It was one of the coldest nights in February when my 42-year-old furnace stopped working. I went online and started a search for any information on furnace repair or replacement and associated costs.
I submitted my problem to Yelp, and they emailed me a list of several companies in my area to contact. I looked at the list and reached out to several of them hoping to get a reply by early the next day.
I noticed one named Longhorn Home Services that did not have any reviews but stated that there was no charge for them to come out and diagnose the problem.
I can be a little skeptical when anyone offers me anything for free. But given my time constraints and the fact that when I called and spoke to "Orlando," he said he could come over in the next hour or two.
When he arrived, he confirmed what most other people whom I spoke with what the problem was and about how much it would cost to repair. I asked what a new furnace would run? We discussed the various options. The least expensive was a new furnace similar in performance to one I currently have. I expressed that I would be interested in a furnace that was a little more efficient but not any top-of-the-line expensive model. He suggested a two-stage furnace that should meet my performance needs but be somewhat more efficient.
He explained all the costs; what was needed to make sure it was up to code as I shared, I was willing to pay the additional cost for an inspection permit. I asked him if he gave a senior discount, and he said yes and that He would give an additional discount for paying in cash or by check. The final cost would run just shy of $5800. I set up an appointment for early in the morning the next day.
When he arrived, he introduced me to his younger brother who was serving as his apprentice. They were very conscientious of my living space and took precautions' to not track any dirt onto the carpet.
Installation took about two hours during which I had conversations with them. I had the impression that they really wanted to do a good job and were hoping for a positive review. They swept up the workspace afterwards. I wrote them a check and received an invoice immediately by email.
There were a couple of hiccups though. The first occurred on the morning of installation right after I received a text saying they were on their way, and then received a phone call saying they were having mechanical problems with their vehicle. They arrived early in the afternoon. The second hiccup occurred when, after two weeks, I had to follow up and email Longhorn Home Services when I hadn't heard anything about the permit inspection I paid for. They replied before the end of the day that they had requested the inspection from the county adjacent to mine and upon learning of their mistake they sent the request to my county. The building inspector arrived the next day and said the installation looked good. I respect anyone who takes ownership of their mistakes, apologizes for the inconvenience, and makes things right. Orlando followed up with a phone call to make sure everything was fine.
For anyone experiencing a heating problem, I sincerely recommend they consider Longhorn Home Services; --- at least give them a call. You could end up with a positive fire-star experience like me. read more
