Heating Contractors in Los Angeles, CA

About Los Angeles

Los Angeles is the second largest city in the United States and has many contractors who install, repair, or maintain heating systems. Most of these contractors are located in surrounding cities or suburbs, such as Boyle Heights, Hancock Park, Silver Lake, but many serve the entire Los Angeles metropolitan area.

Alternative Energy in Los Angeles

Los Angeles is a major battleground for the push to use alternative energy. On one side, The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power reports a 5.5% increase in their amount of renewable energy sources between 2005 and 2008, including increased use of wind, geothermal, solar and hydropower. They plan to increase their percentage to 20% by 2010 and to 35% by 2020.

However, in March 2009, city residents defeated Measure B in the polls, a plan that would have initiated vast use of solar energy in the city. Many who voted against the measure cited their opposition to the plan itself, which gave tax incentives to large companies, rather than to solar energy companies.

State Aid for Upgrading Energy Systems

The State of California provides a number of grants and loans to encourage the upgrade of buildings, including heating systems. One such incentive is the School Facility Program, which gives money to school districts for the upgrade of older school buildings. Upgrades include installing more efficient insulation and air conditioning units.

Additionally, in 2006 California introduced the California Solar Initiative, a program that encourages the installation of solar heating systems in residential and commercial buildings. This program requires utilities companies to offer rebates to their customers who produce their own energy through solar power units.

Things to Avoid When Hiring a Heating/Cooling Contractor

Los Angeles is a large city and it can be difficult to find exactly the right person for any particular job. Here are a few things to keep in mind if you are searching for a heating system or air conditioning contractor:

• Check for references and licenses when hiring a contractor. Ask about the contractor's experience and make sure they know how to deal with the kind of system you have or want.
• t settle for the quickest job. A contractor who rushes through a job is likely to forget or miss something. If a contractor seems impatient when answering your questions, they may not be the right person for the job.
• Verbal agreements are hard to keep and defend in a conflict. Get a written proposal and estimate for the job before it begins. This will help avoid miscommunication and help you avoid surprises.

Common sense is your best ally in when hiring a heating contractor. If you have doubts, it will be worth your time and money to get a second opinion. You can check a s status with the LA Better Business Bureau. You may also want to check for certification by the North American Technician Excellence or HVAC Excellence organizations. Los Angeles contractors also have the option of joining the Plumbing, Heating, Cooling Contractors Association of the Greater Los Angeles Area. You can contact the PHCCAGLAA at (323) 913-7335 to inquire about their members.

Typical Climate

Los Angeles enjoys a relatively mild climate year-round. The city itself spreads over a vast area and encompasses coastline, valley, and canyons. This means that there can be great disparity between the temperature of one area and another, which means the heating and cooling requirements will also be different. The Southern California Gas Company estimated that its customers would pay $70-$80 per month on average in the winter of 2009.

Daily highs average in the low eighties during the height of summer and lows average in the high forties in the winter. As a coastal city, levels of humidity are relatively high in the morning, ranging between 75 and 85 percent. Its desert climate keeps precipitation low, however, and averages less than one inch a month between April and November. When winds are low, air pollution builds up in the coastal area to form problematic smog.

Local Heating / Cooling Parts Suppliers

Johnson Controls Inc.
1990 S. Bundy Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90025

Products: Heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC&R) products

Tom Gamble & Sons, Inc.
14211 South San Pedro Street
Los Angeles, CA 90061
(800) 525-2665

Products: Controls/Thermostats, Central Air Conditioners, Heat Pumps, Furnaces, Purifiers, Humidifiers, Ventilators, Home Generators & Single Packaged Products

Lenco Heating & A/C
11606 Exposition Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90064
(323) 272-2378

Products: Controls/Thermostats, Central Air Conditioners, Heat Pumps, Furnaces, Purifiers, Humidifiers, Ventilators, Home Generators & Single Packaged Products

CA Heating Contractors within 20 miles of Los Angeles