If you’re in New York City and you’re looking to repair your Packaged Terminal Air Conditioner (PTAC) but don’t know where to start, look no further than this guide. Following these simple and straightforward steps will make it simple to identify PTAC repair in NYC that’s not only high-quality, but also cost-effective.

First, do your research. You’ll need to ask questions of your provider to ensure that the professional you’re hiring is capable of handling this work from soup to nuts. This includes not just servicing the individual components of the PTAC but also maintaining the components so they continue to work in top condition. The professional that you engage should be able to explain each component to you in simple terminology. They should also have extensive familiarity with the most common types of PTACs. Standard units should be assessed and treated differently than high-efficiency models and a skilled technician will be able to distinguish the two and act accordingly.

Second, consult with your provider to determine whether a replacement or a repair would be more suitable and more cost-effective in the long-term. This is a judgment call that often requires professional training to make. If your provider hedges or isn’t able to come up with a recommendation that makes sense to you, trust your gut since this likely means you should be looking at alternative providers. It’s important to understand whether a replacement or repair is in play since this will have a significant impact on your overall costs out of pocket for the service.

Third, check around for recommendations that your friends and family may be able to offer you. To the extent someone else has recently gotten their PTAC repaired, leverage that into a useful connection for yourself. Although their situation may not exactly mirror yours (in terms of their PTAC unit or their overall repair budget) you will be able to get a sense for the provider’s quality and trustworthiness by asking around among your network.