Hometown News and Views

By Phyllis J. Neuberger

Sitting down with Jim Barry, owner of Aloha Air Conditioning Service and Sales is like visiting with an old friend.  A modest man, Barry says, “My dad is gone, but I still live by his philosophy which is ‘It’s all about the customer.’ I apprenticed with my father in Washington D.C. where I was raised.

When he moved to Florida, I followed him, and we became partners. That was in 1982. We started with one truck, and Aloha now has 20 trucks on the road. They are manned by experienced technicians who are licensed and factory trained.

Every technician has a computer and an iPhone which means we have instant communication, allowing us to elevate our service and lower costs to our customers. Most of my team have been with me for many years. They and I return to school regularly to be kept abreast of the newest technology.”

Aloha service trucks are equipped to service, maintain, and install air conditioners from one-ton to 200-tons.  The company also sells the newest models from Rheem, Carrier, American Standard, Mitsubishi and more.

Business has changed a great deal since Barry opened his first company. He says, “The new conditioners use about one third of the electricity that the early models used. They remove the humidity much more effectively than they did, and in Florida that’s important. It’s the humidity, not the temperature that makes us so uncomfortable. This is a very important new improvement.”

“In fact,” he advises, “a new air conditioner is almost like an investment because it pays you back every month in savings and those savings are tax free. Florida Power and Light will help you make the investment with their rebate program. Old air conditioners are expensive to run just like old gas guzzling cars  are expensive to run. The units we sell come with a 10-year factory warranty on parts.”

Dennis Nadeau, owner of Card Geniuses in Pompano Beach, is a 15-year client who has taken Barry’s advice. He says, “If an air conditioner is over five years old, you would be smart to have a new one installed. We did and the amount of money we saved on our monthly bill was amazing. On top of that we got a credit from FPL.

 Aloha has always given us great advice. The techs are professionals who know exactly how to solve problems with conditioners.”

 Catherine Merlo, owner of Family Rentals and Guest Services in Boca/Delray, has been a client for way over 20 years. She says, “Aloha is a wonderful company. They service both my business and my home. The technicians are all  courteous and knowledgeable. They treat you like family and truly do care about their customers. They never leave until the customer is completely satisfied.”

Asked how he came to name his company Aloha, Barry says, “ I wanted a name that reflects my pleasure in doing business in a paradise like South Florida. I wanted the name to be a friendly greeting. We service our clients six days a week and do not charge more on Saturdays. It doesn’t seem fair to penalize  a client who works and can’t be home until Saturday. We’re also bi-lingual and can send a Spanish speaking technician when requested. Our web site allows visitors to learn about us in English and in Spanish. It’s all about satisfying the customer.|

One of Aloha’s 20 trucks is a pink Susan Komen truck which promotes the cure for cancer theme. It’s called ‘Cooling for a Cure’ and it’s a permanent part of the service fleet. This is just one of the major charities supported by Aloha.

Call 855-922-5642 or visit the web site at alohaac.com.