In San Antonio, a struggling AC is not something you can ignore. You feel it in the rooms that never quite cool down, in the airflow that never seems right, and in the constant question of whether the system is going to hold up.
That’s what led us to create the Ugly HVAC Contest at Elmer’s Home Services, our way of helping someone in the community who’s been dealing with a system that’s long overdue for an upgrade.
We asked homeowners across San Antonio to send in photos and stories of their oldest systems. The ones that have been kept alive through repairs and patience. We review each submission and choose one winner who receives a full HVAC system replacement.
This year, Lloyd’s story stood out right away.
When Lloyd entered the contest, he described his HVAC system as “older than dirt.”
The unit had been running for over 40 years in a 60-year old home, holding on through repairs, service calls, and a lot of patience. Over time, fewer and fewer companies were willing to work on it.
Two home warranty companies had already taken a look and declined to do anything with it, saying the system wasn’t repairable.
One company had serviced the unit for 17 years before eventually stepping away. He was only able to get “patchwork” repairs done on it just to keep it running.
When the brutal San Antonio heat kicked in, the system couldn’t keep up. Window units were added to cool parts of the home while the rest still struggled.
Once Lloyd was named the winner, things moved quickly. The install was scheduled, and the team walked him through what to expect. They explained what was being replaced and how the new system would improve performance.
Lloyd said it best: “It was clear this wasn’t just another install job.”
On installation day, the crew got to work and handled everything step by step. They made sure the new system was installed properly and set up to match the needs of his home.
By the end of the day, that decades-old unit was officially retired and replaced with a brand-new Carrier HVAC system.
Safe to say, this one wasn’t going to need “one more patch” anytime soon.
Once the new system was up and running, the change was noticeable right away.
Cooling became consistent throughout the home. Airflow improved. The window units Lloyd had been relying on were no longer needed.
From the moment that he was notified that he had won the contest, Lloyd was impressed with the thoroughness of the Elmer’s team. “They are the ultimate professionals,” he said. “The hardest working guys in San Antonio.”
He also shared that winning the contest felt like a blessing after years of dealing with an unreliable system.
If your system is starting to sound like Lloyd’s, working hard but not keeping up, it may be time to consider a replacement.
At Elmer’s Home Services, we provide:
Get ahead of the next breakdown. Contact us today.
In San Antonio, a struggling AC is not something you can ignore. You feel it in the rooms that never quite cool down, in the airflow that never seems right, and in the constant question of whether the system is going to hold up. That’s what led us to create the Ugly HVAC Contest at […]
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