Most smart decisions come down to asking the right questions. Our newest church client in Falls Church did just this. While they had a firm that was handling routine maintenance, they decided to get more than one bid when a 20-ton unit in their gym went down. Before they chose who would handle this major replacement for them, they asked themselves three very smart questions:
Do they have experience with churches?
Their HVAC, like most churches, is much more complex than any residential unit, but not quite as large as a commercial facility. That being said, they wanted to find a service partner that had experience working with churches.
“Russ, why do you work almost exclusively with churches?”
People ask me this a lot, and it’s a great question. The answer is pretty simple: it’s where my heart is. I started Trimark Mechanical in 1996 when I saw that churches weren’t getting served well. They were either not getting their needs met by companies that were too small, or were being overcharged by larger firms. I’ve developed a team that specializes in the kind of HVAC systems that are common in churches.
Churches have limited resources, so we work to understand their specific challenges and provide options that safeguard the budget.
How We Help Our Churches
Every church has unique HVAC needs, different approval processes, and varying budgets. For example, what if your church has a pipe organ? Can you ensure that a company that doesn’t work extensively with churches will know how to help prevent damage to the instrument?
Are they thinking big picture?
It’s key that you have a partner that can craft a cost-effective plan with your entire system in mind, even when they may only be currently working on one component.
For the client we mentioned, our proposal included an option to also replace an outdated Reznor heater. The heater was working fine, and likely would for a few more years. With the deconstruction and rebuild that was happening for the failed unit though, it made more sense to replace both. Instead of paying twice to take apart the building infrastructure for separate replacements, they could kill two birds with one stone. That’s thinking ahead!
Where’s the proof?
Communication; some folks talk a big talk but you need earnest communication. At Trimark Mechanical, here’s what we do to keep clients in the loop.
- Constant Communication: We beat you to the punch line by getting in touch with you about upcoming service visits or repairs before you have to reach out.
- A Detailed Maintenance History: Through our cloud-storage solution, clients can access complete, detailed histories of all maintenance and repairs performed on their HVAC equipment.
- Photographic Evidence of All Service Calls: Following every service call, we provide before/after photographs as well as specific measurements that prove the system is functioning properly.
- Closeout Packages for Major Replacements: Following every large system replacement, we create a closeout package for clients, complete with everything they need to know about their new equipment including, workmanship and manufacturer warranties, building permits, maintenance manuals, contact information, and more.
You already have enough to manage in your day-to-day. Working with Trimark, you’ll never be chasing down the answers you need to keep your congregation, clergy, and staff comfortable.
Consider us a friend in the community
If you’re a church in the Washington-Metro area, your initial site visit is completely free. We’ll come and give you a better understanding of your HVAC system, backed by the expertise we’ve developed serving dozens of churches in the area. Contact us or call us at 703.891.4600.