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Robert Peralta, owner of Air Tight Heating & Air has lived in Tehachapi ever since he arrived with his parent from Riverside at the age of 17. He was just in time for his senior year at Tehachapi High School.

Peralta learned the heating and air conditioning business from the ground up from a friend. He had a knack for the business and it soon became his passion. He discovered that he loved assessing problems with heating and air units and making them run like new. "If a customer thinks their furnace is running a bit too hot or maybe not hot enough, I want them to call us," says Peralta. He takes pride in finding out why and fixing it adding the warning that, "The heat exchanger should be checked every year."

After receiving his contractor's license in 2004, Peralta started his own business and has never looked back. He has never lost his enthusiasm or commitment for making his customers happy. He really looks out for his customers and that fact has earned him a very loyal following.

Air Tight Heating and Air has been in their current Valley Blvd. location for the last four years. It is now a true family business with sons Anthony and Brandon as two of the company's five service technicians. Peralta's wife Debie is the scheduler and his daughter Sonija is the first voice you hear when you call Air Tight.

The Air Tight offices are designed to make their customers feel welcome. A comfortable conference room is available for people to come in, sit down and ask questions. Peralta emphasizes that he is always happy to talk about ways a customer can improve the performance of their heating or air conditioning unit. " I could talk about it for hours," he added. The Air Tight conference room is like a museum of examples of what can happen when a unit is not serviced correctly. Of course, should a new unit be required, he can also explain what makes one brand different from another.

Fall is the perfect time to think about updating or inspecting home heating units and Peralta says that whether the unit is natural gas or propane, you want to be sure that the heating unit is safe and in optimum working order when the temperature drops.

Peralta reminds everyone that annual inspections and maintenance of your heating units by a professional will not only keep them operating efficiently but will keep you and your family safe and could save you from a surprise expense as well. "It's not just to check the heat cells, it also should include a full visual and service of the unit to make sure it is not only working properly, but efficiently," adds Peralta.

Even if you think that your unit is in perfect working order, it is a good idea to make sure that it remains in perfect working order. While Air Tight is checking over a unit, they check all vents and connections for blockages, corrosion, cracks and leaks. Peralta says that he uses a GoPro and infrared photography to show customers what is going on with their heating system. Whether you own your home or rent, an inspection could save you hundreds of dollars on your winter heating bill.

There are other things you can do to save money on your heating bill in the winter. Peralta says to start by changing your air filter more often, as often as every two or three months. He says that when you shop for a filter, know the different grades as well as the correct size and buy one that suits your needs. He would be happy to explain the difference.

So don't wait, contact Air Tight Heating & Air and schedule a fall inspection of your unit. Call (661) 823-1197 or stop by their offices at 20021 W. Valley Blvd. If a customer should end up with a costly surprise repair or replacement, Robert Peralta says that Air Tight is now able to offer in-house financing.