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Need Help! AC/HVAC repair recommendation

Discussion in 'Homeowners Corner' started by icici, Sep 5, 2008.

  1. icici

    icici New Member

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    Our HVAC blower stopped working last night and I'll appreciate any recommendations on whom to call to take a look/fix it.
     
  2. mdcrim

    mdcrim Member

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    We have used Bowmans for the past 8 years and have always been pleased with their service and price. 703-471-0451. Good luck...
     
  3. msflynn

    msflynn New Member

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    We always used United Air Temp and were happy with them

    Staci
     
  4. glencastle

    glencastle The Paterfamilias

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    If you live in a Southern Walk Van Metre home, odds are your HVAC system was installed by W&E Heating and Air. We contacted them a few months ago when the lousy Goodman unit that came with the house was having problems. Our regular HVAC service was telling us that they would have to "retrofit" a part and charge us several hundred dollars. W&E solved the problem for 1/4 the cost in 30 minutes, because they were familiar with the equipment. 703-631-2558.
     
  5. hornerjo

    hornerjo Senior Member

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    Ours did the same thing over the weekend. The next morning, it was back on. Seems the high humidity froze the fan in place. A night of thawing out fixed it and it's been working fine since (knock on wood).

    But if its not working still, give Algonkian http://www.algonkianhvac.com/ a call. They have very cheap rates and have done top notch service for us.
     
  6. BigJackie

    BigJackie New Member

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    Any feedback out there on Cascades Comfort Services? I've got them coming today to look at the unit that cools our top floor. We had to replace one of two Goodman units last year and I'm worried we may have to go the same route this time. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, that won't be the case. Most techs see/hear Goodman and they just chuckle.
     
  7. icici

    icici New Member

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    Thanx for the infor..it has been down since last night (over 12 hours) and it failed to start when it tried it today morning..looks like I will have to call someome to take a look..

    Everyone,
    thanx for the contact infos..
     
  8. quailpond06

    quailpond06 New Member

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    We have used RA Dobson Heating and Cooling several times and have been pleased with their work. 703-777-8705
     
  9. Villager

    Villager Ashburn Village Resident

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    We've had them come out a couple of times. Each time our system needed freon. Now that the weather is cooling off and it won't be horrifyingly hot in the attic we'll probably have them come out and see if there is a leak causing us to lose freon. It's a small family business and the guy who came here both times was young. I don't know how much experience he has or how much he really knows beyond the basic stuff - he might know a lot but I don't get the sense that he does. However, I have nothing concrete to base that on, just from discussions with him about our system. I have no complaints about them and would call them again but am open to using someone else, too.
     
  10. icici

    icici New Member

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    Just an update: Jeff from Bowman came and fixed it in 10 minutes. The issue was a blown/dead capacitor which wsas preventing the blower motor from starting up.
     
  11. gunzour

    gunzour "Living on the Edge"

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    I will recommend W&E also, especially if you have a Goodman unit as they know them well. I tried Bowman once, and although the guy who came out was very professional and knowledgeable, they had trouble obtaining a replacement part, and the owner was very rude when I tried to get an ETA from them. W&E had the same part in inventory and was able to fix it right away.
     
  12. JJB

    JJB Active Member

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    I live in a Southern Walk single family home and have to put in a good word here for Bowman. We called yesterday, there were here today. The upstairs furnace was not heating properly. The Fan Motor was working fine, the Gas seemed to only come on for 5 seconds, go off for 20 seconds, come on for 5 seconds, etc. I was concerned the problem was going to be serious since this is a a Goodman Furnace. The issue was a dirty igniter. The fix was a quick cleaning. This cause was my not paying more attention to the blinking warning on the thermostat to change the filter. Repair cost just under $100. I feel dumb. The technicians recommendation was to change the filters at least every 90 days if not more frequently.
     
  13. Villager

    Villager Ashburn Village Resident

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    I hear that! We replaced our thermostats last year and they each have a filter change indicator. That's a neat feature but only if I actually look at the thermostat to see it! :p

    Thanks for the reminder!
     
  14. icici

    icici New Member

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    Another good word for Bowman as well - Our Blower started making really loud sounds/clicks on a Saturday night just before Thanksgiving. I called Bowman Sunday morning and the guy (Dean) came by to take a look sunday afternoon. It turned out to be broken fan/rotor. Since they did not have that particular part in stock, Dean came back monday morning with the replacement and fixed it right away.
     
  15. Villager

    Villager Ashburn Village Resident

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    Question: If you think there is a leak in your freon lines is it true that it can be very expensive to find and fix a tiny hole in the coil? That's what the guy from Bowman's told me. He's talking around $1200 to repair the hole - IF they can find it. Maybe it's time to replace the system if it's about 15 years old? Any advice?
     
  16. Villager

    Villager Ashburn Village Resident

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    Update: We turned on our A/C over the weekend only to discover that for the third year in a row the unit that cools the upstairs was out of freon. Bowman's came out this afternoon and refilled it at a rate of $55/pound.

    Somewhere there is a slow freon leak so since our system is about 14 years old we'll probably look into replacing the whole thing with something more efficient.
     
  17. Sasquatch519

    Sasquatch519 Member

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    Another vote for Bowman's. Dean was extremely knowledgeable (he knew just from my over-the-phone description that it was a blown capacitor)and even gave me a few things to check before having a pro come out and look at it next time... might save me a service call or two in the future.

    Highly recommend this local company and would use them again.
     
  18. tommyboy

    tommyboy New Member

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    I'll add Air Comfort Specialists to the list of HVAC repair companies that are reputable, responsive and affordable. Ed O'Toole is great to work with and will not over-diagnose, and consequently, over-charge. Their number is 703-771-9481.
     
  19. Villager

    Villager Ashburn Village Resident

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    Okay, we're finally going to actually replace the HVAC system. I'm doing some research to learn what we should know about having it done but right now I'm looking for recommendations for installations. Another thread had some recommendations for Climatic Heating and Cooling. This thread says Bowman's is good. Any other recs?

    I'd be willing to pay more to get more than just the bare minimum system if it means getting a long lasting, reliable system for the long term. But not, of course, if I'm spending my money needlessly. So any advice would be appreciated.

    What an exciting way to spend a tax refund. Not. :)
     
  20. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    Negotiate. Use bids against each other. There seems to be a lot of wiggle room in their initial quotes... so don't be shy about leveraging each other. This is easier of course if you buy a regular brand as well (amana, carrier, trane, etc).

    For the reliably front... we pushed for the longer warranty (vendor warranty, not dealer warranty). 10 yr parts+labor warranties are the latest push from the vendors as someone (trane?) started offering longer warranties and the other vendors had to scramble a bit to answer.

    We used Climatic, and we're happy with the price and service so far.
     

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