HVAC & Plumbing FAQs
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
→ TROUBLESHOOTING COMMON PROBLEMS
→ REPAIR OR REPLACE? SYSTEM LIFESPANS
→ MAINTENANCE THAT PREVENTS BREAKDOWNS
→ HOME EMERGENCIES: WHAT TO DO FIRST
→ EFFICIENCY, COMFORT & YOUR SMART HOME
→ COSTS, ESTIMATES & OUR GUARANTEE
WORKING WITH ALLGOOD
WHAT IS YOUR SERVICE LIKE?
When you call Allgood, you will speak with one of our friendly customer service representatives. We encourage you to tell them a little bit about your situation, including any pertinent history with your home's plumbing. Our customer service representative will answer as many questions as they can and will set up an appointment for one of our service technicians to come to your home or business. If you need service immediately, we specialize in emergency service and can provide immediate assistance in most cases. Call now for emergency service! [FLAG: “your homes plumbing”: missing apostrophe in live copy]
WHAT FORMS OF PAYMENT DO YOU ACCEPT?
We accept all major credit cards, in-state checks, and cash. Allgood Home Services also offers some special financing options, including 12 months special financing. Subject to credit approval. Ask for details.
ARE YOU LICENSED?
Allgood is Georgia-licensed and insured. All work performed by our company is backed by our entire company. We recommend verifying the proper licensing and insurance of every contractor you have perform work on your home. A copy of licensing and proof of insurance is gladly provided upon request.
WHAT ARE THE AVAILABLE TIMES TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT THROUGH ALLGOOD?
We strive to serve all customers as quickly and as conveniently as possible. Unless there is an emergency or special circumstances, we normally commit to servicing our customers between 8 AM and 8 PM. Because we never know exactly how long an appointment will take, and we want to be sure to give each customer outstanding service and our undivided attention, we do not guarantee an exact arrival time.
Let us know your preferred time window for a morning or afternoon appointment, and our dispatcher will give you a phone call 30 minutes to an hour before our technician heads over to your house. We respect your time and will make every effort to accommodate scheduling needs. [FLAG: “phonecall”: should be “phone call” in live copy]
WHAT DOES IT COST FOR YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT MY PROBLEM?
Allgood is able to provide written on-site estimates in most cases. Examples of cases where there will be a charge for an estimate include times when drywall must be cut to see a problem, if a sewer camera is required to fix a problem, and if electronic troubleshooting is involved.
Also, in order to qualify for a low-cost estimate, the homeowner must be present and be seriously considering having work done. Any time there is a charge for performing a task, the service technician will inform you in writing how much the charge will be and what it will be for. You authorize all work before any charges occur as part of our no surprise guarantee!
IS IT IMPORTANT TO USE A LICENSED PLUMBER?
Absolutely. The state of Georgia imposes license requirements on plumbers and HVAC technicians for a good reason. Repairs and installations that are not made up to state code can cause significant property damage and bodily harm up to, and including, death. Licensing protects you, the homeowner, against shoddy craftsmanship and unsafe installations. Not to mention that most insurance agencies will not insure non-licensed individuals when the state has a licensing requirement that is trade-specific.
Unlicensed equals uninsured in most cases. Verify the people performing work in your home hold a proper state license and have the proper insurance to protect your home and family’s safety.
I HAVE AN EMERGENCY AFTER REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
Call us now! Allgood offers emergency service. If a problem is causing property damage or extreme inconvenience, feel free to call our main number and speak with our answering service. The answering service will, in turn, call our on-call supervisor, who will then give you a call. Our phones are answered by a live person, 7 days a week, 365 days per year. We are here when you need us!
WHAT AREAS DO YOU SERVE?
Allgood is based in Norcross and serves homeowners across the Atlanta metro area, including Alpharetta, Marietta, Gainesville, Athens, and the surrounding communities. If you’re not sure whether you’re in range, check our service area page or just give us a call.
DO YOU OFFER MAINTENANCE PLANS?
Yes. Regular maintenance is the best way to catch small problems while they’re still small, and our service plan makes staying on schedule easy. See service plan options, and keep an eye on our current specials.
CAN YOU SERVICE MY EQUIPMENT EVEN IF IT’S A DIFFERENT BRAND?
In most cases, yes. Our technicians work on all major residential heating, cooling, and plumbing brands, whether or not we installed the equipment. Tell us the brand and model when you call and we’ll confirm before the visit.
HVAC BASICS
WHAT DOES HVAC STAND FOR?
HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning: the connected systems that keep your home warm in winter, cool in summer, and breathing fresh air all year. Explore our heating and cooling services.
WHAT IS A HEAT PUMP AND HOW DOES IT WORK?
A heat pump is one system that both cools and heats your home by moving heat instead of creating it. In summer it pushes heat out of your house; in winter it pulls heat in from the outside air. That efficiency makes heat pumps a strong fit for Georgia’s mild winters. We recommend replacing heat pumps every 8 years. Learn more about heat pumps.
WHAT IS A DUCTLESS MINI-SPLIT?
A ductless mini-split heats and cools individual rooms without any ductwork, which makes it ideal for additions, sunrooms, garages, and older Atlanta homes where running new ducts isn’t practical. Each room gets its own controls, so you only condition the space you’re actually using. See our mini-split services.
WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH THE REFRIGERANT PHASE-OUT?
Older refrigerants, including the one most people call Freon, are being phased out nationwide, and as supplies shrink, repairs on systems that use them get harder to justify. If your air conditioner runs on a phased-out refrigerant, that should weigh heavily in any repair-or-replace decision. Ask your technician what your system uses at your next visit. Learn about HVAC replacement.
TROUBLESHOOTING COMMON PROBLEMS
WHY IS MY AIR CONDITIONER RUNNING BUT NOT COOLING?
The usual suspects: a clogged filter choking airflow, a tripped breaker on the outdoor unit, dirty or blocked outdoor coils, or low refrigerant from a leak. Check the filter and breaker yourself; if it’s still blowing warm air, schedule a repair, because running it that way strains the whole system. See our cooling repair services.
WHY WON’T MY FURNACE TURN ON?
Start simple: confirm the thermostat is set to heat, check the breaker, and make sure the furnace power switch (it looks like an ordinary light switch, usually mounted near the unit) is on. If all of that checks out, the cause is often the igniter, flame sensor, or gas supply; that’s the point to bring in a technician. See our heating repair services.
WHY DO I HAVE NO HOT WATER?
For gas water heaters, the most common causes are a pilot light or gas supply issue; for electric models, a tripped breaker or a failed heating element. If your water heater is 7–8 years old and cold showers are becoming a pattern, it’s usually time to talk replacement rather than another repair. See our water heater repair services.
WHY DOES MY TOILET KEEP RUNNING?
A running toilet usually comes down to a worn flapper, a fill valve that won’t shut off, or a chain with the wrong tension. It seems minor, but a running toilet wastes a startling amount of water every day. If a new flapper doesn’t quiet it, have a plumber take a look. Explore our plumbing services.
WHY WON’T MY TOILET UNCLOG WITH A PLUNGER?
If the plunger isn’t winning, the clog is probably deeper than the toilet itself, sitting in the branch drain or even the main sewer line, especially if other drains in the house are slow at the same time. That combination is your signal to stop plunging and call for professional drain service. See our drain cleaning services.
WHY DOES MY BATHROOM OR SHOWER DRAIN SMELL LIKE SEWAGE?
The most common cause is a dried-out P-trap under a rarely used drain. Run water down it for a minute and the smell often disappears. If it keeps coming back, the culprit may be a blocked vent stack or a developing sewer line problem, and that deserves a professional look. Learn about sewer line repair.
WHY IS MY WATER PRESSURE LOW?
If it’s one fixture, the aerator or the fixture itself is usually to blame. If it’s the whole house, look to the pressure regulator, mineral buildup, or a hidden leak. In older Atlanta homes, whole-house pressure drops often trace back to aging original pipes. An inspection pins down which one you’re dealing with. See our water line services.
REPAIR OR REPLACE? SYSTEM LIFESPANS
HOW LONG DOES AN HVAC SYSTEM LAST?
Air conditioners and furnaces work hard in Georgia’s climate, and we recommend replacing them every 8–10 years. Heat pumps run year-round, so we recommend replacing those every 8 years. If your system is approaching that age and struggling to keep up, it’s worth planning ahead. Learn more about HVAC replacement.
SHOULD I REPAIR OR REPLACE MY AIR CONDITIONER?
A good rule of thumb: if your AC is under 8 years old and this is its first major issue, a repair usually makes sense. If it’s 8–10 years old, needs repairs more than once a year, or your energy bills keep climbing, replacement is often the smarter long-term choice. An Allgood technician can walk you through both options with a written estimate. Explore air conditioning services.
HOW LONG DO WATER HEATERS LAST?
We recommend replacing water heaters every 7–8 years. Rusty or discolored hot water, rumbling sounds, moisture around the base, or lukewarm showers are all signs yours is nearing the end. Replacing a failing water heater on your schedule beats replacing it the morning it quits. See our water heater services.
HOW DO I KNOW WHAT SIZE HVAC SYSTEM MY HOME NEEDS?
Bigger isn’t better: an oversized system short-cycles and leaves the air clammy, while an undersized one runs constantly and still falls behind. The right answer comes from a load calculation that accounts for your home’s square footage, insulation, windows, and ductwork, which is exactly what we do before recommending equipment. Learn about HVAC installation.
MAINTENANCE THAT PREVENTS BREAKDOWNS
HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU CHANGE YOUR AIR FILTER?
We recommend changing air filters every 3 months, or more often if you have pets, allergies, or a dusty renovation underway. A clean filter keeps air flowing freely, eases the strain on your heating and cooling system, and supports healthier air in your home. Learn more about indoor air quality.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD I SCHEDULE HVAC MAINTENANCE?
Twice a year is the rhythm most systems do best on: a cooling tune-up in spring, before Georgia summer arrives, and a heating tune-up in fall. Regular maintenance catches worn parts before they fail on the hottest week of the year, and our service plan keeps both visits on the calendar for you. Learn about our service plan.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD DRAINS BE PROFESSIONALLY CLEANED?
We recommend having your main line drain professionally serviced every 6–12 months. Regular service clears the buildup that leads to slow drains and backups, especially in older Atlanta homes, where tree roots and aging sewer lines are common culprits. See our drain cleaning services.
SHOULD I FLUSH MY WATER HEATER?
Yes. Flushing clears out the sediment that settles at the bottom of the tank, which robs you of hot water and shortens the unit’s life. Handy homeowners can do it themselves, or it can be handled during a service plan visit if you’d rather not wrestle a garden hose in the garage. See our water heater services.
WHAT SHOULD NEVER GO DOWN MY DRAINS?
In the kitchen: grease, coffee grounds, eggshells, and stringy scraps like celery. In the bathroom: wipes (yes, even the “flushable” ones), cotton products, and paper towels. Most of the clogs we clear started with one of these. Pair good habits with professional main line service every 6–12 months and clogs get rare. See our drain cleaning services.
HOME EMERGENCIES: WHAT TO DO FIRST
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF A PIPE BURSTS?
First, shut off your home’s main water valve; it’s usually near the water meter, in a basement, garage, or crawl space. Open a faucet or two to relieve pressure and move furniture and valuables out of the water’s path. If water is near outlets or appliances, switch off power to that area at your breaker panel only if you can reach it safely. Then call Allgood. If it’s after hours, our answering service will connect you with the on-call supervisor. More on emergency plumbing service.
WHAT SHOULD I DO WHEN MY AC STOPS WORKING?
Try three quick checks before you call: make sure the thermostat is set to cool and has fresh batteries, check whether the air filter is clogged, and see if a breaker has tripped. If none of that brings it back, stop there, because running a struggling system can make the damage worse. Call Allgood and we’ll get a technician headed your way. See our cooling repair services.
MY HOME HAS MORE THAN ONE PROBLEM. WHAT SHOULD I FIX FIRST?
Start with anything actively causing damage or a safety risk; a leak always outranks a comfort problem. Next comes whatever disrupts daily life most: no hot water and no cooling in a Georgia July are both “today” problems. Because Allgood handles heating and cooling and plumbing under one roof, one call gets every issue assessed in the right order, with one written estimate covering the plan.
EFFICIENCY, COMFORT & YOUR SMART HOME
HOW CAN I LOWER MY HEATING AND COOLING BILLS?
Start with the basics: change filters every 3 months, keep vents unblocked, and let a programmable or smart thermostat ease things back while you’re away. Beyond that, regular tune-ups and correctly sized equipment matter most; an oversized or undersized system wastes energy every single day it runs. Learn about thermostats.
IS A SMART THERMOSTAT WORTH IT?
For most homes, yes. A smart thermostat learns your schedule, lets you adjust from your phone, and trims run time you’d never think to trim manually. It’s one of the simplest smart home upgrades there is, and we can install and configure it for you. See our thermostat services.
WHAT SHOULD THE HUMIDITY BE IN MY HOUSE?
Aim for roughly 30–50% relative humidity. Atlanta summers push indoor humidity well above that, which makes the air feel warmer than it is and invites mold and dust mites; properly sized cooling and dehumidification keep it in range. In winter, overly dry air causes static shocks and scratchy sinuses, and a humidifier solves that side. Learn about indoor air quality solutions.
COSTS, ESTIMATES & OUR GUARANTEE
HOW MUCH DOES HVAC REPAIR COST IN ATLANTA?
It depends on your system’s age, the part involved, and how far the problem has spread, which is why we put every estimate in writing before any work begins. You authorize all work up front as part of our no surprise guarantee, and financing options are available for bigger jobs. The best first step is a diagnostic visit, so you’re deciding from real information instead of a guess. Schedule a visit.
HOW MUCH DOES A NEW HVAC SYSTEM COST?
The biggest factors are your home’s size, the efficiency level you choose, and whether ductwork needs attention, which is why we start with a load calculation and a written estimate instead of a one-size-fits-all number. Financing options, including special financing plans, can spread the investment out. a complete residential HVAC system replacement typically ranges from about $12,000 to $16,000, depending on system type, home size, and installation requirements.Simpler furnace-only replacements run lower, while premium or high-efficiency systems and complex installs run higher.
Learn about HVAC installation.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO REPLACE A WATER HEATER?
The main factors are tank size, fuel type (gas or electric), and whether you’re changing styles, like moving from a tank to a tankless unit. You’ll see the full picture in writing before any work begins, and financing options are available. A standard tank water heater replacement typically ranges from about $2,300 to $3,500, depending on capacity and installation requirements.
Tankless water heater installations typically run between about $4,400 and $6,500, depending on unit type and installation complexity.See water heater installation.
ARE REBATES OR TAX CREDITS AVAILABLE FOR NEW SYSTEMS?
Often, yes: federal, state, and utility programs regularly offer incentives on high-efficiency heat pumps, water heaters, and smart thermostats, though the specifics change year to year. Ask when you schedule an estimate and we’ll walk through what currently applies to the equipment you’re considering. Schedule an estimate.
WHAT IS YOUR SATISFACTION GUARANTEE?
Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. If, for any reason, within one year of the date of the original invoice, you are dissatisfied with our work in your home, we’ll make every effort to meet your expectations, or remove your equipment (if applicable) and cheerfully refund 100% of your money.
OLDER ATLANTA HOMES
WHY DO OLDER ATLANTA HOMES HAVE MORE PLUMBING AND HVAC PROBLEMS?
Many Atlanta-area homes built from the 1970s through the 1990s are reaching the age where systems wear out together: original sewer lines meet tree roots, early-generation pipes reach the end of their lifespan, and heating and cooling equipment works past its recommended replacement age. If your home is in that range, an inspection before something fails puts you in control. Home repiping and sewer and water line replacement are far easier to plan than to rush.