Best AC company - diagnosing, scheduling, installing, following-up, pricing/value.
Situation: AC was blowing but not cold. Pretty major DIY handyman here, but I couldn't fix it even after taking the inside and outside units apart. Turned out I needed a 100% full system replacement.
Decision: I considered (and paid $80+ diagnostic fees) for Estes, Ganges, TE, and two others - all highly rated and recommended by others. I won't say anything bad per se about them. I'm sure they're pretty good companies, afterall, they're big, have ads all over, and still exist. Ultimately, I decided on Hudson because during the diagnostic visit, they were most reliable, complete, upfront, informative, candid, objective, flexible, credible, and professional. Pricing wasn't as important to me but they ended up being a great value as well.
Initial Diagnosis: Came as scheduled (not late like some of the others; one of the companies who failed to show up actually still tried to charge me for the visit! Another didn't say anything about a charge (neither did the dispatcher), spent five minutes glancing, and then said I owed him 90 bucks at which point I threw him off my property wishing him luck collecting.) Spent half an hour or so as I watched him thoroughly diagnose the problem. Made some very specific observations (not general ones like two of the others). Most importantly, he answered my beginning questions (ones I already knew the answers to) correctly and honestly. This company is no BS, no upselling etc. It makes a world of diff you can tell when someone is a part owner of the company and has their name attached to the company and when someone is a commission-based employee. The quote was timely and itemized in clear detail with several options including the brand I wanted (instead of pushing their affiliate brand.)
Scheduling: Despite the summer jam for seemingly all AC companies, they changed their schedule around to accommodate me. Some of the other companies estimated 2-4 weeks and 4-6 weeks; this company did it in three days. It would've been two days but that was my fault because of my own schedule. The team leader worked around his daughter's bday party he said ... and all this on a Labor Day weekend. Daughter-birthday or not, good luck finding a company that will work on a holiday weekend unlike some others.
Install day: Punctual, organized, unobtrusive, fast. This company was like a SWAT team - they swooped in, set up, removed, installed, tested, cleaned up, and packed up. They showed up with the brand new units still in their original shipping boxes, which made me wonder if sometimes you get a refurb. Not one box, wrapping, or piece of garbage left behind. I took the entire day off (which two of the other companies suggested I do "just in case") but this co took only about two hours. They showed up on time around 7:00am. Though I hadn't moved all the obstructions in my garage where the AC unit was, they said they'd work in the tight space. The work space was poorly lit, but they said no problem - they had their own work lighting just in case. The outside unit required some extra modifications including a new base - so they installed an entirely new base and added supports with concrete without an extra charge. The inside unit also required some special hookups for the original drainage - which they completed seamlessly.
Followup/inspection: The install team leader took the time to show me the install on the inside (answered all my questions) and walked me to the outside unit to explain everything about the hookup, the new base, etc. He answered all my questions about maintenance and followup.
Pricing: They are equally or more competitive than the other co's I checked. Also, this co gives some very good recommended options. I'm not a price-only guy; "value" is what you get for what you pay, and this company cannot be beat I'm convinced. I know this review sounds like I'm their mother writing it, but it's rare that you find such good quality service for large home projects like an entire AC replacement. I admit, cynic that I am, extremely impressive. They leave no room for improvement. Will definitely be using them when/if my old upstairs unit dies. read more