Rich Davila’s signature desert rat isn’t the only one who wants to be cool.

It is Davila’s business to keep residents cool – or warm, depending on the season – with Fountain Hills Air Conditioning & Heating.

Davila opened his business in August 1974. As one of Fountain Hills’ first business owners, Because of his longevity in the community, Davila knows his customers. He has experienced Fountain Hills from the early days when growth was slow but steady through the boom years and beyond.

For nearly all those years, Davila worked in new construction. About four years ago, he decided to get out of that side of the business and continue with repair and replacement.

“We now do routine maintenance checks, repairs and replacements,” he said.

Seasonal specials are offered for maintenance checks in the spring and fall. Davila said he does not sell maintenance contracts.

“Maintenance contracts cost more than they are worth,” he said. “Twice a year maintenance checks are routine. You don’t have to get somebody on a contract to do that kind of work. It doesn’t make sense.”

Davila is a Rheem dealer. He said he has always been impressed with Rheem’s quality, performance and their availability of parts.

“I have been a Rheem dealer for more than 30 years,” he said. “It is a great product, and the factory stands behind its equipment. I have sold other brands, but I have had situations with warranties and getting parts that I didn’t like. Rheem has great quality.”

Davila said when he is replacing a system for a customer, he asks several questions before he makes a recommendation for the new unit.

“The first thing I ask is whether somebody is a year-round resident,” he said.

That determines the type of unit he will recommend. If someone lives in the area part-time, Davila recommends that the customer buy a unit with a minimum “SEER” rating. SEER is short for “Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio.” The higher the SEER rating, the more efficiently the unit uses power.

“You won’t need a high SEER rating if you aren’t here in the summer months,” he said.

Conversely, for year-round residents, Davila recommends purchasing the highest SEER rating they can afford.

“Now things are very affordable to go to the top end of the units,” Davila said. “

Several rebates are available to homeowners who install new units. There is a federal tax credit of up to $1,500 until 2010. Rheem is offering a rebate of up to $1,200 until July 15. Salt River Project, which provides power to Fountain Hills and some parts of Scottsdale, has a $300 to $400 rebate.

Davila said you can get a 16 ½ to 17½ SEER unit for less than you can purchase a 13 SEER unit.

“That is a really good deal,” he said. “You end up saving 30 to 50 percent on your air conditioning bill.”

Davila decided years ago he wanted to open his own business in a place where there was little or no competition.

He added that in those early years where there was no competition, “There wasn’t much business, either.”

But that has changed. Davila has a thriving business serving Fountain Hills, the Verde communities and Scottsdale in the 85259 ZIP code.

“I’ve been doing this for a long time,” Davila said. “I still enjoy what I do. The people here are great.”

Davila said that he is proud of the business he has built.

“There is one thing to remember,” he said. “It’s not hard to build a good reputation, but it is hard to keep it.”

Davila’s number of years in the business speak to his reputation. After almost 35 years, he must be doing something right.

For appointments and information, call Fountain Hills Air Conditioning & Heating, (480) 837-1313. The company is located at 16524 E. Laser Drive, Suite 8, in Fountain Hills.