Frequently Asked Questions

We've been serving Valley homeowners since 1955 — our reputation is the only thing we have, and we've never taken it lightly.

Before any technician touches anything, you'll receive a written flat-rate price. No surprises, no add-ons that weren't discussed, no pressure to decide on the spot.

We're also not commission-based. Our technicians earn a salary — they have zero financial incentive to recommend a repair you don't need. If we find something additional during a visit, we'll show you what we found and explain your options clearly. You always decide.

If you want a second opinion, we'll tell you the same thing we'd tell our neighbors: get one. We're confident in our work.

Yes — we use flat-rate pricing on all standard services. The price we quote before the work starts is the price on your invoice when we're done.

The only exception: if we open something up and discover a hidden condition that changes the scope, we stop and tell you before proceeding. You approve any change before we continue. No one gets a bill they didn't agree to.

We know that "the final bill was twice the estimate" is one of the most common complaints homeowners have about contractors. It's not how we operate, and it's not how we've operated for 70 years.

Yes, we charge a diagnostic/service call fee to visit your home and evaluate the problem. If you move forward with the repair, that fee is applied toward the total cost of the work.

If we diagnose the issue and you decide not to proceed — for any reason — you pay only the diagnostic fee. No pressure, no hard feelings.

We believe in being transparent about this upfront because we've heard too many stories from customers who felt ambushed by fees they didn't expect.

No. Our technicians are salaried employees, not commission-based salespeople.

Commission-based pay structures — common at large corporate HVAC and plumbing chains in the Phoenix market — create an incentive to recommend services beyond what's needed. That's a conflict of interest we've always avoided.

When a DeGeorge technician recommends a repair or replacement, it's because the job needs it — not because they're trying to hit a quota. We've been building relationships with Phoenix and Scottsdale homeowners since 1955. That doesn't happen by overselling people.

Yes — and we offer more financing options than most local companies. We partner with Goodleap, Service Finance, and Wisetack, giving you access to multiple lenders including options with 0% APR for qualified customers.

Whether you're replacing an AC system, installing a tankless water heater, or dealing with a sewer line repair, we can walk you through options before the work begins. When a Phoenix summer AC failure hits, cost shouldn't be the reason a problem goes unfixed.

We try to give you the tightest window we can, and we'll call you when the technician is 30 minutes out — every time, without fail.

In a metro area that stretches over 9,000 square miles, we know a 4-hour window can mean rearranging your entire day. We can't always guarantee a time to the minute (real jobs take the time they take), but we prioritize communication so you're never left guessing.

For emergency calls, we dispatch as fast as possible — especially in summer when a broken AC isn't just inconvenient, it's a safety issue.

We offer 24/7 emergency service for plumbing and HVAC. If your AC fails at 9pm on a Saturday in August, or a pipe bursts at midnight, you can reach us — and we'll come.

Emergency visits do carry an after-hours rate, which we'll tell you upfront before dispatching. No surprises.

For non-emergency work, we schedule Monday through Saturday and can often accommodate early-morning or end-of-day slots. Just ask when you book.

For routine tune-ups, booking 1–2 weeks out is typical during non-peak months. In summer (May–August) and leading up to monsoon season, availability fills faster — we recommend calling in spring before the heat arrives.

If you're on our maintenance plan, you get priority scheduling ahead of new customers. That's one of the most practical benefits of the plan when everyone calls at the same time in June.

Fair question — and one more homeowners should ask.

Here's what we do: we show our work. When a technician identifies a problem, they'll walk you through what they found, show you photos or video where relevant, and explain exactly why they're recommending what they're recommending.

We also welcome second opinions. If you've been told by another company that you need a $10,000 system replacement and it doesn't feel right, call us. We'd rather earn your trust with an honest evaluation than win a job through pressure.

Since 1955, our business has grown almost entirely through referrals. People don't refer companies that misdiagnose them.

Yes — and here's why: low refrigerant always means there's a leak somewhere. Simply "recharging" without finding and fixing the leak is like refilling a punctured tire without patching the hole. You'll lose it again.

In Phoenix, where your AC runs 2,500+ hours a year, a refrigerant leak drains money fast. A legitimate diagnosis should identify where the refrigerant is escaping, present you with repair vs. replacement options depending on the unit's age, and price it transparently.

If a company just wants to add refrigerant and leave, that's a red flag. We find the source, explain the options, and let you decide.

All parts and labor come with a warranty — and we'll give you the specific terms in writing before any work begins, because "it's guaranteed" means nothing without a document.

For new equipment installations, we pass through the manufacturer's warranty and back it with our own labor warranty on top. For repairs, warranty length varies by part and type of work, and we'll be specific when we quote you.

We've been around since 1955. We're not going anywhere, which means our warranty is actually worth something.

Yes — always, for any work that requires one. Whether your home is in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Chandler, or Gilbert, each city has its own permitting process — and we handle all of them.

Permits are required for HVAC replacements, water heater installations, gas line work, and sewer line repairs, among other jobs. We know some contractors skip permits to save time. Don't let them. Unpermitted work can become a serious problem when you sell your home — it has to be disclosed, corrected, or both, often at significant cost.

Every job we do is code-compliant and permitted where required. If you're not sure whether a job needs a permit, ask us — we'll give you a straight answer.

Yes — that's a baseline expectation we hold every technician to.

If you're paying for a repair, you should know what was wrong, what was done, and what to watch for going forward. If a technician ever rushes through an explanation or makes you feel like your questions are an inconvenience, call us directly. That's not how we operate.

Yes. All DeGeorge technicians are licensed, background-checked, and drug-tested. We're fully insured, and our license is on file with the Arizona Registrar of Contractors.

You can verify any Arizona contractor's license at roc.az.gov. We'd encourage you to check ours — and any other company you're considering.

We wear shoe covers, use drop cloths where needed, and clean up our workspace before we leave. Arizona's desert dust and caliche soil can track easily — we take extra care to make sure your home looks the same when we're done as when we arrived, minus the problem we fixed.

If something isn't cleaned up to your satisfaction, tell us. We'll make it right.

Call us. Directly, immediately. We have a service manager and ownership that are accessible — you won't be routed to a national call center.

We stand behind our work with a written warranty and a genuine commitment to making things right. If something fails or wasn't done correctly, we'll come back and fix it. That's been our policy since 1955.

The only way problems don't get resolved is if we don't hear about them.

Our goal is same-day response for emergency AC calls during summer months. In peak heat season (June–September), we prioritize households with vulnerable members — young children, elderly residents, anyone with a medical condition — and dispatch accordingly.

We won't give you a three-day window in 115° heat. If we're genuinely unable to get to you same-day, we'll tell you honestly and help you understand your options.

Call us first: (602) 830-3977. We'll tell you exactly how fast we can get there.

Yes — and faster than most homeowners expect.

Phoenix-area water typically measures 15–25 grains per gallon — well above the "very hard" threshold of 10.5 gpg. Without a water softener, mineral scale builds up inside your water heater, on your fixtures, inside your pipes, and throughout your appliances. A water heater that should last 12–15 years can fail in 6–8 in Arizona without a softener.

A whole-home water softener is one of the smartest investments a Valley homeowner can make. Combined with a reverse osmosis system for drinking water, it extends the life of everything in your home that touches water.

We'll assess your current water quality and show you exactly what's happening before recommending anything.

It's a smart move — especially for older homes in Phoenix and South Scottsdale.

Monsoon storms can shift soil, overwhelm drain systems, and expose sewer line damage that's been quietly developing underground. Homes in neighborhoods like Willo, Coronado, Encanto, and South Scottsdale often have original clay or cast-iron sewer lines that are most vulnerable. A camera inspection before monsoon season can catch offset joints, root intrusion, or cracked pipes before a storm turns a small problem into a flooded utility room.

We schedule pre-monsoon inspections throughout May and June. Book early — availability fills fast.

Yes — and this is something most companies get wrong.

Scottsdale HOA communities — DC Ranch, McCormick Ranch, Gainey Ranch, Troon North, and many others — often have specific requirements around equipment placement, unit size, color, and noise levels. Ignoring these rules can mean a fine, a forced removal, or both.

Our technicians know the common HOA restrictions across North Scottsdale and can advise on placement, equipment selection, and the approval process. If you're in an HOA, tell us when you call so we can plan accordingly.

We use a simple framework we share with every customer facing this decision:

• If the repair cost is less than 50% of a replacement and the system is under 10 years old, repair usually makes sense.
• If the system is 12+ years old and facing a major repair, replacement often saves more money over 5 years.
• If the system uses R-22 refrigerant (phased out in 2020), replacement is almost always the better path — R-22 is expensive and increasingly hard to source.

Keep in mind that Phoenix AC units run roughly 2,500–3,000 hours per year — two to three times the national average — so they age faster than their rated lifespan suggests.

We'll tell you which category your system falls into after the diagnostic, and we won't push you toward replacement if repair is the honest answer. You can also try our Repair or Replace calculator for a quick self-assessment.

A few reliable signals:

• Age: If your water heater is 10+ years old in Arizona (hard water shortens lifespan significantly), replacement is often the smarter investment.
• Rust or discoloration in hot water: Usually means the tank is corroding internally.
• Rumbling or banging sounds: Heavy sediment buildup — often a sign the unit is near end of life.
• Frequent repairs: If you've fixed it more than once in two years, the math usually favors replacement.

We'll show you the current condition of your unit after the inspection and give you an honest assessment.

For most Phoenix and Scottsdale homeowners who plan to stay in their home, yes.

Here's what you get on a DeGeorge Home membership:

• Annual AC tune-up (before summer hits)
• Annual plumbing inspection
• Priority scheduling — you go to the front of the line during peak season
• Discounts on repairs and parts
• Peace of mind that someone who knows your system is checking it regularly

The value is clearest in summer, when an unmaintained system is far more likely to fail at the worst possible time. Prevention is almost always cheaper than emergency repair.

The companies you see advertising most heavily in Phoenix — Goettl, Parker & Sons, Rite Way, ProSkill, and others — are largely backed by private equity. Their primary obligation is to investors, not to you.

DeGeorge has been family-owned and operated since 1955. We've never been acquired, and we have no plans to change that.

What that means practically: our technicians aren't on commission, our owner is reachable, and we've been in the Valley long enough that we've serviced the parents and grandparents of our current customers. Our reputation isn't a marketing campaign — it's our entire business model.

Both — under one roof. DeGeorge is dual-licensed for plumbing and HVAC, which is less common than most homeowners assume.

The practical benefit: one relationship, one call, one company that knows your home's systems end to end. If your AC technician notices a water heater issue on the way through the utility room, they can flag it — and we can address it without you coordinating a second appointment with a second company.

We handle everything from drain cleaning and sewer lines to AC replacement and gas line work.