John Long at Long’s Heating and Air with Roni (left) and Honey Bunny (right). Long and his wife rescue dogs. Long calls Honey Bunny his “foster failure” since the objective was to find her a new home. She stayed with the Longs, instead, something they all seem pretty happy about. Photo by Carrie Robertson Meyer/Third Coast Photo
The top AC contractor for RUUD systems in the state of Texas lives and works right here in Corpus Christi. John Long, owner of Long’s Heating and Air Conditioning, recently was on his way to a company banquet in San Antonio to pick up another of the many awards he’s received over the years when he took a minute to talk to Corpus Christi Business News about the art of air conditioning in a coastal clime.
“One whole side of my office is covered with plaques — I’m very proud of them,” Long said. “They represent a lot of hard work.”
Long’s Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. in Corpus Christi can fix or service any make or model of unit but mostly sells and installs RUUDs, which are made by Rheem Manufacturing in Atlanta. They are distributed out of San Antonio.
“I’ve been dealing with this same company for about 30 years now,” he said. “They are a good company, and they make a good product.”
A quality, hardworking and efficient air-conditioning system in Coastal Bend homes is a must, Long said, because of the long summers and extreme humidity and temperatures. That makes Corpus Christi the perfect place to start an air-conditioning business.
A native of Miranda City, Long made his favorite vacation destination his home early in life.
“I had a friend who lived here, and I came here for two weeks every summer,” he said. “I loved it. I love to fish, I like the water and it’s a very humid town.”
The people turned out to be a plus as well.
“Corpus Christi has been very good to me,” he said. “I work for a lot of nice people.”
In turn, he works to make his customers happy.
“I try to please everyone I can,” he continued. “I go the extra mile to make sure they’re happy.”
That philosophy is also reflected in his employees, who are trained to leave every home better than they found it and to be courteous and respectful. They treat people the way they would want to be treated or “they don’t work for me,” Long said.
Long’s trip to San Antonio wasn’t just to receive awards for his excellent customer service, however. It also included training on new equipment, something Long and his seven employees do often to keep on top of an ever-changing business. He’s learned a lot over the years, making him an expert in how to save AC systems and keep down electric bills.
“Filters are the biggest thing,” he said. “Over time, if you don’t change your filter, your electric bill is going to go up. If you can’t remember to change your filter, do it this way: When you write that monthly check to your energy provider, change your filter.”
The city’s sea air corrodes condensing coils, which need to be replaced after about eight or 10 years, Long said. He recommends regular checkups for every unit, especially before the truly hot part of the year bears down on the coastline.
Really old units should be replaced. Newer equipment gets more efficient and cheaper and easier to run every year, he said. They also last longer.
“Efficiency has really changed for the better,” he said.
Better efficiency means more complicated units with different maintenance needs, which means more training, which leads to frequent trips to San Antonio for classes — and sometimes even awards.
“That’s why I like doing business with RUUD,” Long concluded. “They make a good product, and they train their people. I don’t need to fix that.”
Long’s Air Conditioning and Heating Inc. is located at 6524 Teamwork Trail. Call (361) 884-5530 or visit longshvac.ruudreliable.net for more information or to make an appointment.
