How time flies! It has been almost nine years since Francisco joined the team at Doug’s Heating and Air Conditioning. Francisco started working for us as an installer in 2014, right out of trade school. After he graduated from Moline High School, Francisco went to the Midwest Technical Institute. When he finished there, he joined Doug’s and has been with us ever since. It was clear from the start, Francisco was going to be a valuable addition to the team. He was promoted to service technician within just a few months.
Doug’s is a perfect fit for Francisco because of the family-oriented atmosphere. It also allows Francisco to work outdoors as well as indoors and to work with his hands. Francisco has an EPA Refrigerant License, as well as licenses on HVAC, Forced Air and Geothermal Systems. But Francisco is not stopping there. Doug’s pays for Francisco to continue his education, continue learning and to earn more certifications while staying up on the latest changes in technology in our industry.
While we had a mild December, January is already proving to be tough. Francisco has a few tips to keep in mind this winter and with future winters:
- Check the filter on your furnace monthly. Francisco recommends checking your filter whenever you pay your heating bill. This helps you to remember, and you are more likely to notice a minor problem before it becomes an emergency.
- Listen to your furnace. If something sounds different than normal with your furnace, pay attention. Most furnaces these days have belt-less and oil-less motors. If you hear a grinding noise or squeals from your furnace, that is a warning sign the motor is in trouble.
- Keep your home comfortable. Francisco keeps his home at a smooth and constant 70 degrees year-round. There is a scientific explanation for this temperature: it makes his wife happy! That said, changing the temperature is not going to hurt your furnace, so feel free to try a range of temperatures to find out what works for your family.
Francisco estimates that most furnaces should last 15 to 20 years with regular annual maintenance. Better to pay a small amount of maintenance than to be forced to replace your furnace early.
