Answers About Our Heating, AC, and Plumbing Services

We only offer emergency service after hours and on weekends, and the after-hours, emergency service rates are higher. If you have an emergency after hours, call 703-644-6400 and ask the service to page the “on-call” technician.

We are closed the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July holiday, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.  If Christmas or New Year’s falls on a weekend, the federal holiday will be observed.

We have technicians and plumbers that are on-call, 24/7.  Should an emergency arise when our office is closed, you can call our main phone number (703-644-6400) to report the type of emergency service you need.  Within one hour of your inquiry, the on-call technician or plumber will then contact you for more information.  Residential emergency service requested after normal business hours require an increased price for diagnostic and service fees.  Call 703-644-6400 or 

For plumbing service calls, including repairs on water heaters, we charge $59* to come out and do a complete diagnosis.  (Commercial plumbing is $79.) We use flat-rate pricing where each job is priced specifically in our price book.  After the diagnosis, the plumber will quote the repair price for your authorization before any work is performed.  We do not charge on a time-and-materials basis, so you will know exactly what you will pay, even if it takes longer than expected to fix the problem.  *After normal business hours, the fees are higher, and the diagnostic charge is $139 ($159 for commercial). Call 703-644-6400 or 

Deciding to replace a major component on an older system can be a gamble because there is no guarantee that something else won’t break next week. The risk is even greater when you’re facing a costly repair to a system that is over eight years old, one that is in poor condition, or one that has not had regular maintenance service.  Be sure to consider factors such as the age of the system, how long you plan to stay in the home, your current level of comfort, and the potential savings in energy costs.  If you determine that your appliance is near or at the end of its useful life, you may decide to invest the repair cost towards a new system. For newer systems that have received regular maintenance, repair might be the better choice.  Work with one of our technicians or comfort and installation consultants, and they will be happy to give you the technical information you need to help you make a well-informed decision.  Call 703-644-6400 or 

Keeping your filters clean is one of the most important and inexpensive ways homeowners can both increase the performance and help prolong the life of their comfort systems.  Dirty air filters can reduce the amount of airflow through your system, making your system work harder.  Homeowners should avoid running their comfort systems without filters.  Filters improve indoor air quality, while preventing the accumulation of dust and dirt on the working parts of your furnace or air handler.  Accumulated dirt can drastically reduce your system’s efficiency and performance, and it is frequently the cause of system breakdowns.

You should change your filters whenever they are dirty.  For an easy rule of thumb, the Department of Energy recommends replacing regular air filters in your furnace every month.

If your system has an electronic air cleaner or media filters, consult the manufacturers’ recommendations on replacement.  Some air cleaners have washable filters, and others require changing only once or twice a year.  If you are unsure about what type of filtering system your comfort system has, just ask your service technician or call or email our service department for more information.

One of the main reasons your air conditioner might not be cooling properly is that the air filter probably needs to be replaced.

For disposable filters, please read the dimensions of your air filter as printed on its side (eg., 16 x 24 x 1) and order your replacement from your brand provider or online.

If you need help or have questions, reach out to us: https://trademasters.com/contact/ask-an-expert/

You can determine the size air filter you need by reading the three numbers (in inches) on your current air filter or using a tape measure to measure the length, width and depth of your air filter cavity. This usually looks like 16x25x1 on the side of the filter as an example. The numbers you end up with may not be exact, but generally, the filter size closest to your numbers is the one to get.

Check the MERV Rating as well to determine how well the filter removes particulates from the air.

If you have questions, ask an expert here: https://trademasters.com/contact/ask-an-expert/

There are plenty of easy preventative measures you can take to keep your family cool and comfortable with your AC unit running well. Dirt and debris are among the most common causes of AC troubles. Ensure that your air filter is replaced every month; a partly-clogged filter can mean that air isn’t flowing into the system as it should and cause it to underperform.

Clearing and keeping debris away from your outside unit is another simple step. Look for leaves, stems, and other plant items that might get caught in the unit and remove them.

For a full, professional preventative maintenance cleaning and check, look into our ESA agreement or get started through scheduling service with us: https://trademasters.com/contact/schedule-service/

HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning and is what we service each day!

A MERV (Minimum Efficiency Rating Value) rating is the efficiency value for a filter on how well it removes particulates from the air in your home.

Residential air filters are usually offered in MERV ratings of 8, 11, and 13. The higher the rating the more particulates are removed from the air flow in your home.

You can find many online retailers that will help you pick the right air filter for your home needs. You can also reach out to us to get your questions answered here: https://trademasters.com/contact/ask-an-expert/