Dillingham did some work for us a year or two ago and we were very happy with the work an Mr Dillingham Sr. We called last week for an appointment for an estimate and the morning of the appointment Mr Dillingham Jr. called with every excuse imaginable why the the estimate appointment was a bad idea... I had problems getting a word in edgewise. He finally said his office lady did not pass on the appointment to him and they could not make the appointment... I finally just told Jr that I heard between the line and we should just go our separate ways, Jr seemed happy with that.... Dillingham Jr is not his father... such a shame... read more

Tec was able to tell me the problem without a service call. A while back, they did a job for half the price Nice quoted. They were friendly, responsive, and competent in performing heat pump repairs. read more

The technicians are courteous and professional and did the work correctly the first time.

terrific technicians figured out how to save me money on condenser drainage issue!! They were always on time...

I have used Dillingham over the years with an installation and a service contract. Never an issue always satisfied with the service and personnel. Recently I called them on behalf of my daughter on a heating /air conditioning matter. The personnel correctly identified the issue and collected the 'visit fee' of $130.00 but stated " it was not worth his while to do the work" despite having accepted his estimate! I think he should refund the visit fee as it is nothing less than bad faith bordering on daylight robbery! I will be reconsidering my service contract with them. read more

I wish all companies were responsive, honest, and helpful as Dillingham's. While I ended up not having them service our unit--the rep took the time to explain what would be needed to fix my HVAC system. Beyond just explaining the situation and configuration of my system, he shared very good advice, info and recommendations for best practices with an HVAC system. The unit(s) I have may need more work than they can offer, and that's where the honesty comes in...he directed me to another, local and trusted - but larger shop (vs. "mom and pop" which I'd prefer)-- that could better meet the needs of the project. That's big in my book. I only gave 4 stars because I'd not had work done on the units by them--no doubt, though, that Dillingham's would deliver quality service! read more

At the tail end of the summer, I found myself calling my handyman to fix my AC. It kept breaking down repeatedly with $200 visits each time until he said, "look, your system's from 1992, so it's probably time to replace it." The dreaded words every homeowner never wants to hear. It was the tail end of summer but there were still 90 degree days and 80 degree nights, and when you are used to the creature comforts of modern society, modern air conditioning is a hard thing to miss. Even worse: my wife was like, "For the love of god, fix this!" So I began researching potential installation, and asking friends for recommendations. I learned that even though there are many brands, there are only a few actual manufacturers that just end up rebadging their equipment with different brands so the innards aren't really that different. I also learned I ended up looking at the Washington Checkbook to find recommended area HVAC companies and ended up getting 7 different estimates. What was interesting and unsurprising was that a lot of the HVAC companies that you see advertised on TV actually didn't do great in the Checkbook surveying. The process was generally the same, call up the company, and they provide a few windows (e.g. 9a-12p) for a rep from the company to come look at your system and do some measurements and help provide an estimate. All the vendors I talked to came during the windows they said they were, which was a positive experience. One of the ones I had picked from Washington Checkbook was Dillingham. The son of the company namesake, Justin Dillingham, actually came in a plain white van and introduced himself, and similar to others, examined my unit and asked me a few questions about my needs / preferences (for cost, efficiency, performance, etc.). What set Justin / Dillingham apart was that he was the complete opposite of the hard sell. The discussion was focused more on the solution that was right for our needs, and there wasn't really an attempt to upsell me into something I didn't need. That gave him a lot of credibility in my book. Some of the other competitors varied on this front, with one as extreme as doing the "hard sell" (price lowered as we discussed it, then he reached a number that he said he could only offer then and there, and that if I didn't accept that I wasn't "serious"), with others being relatively passive. But Justin was kind of funny because he was really passionate about Trane, so it was also nice to see someone really believe in the product they were selling. Dillingham only installs Trane, so if you want another like Carrier or American Standard, they don't really do that. I actually find some comfort in that like in my favorite pho restaurant (Pho 75 in Falls Church) - when they only make one thing, and the business is doing well, you can probably take it as a reasonable bet that what they're doing is good. Justin swore by the quality of Trane, and I had also read that often, problems with new HVAC systems come not from the system but instead from the botched installation of the system. So if an installer only does one kind of system, they are probably getting a ton of experience in installing that brand, which is hopefully going to mean a higher likelihood of a well done install. Based on my discussion with Justin and our needs, I decided to go with a lower end model that was less expensive but less efficient (the minimum standard is 14 SEER). Our HVAC needs are relatively modest so based on our discussion it didn't make sense to install something super high end. After his initial visit, I had a few questions, and he had given me his cell and was very responsive to my questions, which was really nice. I scheduled install with his office scheduler, Danielle for the following week after making my decision. On the day of installation, the team provided a window for arrival, and it ended up being an all day job - they came around 9A and finished around 4P. They cleaned up the space really nicely and even made modest cosmetic improvements leaving the tubes/wiring around the HVAC even nicer than before. So...it kind of sucks that I had to spend thousands of dollars to replace my HVAC, but on the flip side, it's really a gorgeous hunk of equipment, and far greater efficiency than the old unit, so I'm hoping the improvements will be reflected in my energy bills. I had to turn on the AC a few days ago and it was ice cold, as you'd expect. I had a good experience with Dillingham and the best advice I can give is to get many estimates so you can make an informed decision. In my experience, Dillingham is worth having in your consideration set. read more

Dillingham Heating & Air Conditioning - this is a gorgeous piece of equipment, baby! - Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

They are a small local firm recommended to us by Ferguson supply.They were outstanding Went out of there way to install both furnace and ac United. Even help connect a wifi thermometer not purchase from them. Had 4 bids on the job and they were the best. The installation crew were very experienced. Even corrected a bad damper which was not part of the job. Service. Rep Paul held my hand throughout the process. Of course all were masks and were fully aware of covid 19. I would certainly recommend them to anyone. read more

Called on Friday because no cool air. He came out Sunday...only $10 more for weekend. Was expecting a big deal but turned out mice had chewed a line. He fixed it in a flash and we were cool! read more

Installed our new A/C in record time. Always very responsive and answers all our questions. We got five estimates; theirs was the lowest by far. Very COVID safe, and polite. read more

My parents have had a contract with Dillingham Heating and Air Conditioning on their home for I don't know how long... a long time. The speak highly of everyone over there. I moved back to the area after 25 years and not only needed the furnace and air conditioning unit checked but also a wall heater looked at that hadn't seen its pilot lit in probably 20+ years. They came within the hours specified, they called when they were 10 minutes away, they were quick, courteous, thorough, knowledgeable, and they got that wall heater going in less than half an hour. Also, their prices were about half what I expected - very reasonable. I set up all my HVAC appliances on contract and feel very secure in knowing they have my back if something goes wrong. I recommend them highly. read more

Dillingham responded very quickly to our call regarding our Air Conditioning issue during our peak heat days in July. Paul from Dillingham zeroed in on the issues quickly (there were two related issues - a blown transformer, and a rodent chewed wire), and resolved them both. Our home is comfortably cool once again! Thank you very much Dillingham, and a special thanks to Paul for all your very responsive and expert help in resolving our issues! The Perrys. read more

My wife and I will continue to use Dillingham for as long as we can. They replaced out entire heat pump system. The service was great, they were more than fair, and we couldn't be happier. Don't waste your time with the larger companies with catchy commercials. read more

I recently bought a house in Alexandria. The former owner conveniently forgot to mention that the AC was busted. Completely. Home inspection happened on a day that was 52 degrees, so it wasn't like the issue would have been obvious to the home inspector, who was OCD thorough. Anyway, take possession of the house, turn on the AC and... bupkis. So I called Dillingham Heating and AC. Mr. Dillingham himself came out for what I was hoping was going to be a repair and ended up being a replace. He didn't charge me the service charge because the visit ended up with an estimate for the replacement. I did my own research but that only confirmed that his recommendation was going to be the best option for me. They got me on the schedule and now I have a beautiful, efficient Trane AC. No complaints. Meanwhile, Mr. Dillingham is exactly what you'd want in a service provider. He's clearly seen everything, he shares his observations freely, quick to respond but not pushy at all. I'm happy I found him. read more

I used him to install a new thermostat (Ecobee 3). We agreed to a price over the phone, but when he came out, and because of his lack of familiarity with the system, it took longer then expected. He then proceeded to charge me way more than was agreed upon, and I was takes aback by his lack of professionalism. Would never use again. read more

Our AC stopped cooling. Dillingham was responsive and got someone out that day but the technician who came was not in the house 10 minutes before noting how old our unit was and saying he saw rust on our hot water heater and telling me his company sold and installed all of these. Without checking the coolant other than listening to it, he brought in a screw driver and replaced a capacitor in the heat pump, charged $200 and provided no receipt, I had to ask for a card. The house did not fully cool after he left and it was clear after two days that we were back where were before he came. Called and left message that repair was not working. We did not get a response back for 3 days by which time we had another company come in, use tools to analyze and fix problem which did not involve heat pump capacitor. That tech described work of Dillingham as unprofessional. When Dillingham did call back three days after we called to report problem, the technician was argumentative with my wife about what he did, said our system was old anyway, used profanity, the F-word, and hung up. read more

After waiting 11 days for my landlord to send someone to fix our air conditioner, I finally called Dillingham myself. The lady who answered the phone was extremely nice and professional. She assured me she could have someone fix it the next day. I was given a time frame and she promised to call me before the technician arrived. The technician called prior to coming to my home and was there during the time frame I was given. My air conditioner was fixed within 15 minutes! I highly recommend Dillingham and so appreciate their professional, prompt service. read more

I've had a contract with them for around 10 years, and I'm very happy with their service. They're a family business, and most of the time, the person who comes out to do the service is either the father or the son. I live in a 1920s house that has both steam radiators (powered by an ancient furnace) and a newer gas-powered forced hot-air HVAC system. They used to service both, but about 4 years ago, they told me the old furnace wasn't worth the price of the repairs I was paying. This proved their honesty to me, since they could easily have kept making money from me by repairing it, but they didn't. (Also, they knew they'd make less from me in the future, since the other system was already in place, and the price of my annual contract with them went down when it changed to servicing only one system rather than both.) read more

Summary: Be warned. Sales staff promises more than they can deliver and doesn't tell you all the costs. Both can lead to unpleasant surprises. Additionally, service tech is thoroughly uninterested in customer satisfaction. I was so upset after the service call that I would have given a 1 star if not for the service technician convincing me he's an expert on this stuff. I called Dillingham Heating & A/C because they had few but great reviews. We just moved into a new house and wanted the heating and a/c system looked at, so we made an appointment for a diagnostic service call. The service technician (Bruce) displayed a great deal of experience and knowledge, but did not feel bound by any of the promises made by the sales associate. Result was we got seemingly great technical advice, but the tech broke a couple promises made by the sales associate on phone and seemed thoroughly uninterested when I told him of the promises or any of our non-technical concerns. 1.) We were told tech would come between 9am and 1pm, and that we would receive a phone call and hour before alerting us the tech was on his way, specifically so we wouldn't have to wait around the whole 4 hours. Well, shortly after 10, the doorbell rings. We never got a phone call, so we were not prepared. My wife is in the shower, and I'm dealing with a crying newborn. When I asked him later about the promised phone call, he tapped his book and said, "that wasn't on the ticket." He didn't even hint at an apology and subtly implied it was my fault for not communicating the need for a phone call when it was his colleague who offered it to me in the first place. 2.) On the phone, we were quoted a price of $119 for the diagnostic service call, plus parts and labor if additional work was done. After the service call, the tech quoted a price of $129. When I informed him of the original telephone quote, he told me, "that's for the first 15 minutes," referring to the $119. We were never told the $119 was only for a certain amount of time. Rudeness: my mother-in-law, visiting from Illinois for a few weeks to help out with the baby, lets the tech in. He promptly invites himself to start the examination of our system and house and starts going around the house, including between our bedroom and bathroom where my wife is showering, and could have walked out not fully dressed since she needs to go to the bedroom to dress. Additional disregard for customer satisfaction: It took a few minutes after the tech's arrival before I could take care of the baby and come to greet the tech. In that time, he already started his exam and he's giving his running commentary and advice to my mother-in-law, who's not even a resident, let alone the person who requested the service call. I had to inform him that I was the one who requested the service call and that he should direct his analysis towards me before he, with hesitation and without apology, went through his analysis with me. Be warned. The tech is very competent, but lay aside any expectations you may have that he's interested in your satisfaction as a customer before you engage his services. read more

I have a contract with Dillingham Heating and Air Conditioning on both my home and my rental property, and have always been pleased with their work. They've always fit me in quickly, and if they need to order a part (or an entire furnace, as it once happened), it happens *fast*. It is a small, local operation, which I am happy to support. I've used them for years, ever since I purchased my first home, and have developed a good relationship with the technicians to the point that I feel that they're so trustworthy that I am fine with them being in my home when I'm not there. Bottom line: they're knowledgable, reliable, fast, and they don't gouge you. And the contract is a very good deal. read more

Came to look at my a/c which wasn't working. Came back with a bill for a service call (expected) and for adding freon (not expected). I though that they shouldn't have done anything beyond the service call without asking first. So if you're not sure if you want them to recharge your unit (e.g. you are thinking of shopping around for new one), be sure to tell the technician; the better business practice would be for them to always ask before doing anything that results in a fee beyond the service call. Otherwise, everyone seemed nice, the price quoted for a new system was in the normal ball park, and the freon charge, while not cheap, was typical. read more

Great and quick service. I highly recommend Dillingham for A/C needs. They came and diagnosed the problem with our house's A/C unit. Justin talked through the problem and explained the options, found a cost effective solution, and gave us a competitive price. I never felt like they were trying to up-sell or gouge us. They are customer service oriented and would definitely use them again. read more

Simply the best. Thanks to all the people at Dillingham for decades of great service and support. This is a company to keep for life. A new furnace and AC was in our plan for 2016, but the furnace failed during the coldest days in February. Paul patched us up so we had some heat, was so responsive and checked on us to see if we needed anything. Everyone at Dillingham was great in getting our new Trane furnace, AC and wi-fi thermostat installed without breaking the bank. A special thanks to Paul for his outstanding client service. We cannot recommend Dillingham highly enough. read more

I have used this service for 15 years and Bruce is honest and reliable, I highly recommend.

Reliable and easy to work with. Brucebinstalled new HVAC unit about 7 years ago. I've used them for routine checks ever since. Great team of folks with solid reputation. read more

Mr. Dillingham recently installed a replacement gas Hot Water heater for us - it was a lot less than the Lowes quote fro a lesser model. He provided great service and helped to identify a dangerous flu blockage that the Chimney Sweep company had missed. In addition, he provided great advice (free of charge) about maintaining our AC compressor and dealing with a clogged exterior drain. I would highly recommend him! read more

I have been a customer of Bruce Dillingham for over 20 years. He is totally honest/fair/ and reasonably priced. I have recommended him to friends who feel as I do. This guy is really into his work, and will give you a good explanation of whatever is wrong with your system. read more

Excellent service at reasonable price. They have never tried to upsell me. I can always trust their recommendations. They are friendly and knowledgeable. They have installed a furnace for me as well as an electronic air filter and a humidifier. I strongly recommend a service contract. read more

This company should be ashamed of the way it treated a customer - nevermind that I'm a customer with a two month old baby in record heat! The owner came to repair my AC unit. It is on the roof and he didn't have a ladder. He said he would call his son for the ladder and come right back. Then he never did. He ended up leaving me a voicemail saying we would need to reschedule for 2 or 3 days out because he and his son had other jobs. I called him back to discuss it, and he didn't seem to understand that I had waited for him all day and I could have spent that time making other arrangements. He kept telling me that I was lucky he came out at all. I was shocked at his lack of professionalism. I wouldn't recommend you trust this company. But at the very least I hope the owner reads this and has at least one small moment where he stops to think about how badly he treated someone who was counting on him. read more

I contacted Dillingham Heating & Air Conditioning based on Yelp reviews. I had a fairly straight forward service issue. My AC wasn't blowing cold. Mr. Dandridge came out exactly when promised. He quickly identified the problem and added Freon. He also gave me a brief tutorial of the furnace and AC unit. He recommended future upgrades (to consider), but didn't try to sell me anything. He was knowledgeable, respectful, and personable. I highly recommend them. read more

Excellent service at reasonable price. They have never tried to upsell me. I can always trust their recommendations. They are friendly and knowledgeable. They have installed a furnace for me as well as an electronic air filter and a humidifier. I strongly recommend a service contract. read more