It’s the hottest day of the summer, so you decide to move your backyard soiree into the air-conditioned house. Guests are expected in a few hours, so you place the first round of appetizers in the oven and set the table. But the house feels unusually toasty, the air a bit sticky.

Sure enough, your air conditioner is on the fritz.

Where will you find a repairman at 3:00 on a Saturday afternoon? And, if you do, will he charge an exorbitant weekend rate?

“We’ve tailored our business to our customers’ needs, so there’s never an extra charge on holidays or weekends,” assures Joe Bilotta, who co-owns Blind & Sons along with John Hartmann. “We offer 24-hour emergency service 365 days a year. Let’s face it, when the air conditioner conks out, it’s often not between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.”

Over the last 75 years, the meticulously trained and certified technicians at Blind & Sons has serviced over 250,000 heating and cooling systems and installed over 45,000 comfort systems from quality manufacturers like Trane. But let’s dig a little deeper into this legendary Northeast Ohio company.

Keeping Your Cool
Locally owned and operated, Blind & Sons provides air conditioning and furnace tune-ups, emergency repairs, air conditioning additions to existing homes, and replacement of outdated systems. Joe and John operate an astonishingly customer-centric business. In fact, the sales staff and technicians are expected to educate homeowners to effectively and affordably maintain HVAC equipment. The focus is never on pushing equipment or services. Instead, it’s on keeping families safe and comfortable.

“Many homeowners don’t know they need to tune-up heating or air conditioning systems, but it can lead to substantial savings on utility bills and extend the equipment’s longevity,” John explains. “There’s nothing greener than having equipment tuned. Plus, without a tune-up, some manufacturers’ warranties won’t hold.”

John says it’s important to change your unit’s filters as regularly as every 30 days, depending on the type. Check manufacturer recommendations or ask a Blind & Sons expert for guidance. “The main reason most mechanical devices break down is because they get dirty,” John adds. “And they get dirty when filters are not changed regularly.”

In their quest to provide “Value Beyond Price,” Blind & Sons offers free in-home consultations. Because this is shaping up to be one of the hottest summers on record, it’s a good idea to call now to get an appointment. Blind & Sons offers a variety of special financing options to make it affordable should you choose to replace your equipment now.

A Genuine Customer Focus
Each year consumers lose millions of dollars in unclaimed rebates because they simply didn’t know about them or failed to submit timely claims. As a part of its customer-obsessed culture, Blind & Sons won’t let that happen.

“We work hard to help our customers save money,” Joe says. “For example, First Energy offers a $25 rebate with air-conditioning tune-ups. Our technicians have rebate forms on their truck. Whether the customer expects it or not, we fill it out, process and mail it. The customer doesn’t even need a stamp.”

Blind & Sons also informs its customers about hundreds of dollars in other utility and manufacturer rebates, and maintains a deep and legitimate commitment to whole-house safety.

“We believe we have a moral obligation to check for other safety issues,” Joe says. “Our guy may be there to tune the air conditioner, but he’s also a consultant and safety expert so he opens the electrical panel, too. In the last few years, we’ve seen panels that were serious safety hazards. We sleep better at night knowing we are potentially saving lives.”

Guess Who’s at the Door?
Blind & Sons takes safety to the next level by informing you upfront about the technicians who visit your home. When you schedule an appointment, you’ll receive an email containing the arriving technician’s name, photo, work history, other customers’ comments, and an assurance that he is “Trust Certified.” That means the person working in your home has been drug- and background-checked and is professionally licensed to perform the required work. Technicians wear crisp Blind & Sons uniforms and carry identification badges. Highly ethical and respectful, they pull work permits when required, wear shoe covers, and use dropcloths.

“We listen to our customers’ concerns,” John insists. “We’re in the diagnostic business, so we ask questions. We’re not going to sell you anything you don’t need, but neither will we put a band-aid on a problem that could get worse a short time later. We take great pride in our work and we do it right. That’s why our customers trust us.”

Transparency is also critical. Blind & Sons’ written proposals contain upfront pricing with good, better and best options. And work carries a written, 100% money-back satisfaction guarantee. The company also offers system-performance and no-lemon guarantees.

Customer surveys consistently reveal high levels of satisfaction. In fact, last year Trane recognized Blind & Sons as “Trane Dealer with Highest Sales,” “Highest Quantity of Trane’s Premium Line of Equipment” and “Most CleanEffects Sold.” In addition, First Energy honored them “In recognition for a being a 2011 Top Performing Contractor for HVAC Tune-Ups.”

Blind & Sons is located at 344 Fourth Street, NW, in Barberton and serves most of Northeast Ohio. Call 216-367-1377 or 440-484-2309 for any HVAC emergency or to schedule an in-home consultation. Blind & Sons is available 24/7 and never charges overtime fees…ever.