Frequently Asked Questions | Hartzell’s Heat & Air

Dave Hartzell opened Hartzell’s Heat & Air about 15 years ago, bringing 45 years of HVAC experience to central Oklahoma — a trusted name in the region. Dave holds a Master HVAC License, is a NATE-Certified technician, and is an IGSHPA-accredited geothermal installer. He personally handles or oversees the majority of service calls. When you call Hartzell’s, you’re getting 45 years of hands-on experience, not just a dispatcher sending out a random crew.

Hartzell’s holds an impressive range of industry credentials: Oklahoma Master HVAC License, NATE Certification (North American Technician Excellence — the gold standard for HVAC technicians), IGSHPA Accredited Installer for geothermal systems, Mitsubishi Diamond Dealer, Trane Comfort Specialist (TCS SELECT), and ClimateMaster GeoElite Dealer. These aren’t participation trophies — each requires demonstrated technical competency and ongoing training.

Yes. Hartzell’s is fully licensed under the Oklahoma Construction Industries Board and carries liability insurance. Dave holds an Oklahoma Master HVAC License, which is one of the highest-level credentials in the trade. We operate legally, pull permits when required, and our work meets or exceeds Oklahoma code.

Our dispatch fee is $99. This covers getting a qualified technician to your door — travel time, fuel, and the overhead that keeps a fully equipped service truck on the road. It applies to every service visit. All maintenance plan members (Tune-Up Plan, Basic Plan, and Dave’s 360 Plan) have their dispatch fee waived only on your included annual maintenance visit. All repair calls still carry the $99 dispatch fee, even for PMA members.

The diagnostic fee is $111. This pays for the technician’s time to properly identify the root cause of your system’s problem — not just guess. If you approve the repair or replacement within 14 days, the $111 diagnostic fee is credited back to you — it comes straight off your repair total. If you decide not to move forward with the repair, the diagnostic fee applies as payment for the diagnosis itself. This structure means you never pay for a diagnosis twice when you choose to get it fixed.

A standard tune-up is $229. This is a thorough inspection and cleaning of your heating or cooling system — not a 15-minute checkmark sheet. We inspect electrical connections, check refrigerant levels, clean coils, test safety controls, measure airflow, and give you an honest assessment of your system’s condition. Dave’s 360 Plan members receive discounts on tune-ups.

Our $99 dispatch + $111 diagnostic structure is transparent and honest. Many companies advertise a low “service fee” but then build profit into inflated labor rates or hide fees in their invoices. Hartzell’s prices are upfront. You know what you’re paying before work begins. We don’t do “bait and switch” pricing — Dave has been in this community for 15+ years and our reputation matters more than a one-time upsell.

Yes — estimates on new system installations and replacements are free. We’ll come out, evaluate your home’s needs (including Manual J load calculations when appropriate), and give you a written quote before any work begins. Call 405-375-4822 to schedule.

Dave’s 189 Plan is our entry-level maintenance plan at $189/year. It covers your annual maintenance visit and gives you access to Hartzell’s priority scheduling. The dispatch fee is waived only on your included annual maintenance visit. All repair calls still carry the $99 dispatch fee, even for PMA members. It includes auto-scheduled tune-ups, Trane Home thermostat monitoring, and a 6-month satisfaction guarantee.

Dave’s 360 Plan is our full-coverage maintenance plan. Members receive: no dispatch fee on all service calls, discounts on repairs and parts, and priority scheduling. The Dave’s 360 Plan is the better value for homeowners who want the most comprehensive protection and the lowest cost per visit over time. Call us to get current plan pricing and availability: 405-375-4822.

Oklahoma summers regularly top 100°F and winters can drop below 0°F — your HVAC system works hard. Annual tune-ups: (1) catch small problems before they become expensive breakdowns, (2) keep your system running at peak efficiency, lowering your utility bills, (3) extend equipment life by years, (4) keep manufacturer warranties valid (most require documented annual maintenance), and (5) give you peace of mind before summer and winter hit. The math is simple: a $229 tune-up is far cheaper than a $1,500 emergency repair on a 100°F July afternoon.

The general rule: if repair cost exceeds 50% of the system’s replacement cost and the equipment is more than 10 years old, replacement is usually the smarter financial decision. Other factors that lean toward replacement: your system uses R-22 refrigerant (no longer manufactured, extremely expensive), you’re having multiple breakdowns per year, your energy bills are rising, or the system struggles to keep up on extreme temperature days. Dave will give you an honest assessment — he’ll tell you when repair makes sense, not push a sale when it doesn’t. See our HVAC Replacement page for full guidance.

We stand behind our work. If a repair fails within our warranty period for the same issue, we’ll make it right. Ask about our parts and labor warranty at the time of service. We believe in building long-term relationships — not one-time transactions.

A geothermal heat pump (also called a ground-source heat pump) moves heat between your home and the stable temperature underground — typically 55–60°F year-round in Oklahoma. In winter, it extracts heat from the ground and moves it into your home. In summer, it moves heat from your home into the ground. Because it’s moving heat rather than generating it, geothermal is 300–500% efficient — meaning for every 1 unit of electricity you put in, you get 3–5 units of heating or cooling out. That’s far more efficient than any gas furnace or standard heat pump.

Yes — and this is where Hartzell’s stands apart. Dave is an IGSHPA-Accredited Installer (International Ground Source Heat Pump Association) and an authorized ClimateMaster GeoElite Dealer. IGSHPA accreditation requires hands-on training, passing exams on loop field design, and demonstrated installation experience. Very few HVAC companies in Oklahoma hold this credential. We design, install, and service complete geothermal systems including loop fields.

Important 2026 update: The federal geothermal tax credit (IRS Section 25D) expired on December 31, 2025 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. New geothermal installations in 2026 do not qualify for this federal credit. If you installed a qualifying geothermal system in 2025 or earlier, you can still claim or carry forward the credit on your tax return — consult a tax professional.

Oklahoma utility rebates remain active and significant: OG&E customers get $1,000 per ton (up to $3,000 on typical systems), rural electric cooperative members get up to $1,050/ton, Cimarron Electric members get $600 for geothermal, and OG&E, CKenergy, and electric co-ops have rebate programs available. On a 3-ton system, OG&E customers could get $3,000 back — that’s real money even without the federal credit. Ask us about the rebates that apply to your utility service territory.

Geothermal systems are extremely long-lived. The indoor unit (heat pump) typically lasts 20–25 years. The underground loop field can last 50+ years — it’s just polyethylene pipe in the ground with no moving parts. Compare that to a conventional system at 12–15 years. When you factor in energy savings and longevity, geothermal often has the best lifetime cost of any HVAC option.

Oklahoma’s extreme summer heat and cold winters make geothermal one of the best investments you can make in home comfort. If you have adequate land for a horizontal loop (or can drill vertically), geothermal will outperform any other system in Oklahoma’s climate. It handles 100°F summer heat efficiently because the ground stays cool, and it heats effectively all winter because the ground stays warmer than the air. Dave can assess your property and design the right loop configuration for your site.

Important 2026 update: The federal heat pump tax credit (IRS Section 25C) expired on December 31, 2025 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. New heat pump installations in 2026 do not qualify for this federal credit. If you installed a qualifying heat pump in 2025, you can still claim the credit on your 2025 tax return.

In place of federal credits, Oklahoma utility rebates remain available: OG&E offers up to $3,000 for qualifying HVAC replacements, OG&E and electric co-ops have rebate programs for heat pumps, and OMPA member utilities offer the WISE program for heat pump upgrades. Ask us which rebates apply to your utility when you request an estimate.

Modern cold-climate heat pumps (including Mitsubishi’s hyper-heating technology) work effectively down to -13°F — far colder than Oklahoma ever gets. Standard heat pumps work efficiently down to about 20°F. For Oklahoma’s climate, an air-source heat pump paired with a gas backup (a “dual fuel” system) is extremely popular and cost-effective — the heat pump handles most days, and gas backup kicks in only on the coldest nights. As a Mitsubishi Diamond Dealer, Hartzell’s installs the most advanced heat pump technology available.

A ductless mini-split is a heat pump system with no ductwork — it uses small refrigerant lines to connect an outdoor unit to one or more indoor air handlers mounted on the wall or ceiling. They’re ideal for: room additions, garages, converted spaces, historic homes where ductwork isn’t practical, and supplementing an existing system in problem areas. Mini-splits are incredibly efficient and allow individual room temperature control. As a Mitsubishi Diamond Dealer, Hartzell’s specializes in ductless systems for central Oklahoma.

Hartzell’s installs equipment from leading manufacturers including: Trane (Trane Comfort Specialist dealer), RunTru by Trane, Mitsubishi (Diamond Dealer), Daikin, Carrier, American Standard, ClimateMaster geothermal systems (GeoElite dealer), and more. We service most major brands regardless of where they were installed — brand loyalty doesn’t matter as much as getting your system running correctly.

SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) measures air conditioning efficiency — higher is better. Since January 2023, new central AC and heat pumps must meet minimum SEER2 standards (about 14.3 SEER2 in Oklahoma’s climate zone). For significant efficiency gains, look for systems rated 16 SEER2 or higher. Geothermal systems typically operate at the equivalent of 20–30+ SEER — the most efficient option available.

Hartzell’s is based in Kingfisher, Oklahoma and serves the surrounding region including: Garfield County (Enid, Waukomis, Bison), Canadian County (El Reno, Mustang, Yukon, Tuttle, Piedmont, Okarche), Logan County (Guthrie, Crescent, Cashion), Major County (Fairview, Cleo Springs, Ringwood), and much of the Oklahoma City metro (northwest OKC, Bethany, Edmond). We also serve smaller communities throughout central Oklahoma — call us at 405-375-4822 to confirm your area.

Yes — Hartzell’s serves northwest Oklahoma City, Bethany, Yukon, Mustang, Piedmont, Edmond, and surrounding areas. We also handle commercial and residential work in the OKC metro for larger projects including geothermal installations, HVAC replacements, and commercial service. Call 405-375-4822 to discuss your project.

Yes. We offer emergency HVAC service for situations where your system fails during extreme weather — Oklahoma summers over 100°F or winter freezes are genuine emergencies. Call 405-375-4822 any time. After-hours emergency calls may be subject to additional fees — we’ll be upfront about cost before any work begins.

In summer: close blinds and curtains on sun-facing windows, use fans to circulate air, stay hydrated, and move to the lowest floor of your home (heat rises). In winter: keep interior doors closed to retain heat in occupied rooms, use extra blankets, seal any drafts at door thresholds, and never use propane grills or gas stoves for indoor heating (carbon monoxide risk). If you have elderly family members or infants, consider relocating them to a neighbor’s or a public cooling/warming center while waiting for repair.

Key steps: (1) Change your air filter regularly — every 1–3 months depending on filter type and household (pets and allergies = more frequent), (2) Schedule annual maintenance so your system’s coils and drain pan stay clean, (3) ask about UV light systems or air purifiers that mount inside your ductwork, (4) ensure your home is properly ventilated — tight modern homes can trap pollutants. Hartzell’s can assess your current setup and recommend improvements based on your specific concerns.

It depends on the filter type and your home: basic fiberglass filters every 30 days, pleated 1-inch filters every 60–90 days, thicker media filters (4–5 inch) every 6–12 months. If you have pets, smoke, or allergies, change more frequently. A clogged filter is one of the most common causes of HVAC problems — it restricts airflow, causes the system to overheat, and can freeze your coil or crack a heat exchanger. Set a phone reminder.

Yes — Hartzell’s offers multiple financing options for qualifying customers on system replacements and new installations: Synchrony, Wells Fargo Home Projects, and Wisetack. Multiple lenders means more approval flexibility and more competitive terms. Financing allows you to get the right system today without draining savings. Ask about current promotional terms — including low-interest and same-as-cash options — when you receive your estimate. Call 405-375-4822 or visit our Financing page for details.