By Joshua Palmer

"Consumers are a lot more informed today than they were 28 years ago," says Control Tech president Alan Winters. "They want two things: Comfort and lowered energy costs."With those goals in mind, each installation job begins with a thorough evaluation of the home's requirements. "An over- or undersized unit isn't efficient, so we don't just replace a unit with the exact same size, we do our own load calculations," Winters says.

Replacing old inefficient heating or cooling components is one way to lower a homeowner's energy costs and use, but so is regular service. "Regular maintenance is a big part of keeping the system its most efficient," Winters says. But whether it's installation work or service, attention to detail and good customer service are paramount. "One thing that Alan instills in all of us is paying attention to details and patience; taking the time to do it right," says Brad Odom, a Control Tech comfort consultant.

Kathryn McAvoy of Indianapolis says that precise concern for details sparked her satisfaction after a Control Tech service technician discovered a missing A/C ground wire and an improperly installed furnace filter. "They explained everything and I never felt they were trying to get 'extra' work," McAvoy says. "I felt like they wanted to make sure I was protected."

For Jeffrey Bennet of Indianapolis, attention to detail meant going the extra mile. Last summer, he sought out competing bids for A/C repairs and chose Control Tech's bid based on its comprehensiveness. "I could tell by the detail that they included everything," he says. "They worked until about 9 p.m. before it was completed, but the price remained the same as the quote."

The company's work is as friendly to the environment as possible. They recycle old HVAC units for scrap metal and dispose of harmful environmental toxins such as refrigerants and the mercury found in thermostats according to Environmental Protection Agency regulations.