3 Minutes on a Park Bench with Ghassan Ziab of TemperaturePro Central New Jersey

Ghassan Ziab of TemperaturePro Central New Jersey tells the Patch about how he became involved in the HVAC industry and explains how to find a reputable heating/air conditioning expert.

Patch: Can you tell us about some of the services TemperaturePro Central New Jersey offers?

Ghassan: We are a full-service heating and air conditioning contractor dedicated to serve the communities of Central New Jersey.  We do installation of new equipment, as well as perform service repairs and provide maintenance programs for all types of HVAC equipment.  We cover both residential and light commercial facilities including refrigeration.

We also provide Indoor Air Quality testing and provide solutions for issues that are discovered by the testing. Many of our diagnostics for air quality are provided to potential customers at no charge. We are committed to healthy air and living for our families, friends and communities.

Patch: You’re not the only person in this business. How do you distinguish yourself from others?

Ghassan: We are and have been a part of this community for many years. We understand needs of Central New Jersey businesses and home owner’s needs.  You will find that we are passionate about helping people to breath clean indoor air and we constantly strive to separate our operation from competitors by providing better services at affordable prices. We work with all major brands.

We are a leading national brand, now available here in Central New Jersey. Our commitment to knowledge, training, the right employees is tops. Everyone in the firm, nationally, has been background checked, interviewed multiple times before hiring; then we have training that is becoming the industry model. 

All positions in our firm are trained thoroughly on multiple brands; and we insist that our in-home and in-your- business visits are tops. For example, our people wear booties inside the house to ensure the place is clean, when we leave.

Patch: What is your definition of success?

Ghassan: The success of any operation has to start and end with customers.  Our goal with every service call and every installation is to meet our customer needs and exceed their expectations wherever possible.  Anything short of this does not belong in the success column.

Patch: What is the best piece of business advice you have ever received and who gave it to you? 

Ghassan: Best piece of business advice was given to me by our Corporate CEO, Don Marks.  In meetings in Louisiana with Don, he told me that intimate knowledge of all details of the HVAC products on the market will set you apart.  Don began several national companies-- -Ashley Furniture, Rent-A- Wreck, and others; so he knows the road to success.

As you know, although the HVAC industry is relatively old, it is evolving with new generations of technology. So there are always methodologies to be learned to answer the continuous demand for comfort, high efficiency and connectivity. 

We owe it to our customers to present them with the best solutions, that fit their needs and budget. Because we have graduate level engineers locally and throughout our corporation; we are often able to see ways to help customers that many competitors simply cannot.

Patch: What three questions should readers ask when trying to find a reputable HVAC expert? 

Ghassan: Energy Star-- the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency voluntary program-- -helps businesses and individuals save money and protect our climate through superior energy efficiency.  The EPA lists 10 tips for hiring an HVAC contractor. 

While all 10 are excellent tips, I think the most important three are:  1. Ask for references and call them; 2. Expect a home evaluation which should include load calculations; 3. Get written itemized estimate. Obviously, a reputable contractor will have the state license, as well as state and local registration and insurance coverages.

Patch: What is the most common issue the company sees? 

Ghassan: Our most common concern in TemperaturePro here is the same as the industry overall. The most common issue the industry faces is the shortage of qualified technicians.  Currently, the shortage is estimated at 20,000, nationwide, and is projected to grow.  The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the shortage to be 115,000 by 2022.  As an industry, we have to do more to attract smart, committed young people to the profession. We are very pleased that our people in our business are top tier; we interviewed dozens-- -that is no exaggeration-- -to staff up. We have other top tier techs and managers, who want to come to work for us as we grow larger.

Patch: What are some of the signs a homeowner should look out for to determine if his or her air conditioner unit or heater may need service?

Ghassan: In this region, heating and air conditioning equipment operates for thousands of hours every year.  This is equivalent to driving a car 100,000 miles.  No one drives their car 100,000 miles, without an oil change and routine maintenance.  For the same reasons HVAC equipment should be maintained regularly-- - once per season-- -by qualified HVAC professionals.  Homeowners who follow this advice will know their heating and air conditioning work properly regardless of season; and will be able to deliver the right comfort levels of interior air, whatever the temperature demands.  

Patch: What are some things homeowners can do on their own to prepare their AC systems for the upcoming summer?

Ghassan: In addition to what we talked about already, homeowners should regularly replace their filters to allow the system to “breath” better.  The frequency of replacing filters highly depends on the unique features of the homeowner’s particular house.  These variables include opening windows and doors, cooking, pets, smoking etc. We recommend using a 5-inch filter with a MERV rating of at least 11.  This will ensure that most particulates including pollen, mold, cooking oil, bacteria and smoke will be captured.

Patch: What is your favorite part about working in the East Brunswick, South Brunswick and New Brunswick community? 

Ghassan: My family has lived in South Brunswick for the past 18 years. We have enjoyed seeing our four children growing up in this area.  We love our community; the seasons, the cultural advantages, schools and many other features. We are blessed to live in a diverse community, giving us a rich palette of friends, neighbors and associates. Central New Jersey is truly one of the melting pots of America, and we wouldn’t want to live or work anywhere else.

Patch: How did you get involved in the HVAC industry?

Ghassan: I am a registered Professional Engineer and have spent 25 years of my career in engineering.  Last year, I decided I wanted to do something different.  So, I researched many industries and opportunities, but developed an interest that became a passion for the HVAC industry.  In addition to the growth potential of the industry; as my wife Lamia and I did our homework, we were attracted to it because of its impact on our livelihood and potential to help people, at multiple levels. 

All of us spend a great deal of time indoors; and the quality of the indoor environment whether at home or in the work place has a direct impact on our health.  I personally wanted to make a difference by promoting and providing a healthy indoor climate.

Patch: How can readers find out more about TemperaturePro Central New Jersey?

Ghassan: The easiest way to find out about TemperaturePro® is to visit our website at www.TemperatureProcentralnj.com.