in the future.)

By now, a lot of you are working to get your homes back in order. You need to hire a contractor: a water damage company, a flooring company, an ac contractor, a general contractor… maybe one or two of these, maybe all, maybe more.

You know that there are people and companies that will take advantage of your vulnerable predicament. Thankfully, there are great companies out there also! Unfortunately, you are going to have to figure out who you want to do your work, without getting SCAMMED.

Which contractor should you use?

That is a great question, however, it is not always easily answered.

I was once told that, “It is a sorry duck that doesn’t praise his own pond.” So, when it comes to air conditioning, heating and commercial refrigeration, I will always answer with Arctic Air.

Of course, that doesn’t help you when you need a general contractor, a roofer, a carpenter, a sheetrock contractor, etc. This post has been written to help you in your decision making process. One thing that I cannot stand is when a person or company robs, cheats, steals or lies to those who are in need of their services.

This blog will give you the power to help you choose a reputable contractor… and hopefully, a local contractor that will be here for you in the future. So, here we go….

Tips for hiring a contractor

Here are some tips to help you hire a contractor. If you haven’t already, check out Flood Victims… Don’t get taken by unscrupulous contractors!

• Do you provide written estimates? – Once you have figured out what contractors you will need, get written estimates from several firms. Don’t chose the lowest bidder because they are the lowest bidder. Make sure you find out why. Is it inferior material? Are they licensed?  Do they have appropriate insurance coverage? Are they using qualified labor? Be sure the scope of work and materials that are being used are noted.
• How many jobs have you done like this? – How many similar jobs have you completed this year? Were the jobs that they completed similar to yours?
• Do you need a permit? – You will want a contractor who is familiar with the permitting process in your “neck of the woods”.  Most areas require permits for many of the jobs that you may need a contractor.
• Can you provide a list of references? – Don’t be afraid to ask for references. Get the name, address, phone number of 2 or 3 customers that have worked with the potential contractor. Be sure the jobs were similar to yours. Ask each  if the job was completed on time, are they satisfied with the job and the quality of the work, were there any “unexpected” costs for the job, did the contractor show up on time, and was the work area cleaned up after they were finished?
• Do you have the appropriate insurance? – This is extremely important! According to the Federal Trade Commission website, “…you could be held liable for any injuries and damages that occur during the project.” Contractors should have personal liability, workers’ compensation and property damage coverage.
• Will the contractor be using any subcontractors? – If the answer to this question is “yes”, they will need proof of insurance AND the appropriate licenses.

Additional Tips

I asked Cheryl Ludlum if her team at Southern Shores Real Estate had any recommendations. Not only did they echo the tips above, but they also added these.

• Are you the on-site project manager? How often will you be on-site? – Sometimes the person meeting with you to bid on the job will not be the person you work with. It is important to know who is managing the job.
• What is the projected timeline? Not just a start and end date, but an outline of specific phases of the job and their completion dates.
• Will the timeline, cost and detailed scope of work be outlined in a written contract?
• What type of deposit is required? Southern Shores recommends that you do not pay any labor upfront. It is acceptable to pay a percentage of the materials up-front, but make sure any additional payments are tied to the completion of specific phases of the contract.
• How will changes in the scope of work be communicated? Again, the Southern Shores Real Estate team says that, “The client should always have to sign off in writing to any changes in the scope of work or price.”

Southern Shores Real Estate can help with real estate, property management, vacation rentals, new homes, construction/maintenance, and cleaning/custodial services. The currently have an office on Main St. in Summerville, SC and on St. Andrews Blvd. in West Ashley. To reach them by phone, call 843-225-2990, or by web www.southernshoresre.com, or by facebook at www.facebook.com/southernshoresre.

(I would like to thank Cheryl and Brock for getting this information together for this blog. They are busy, but they are concerned about people getting taken advantage of by unscrupulous contractors and people.)

I know that this takes a little more effort on your part, however, you will be glad you did the extra work. A reputable company will easily be able to accommodate your requests.

If you find that you need a good, honest, licensed, insured and reputable ac and heating company, please call Arctic Air, Inc. 843-821-0937. You will be glad that you did!

5 Star Review

Here is a 5 Star review that Frank B. left for Arctic Air on Facebook.

Frank B — 5 star

(Please pass this information on if doesn’t pertain to you, it is important. For FaceBook users, press the “share” button.)

Knowledge is Power!

As we continue to deal with all of the water that was dumped in our state of South Carolina, there is a lot to do to get our lives back in order. We were very blessed, and did not have any flood damage to our homes or to our office building. We also know that many have been greatly effected across South Carolina . Before we go any further, we want you to know that you are in our thoughts and prayers.

Because there is so much work to be done, many “out of state” contractors are heading our way. Many have good intentions. They want to be of service. When dealing with water damage, time is of the essence. However, don’t get in so much of a rush that you fail to see the warning signs. There are unscrupulous contractors out there who will take advantage of you!

Most of us at Arctic Air were here for Hurricane Hugo in 1989. We saw many wonderful people from other states come to help with the clean up. We also saw many unscrupulous contractors take advantage of our neighbors. As we were thinking about how we could help our friends, family and neighbors, we thought we could offer some knowledge. Knowledge is power!

Whether you are hiring a water damage company, a general contractor, a specialty contractor, an heating and air contractor, a interior remodeling contractor, etc., you need to know how to protect yourself from being scammed! So, we have put together some information to help you.

Don’t be SCAMMED!

We called Krista and Dan Hassell, owners of Quality Contractor Services, LLC located in Summerville SC (QCS Facebook Page), to get their thoughts on this situation.  Krista and Dan confirmed that this is a major issue that homeowners are going to face throughout South Carolina.  They emailed us and gave us a brief list of recommendations for homeowners.  Here is that list… 

1. – Make sure you are hiring a contractor with the proper licensing and insurance.
3. – Ask if your contractor utilizes subs and are those subs insured and licensed.
5. – Ask about a labor warranty. 
7. – Make sure your contractor is local and will be here for the long haul. If there are problems with the workmanship, you may have to hire someone else to fix the problem. This usually makes the job much more expensive.

Quality Contractor Services, LLC

Quality Contractor Services, LLC is a local interior remodeling company that is licensed and insured. They  specialize in tile, hardwood floors, showers and more! If it is inside your home, they are the people to call. For a free estimate call 843-901-5709 or visit their website: www.qualitycontratorservicesllc.net.

Additional Tips

Arctic Air, Inc., located in Summerville SC, has been in business since 1993 (22 years at the time of this blog).  We hold our Mechanical License in the state of South Carolina, we are insured, and have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

John and Valarie Morton, owner’s of Arctic Air, Inc., recommended these tips:

1. – Do some research. Ask others about their experience with the contractor that you are  about to hire. Did they arrive on time? Did they complete the job? Were they on budget, or did they have to ask for more money?
3. – Do a web search. Look at the various different rating sites (ie, GOOGLE, YELP, BBB, etc). Are others having a good or bad experience with the company?
5. – How long have they been in business? New companies are forming, however you will want to consider choosing a business that has a record and reputation that you can check out.
7. – As mentioned before, Are they qualified? Do they have the appropriate License to do the work? Is that license current?
9. – If there are problems with the job, how will they handle those (especially, if they are out of state contractors)?
11. – If the deal seems like it is too good to be true, then, it probably is.

Cheapest … May Not Be The Best Choice

The Federal Trade Commission says that you should “get written estimates from several firms, keeping in mind the lowest bidder may not be the best choice”. Often times, we are allured by the sweet smell of a cheap price. Unfortunately, many have been taken by these con artists. Don’t be afraid to ask a company to explain why their price may be higher or lower. Many unscrupulous companies/individuals will cut corners to get the price lower by using inferior materials, unqualified laborers, they are not insured, they don’t pay tax to the appropriate government agencies, or they are hoping that you will give them cash (and you will never see them again).

Whether you get 1, 5, 10 or 100 quotes, you have to do a gut check. If something doesn’t seem right, it probably isn’t.

Don’t give up

As we have stated before, you are in our prayers. We know that this is a difficult time. Don’t give up.  You can get through this with the help of friends, family and neighbors.

If you have any problems or questions about your air conditioning / heating, please give us a call 843-821-0937.

We hope that this information will help you find great local, qualified companies to help fix the damage that you have incurred and restore your homes!

#charlestonstrong, #pray4sc