The housing crisis has caused many homeowners to scrap plans for moving and to commit to another 5 years or longer in their existing homes.  Many have taken advantage of cheap mortgage rates and have actually reduced the cost of home ownership.  Are there other actions which a homeowner might take which produce similar savings?  Yes there are, absolutely!

It seems pretty certain that utility costs are not going down in the long run.  With that in mind, it makes sense to look at all the areas we waste energy in our homes.  Inefficient heating and cooling systems, inadequate weatherstripping or attic insulation and outdated lighting are the first places to start.  Would you invest in improvements to these areas if your investment would be repaid in less than 5 years?  That’s a 20% return on your investment!  So, how do you know what makes sense and what doesn’t?

A qualified heating and air conditioning contractor can perform tests on your home and make recommendations for improvements, including cost/benefit analysis for any home improvement investment.  Tom’s Mechanical offers such a service for just $49.  They call it a “Captain Comfort Home Energy Assessment” and it uncovers every energy-waster in your home.

If, like so many Americans you are destined to stay in your home for another 5 years it only makes sense to reduce the cost of living there.  And, if you can improve comfort at the same time, so much the better!

The heating and air conditioning industry, like many service industries is somewhat infamous for high levels of employee turnover.  When someone like Josh chooses to spend a decade with the same company, that kind of loyalty shouldn’t go unnoticed.  High quality service technicians like Josh can find jobs at many other companies, yet he remains at Tom’s.  So, why does he remain with the same company?

During his brief acceptance speech, Josh mentioned the people at Tom’s as his primary reason for staying.  He said he “feels at home” here, and we hope he “feels at home” for another decade!  If pressed further, I’ll bet Josh would say that loyalty is a two-way street, and that Tom’s has been loyal to him, too!  We work hard to provide a great working environment at Tom’s and it is especially gratifying when our employees choose to spend many years with us.  Including Josh we now can claim that 25% of our employees have been with the company for ten years or more!

If you ask around, most people would say that loyalty between a company and its employees is a concept from a bygone era.  We disagree, and ask you to talk to Josh Wallace, our latest example of a loyal employee.  Let’s celebrate!

This summer in Texas has been one of the hottest on record, with more than 30 consecutive days of temperatures over 100 degrees! While that is good for our air conditioning business, it takes a terrible toll on our employees. Attics are over 140 degrees yet our residential installers spend nearly every day in a different attic. Our commercial technicians work on top of the hottest roofs imagineable for hours at a time with little or no protection from the sun and heat. All of our field employees are impacted by the heat, but few complain.

I am constantly amazed that these employees are able to work in such difficult conditions yet are unfailingly polite to our customers. Few days pass without a note, e-mail or phone call from customers who appreciate the hard work and positive attitude of Tom’s employees.

For those people who think that the current generation of employees doesn’t compare to previous generations, I beg to differ. I couldn’t be prouder of the fine group of people who wear the Tom’s uniform and take exceptional care of our customers. You guys are awesome!