Get to Know a HVAC Expert: Jeff Ault

I started out in a warehouse, shipping out HVAC testing tools and equipment for a leading HVAC manufacturer. From there, I went into technical support for the tools — answering questions and helping technicians that use the tools. From there, I decided I wanted to get out of the office and into the field using the actual tools, so I went to trade school and here I am now!

I’ve always enjoyed the simple pleasure of fixing the system [for customers]. I would arrive and the customer would be so stressed out that it wasn’t cooling, and then see that stress leave as I was able to fix their issue with ease.

This past summer, I was called by a friend of my brother’s who was looking for someone trustworthy and honest. I was the fourth person that had come out. The other three said they needed a new system and [one of them] even changed out a part that didn’t resolve the issue. They had a zoning system and the guest room would not work consistently. After I inspected the system, I found that the motorized damper had failed. This was causing the system to freeze over, which eventually led to the whole house not cooling. I replaced the motor for a few hundred dollars and the system has been working great ever since.

As a current licensed contractor in the state of Arizona, I read all of the articles sent to me by manufacturers with their updates and what’s to come. They also provide trainings that I watch in my downtime.

As the government pushes to get away from fossil fuels, I believe we will see less and less gas furnaces being installed and more heat pump systems in their place. Also, with technology advancing, systems will essentially become computers. With that will come more advanced self-diagnosis all from an app that will connect to the unit’s control board. This is already happening, but I believe it will only advance.

The best thing a homeowner can do is replace your filters when they’re due, flush the coils out on your outdoor unit with a water hose, and take a shop vac to your drain line to help prevent any clogs.

A lot of times people don’t understand that the indoor and outdoor units work hand in hand. If the outdoor unit is not running, then the problem may be coming from the indoor unit. Another common issue I see is that one particular area doesn’t cool as well as others. Typically, it’s not the equipment, but rather a design issue with the ductwork.

Many smart thermostats these days have built-in alerts that you can activate such as maintenance, filter replacement, humidifier/dehumidifier, and indoor air quality and UV light replacement reminders. I’ve seen products come out where a contractor can hook up a monitoring device and get alerts if something isn’t right, which means they’ll know your system isn’t working right before the homeowner might even realize.

I tell customers that, much like your car, you replace it before it breaks down because you want it working when you need it most.

I spoke with a member whose air conditioning wasn’t coming on. It was a younger gentleman that, it appeared, didn’t have much disposable income. After going through everything, we found that a wire coming from the thermostat to the indoor unit had come loose on the control board. The system wasn’t even getting the signal to turn on, even though the thermostat said it was on. Once he reattached the wire, everything came on and he had cold air. He was very pleased that we got it fixed over the phone and it cost him nothing. It’s very unusual for a wire like that to come off. It turns out, a family member was looking at the unit during the winter and must have accidentally knocked it off.

My mindset is to be happy and excited to walk them along diagnosing their equipment. Once they see that it’s something basic – usually, but not always – you can hear the relief in their voice that they fixed it themselves and didn’t have to call someone to come to the house.

I like the drawing feature that helps me direct members where to look. It makes it very easy to pinpoint exactly where they should be looking.

Working from home is nice and much better than being in hot attics. I also enjoy collaborating with the other Experts on various topics. Typically, when you’re in the field it’s just you, the truck, and the radio.

I enjoy playing golf when I can, smoking meat, and spending time with my family.

I like my smart doorbell. I just learned that it can play funny away messages so when my kids get near it, I always go to my phone and play a funny message.

The mini-series Band of Brothers is my all-time favorite. I’ve always enjoyed any material on the World War II era. It’s simply fascinating what they endured at such a young age.

I’m married to my beautiful wife, Courtney, and together we have two kids: a 2-year-old son named Archer and a 5-year-old daughter named Millie. We also have a 10-year-old mixed breed dog named Bogey and a 6-month old miniature Australian shepherd named Daisy.

I’ve always enjoyed summer because that’s when I typically made most of my income out in the field. But also going to the lake and river to relax in the water.

I would like to go to Scotland, the home of golf, and play at St. Andrews Golf Club.