Max Heating and Cooling is outstanding…read more My old heat pump system wasn't working, so I contacted one of the big companies in the Boston area. Their guy came in and wouldn't even look to see what was wrong with my unit. They immediately told me that I needed a new system and quoted me an outrageous price. They told me that they needed to rip out all my walls to put it in. I wanted to get a second opinion, so I put a request through yelp. Dan, the owner of Max, emailed me within an hour with his cell number. Stacey, the office manager, called me first thing the next morning and sent out Joseph, who did a careful analysis of my system. It did need to be replaced. Paulo came out and did an outstanding installation, over 3 days, staying late on a Friday night to complete it. My walls were all kept intact. And the price was MUCH lower than what the big name company quoted me. DEFINITELY USE MAX!!!!! Feel free to contact me for details.

Had an absolutely amazing experience with Max Heating and Cooling! My old steam boiler developed a…read morecracked heat exchanger, and Max Heating was prompt, informative, and willing to do the replacement during the New Year holiday. Dan and Sam have been stand-out with the depth of their answers to my questions. I appreciate that immensely as a demonstration of how much they care about the subject matter, and how much they care about ensuring I'm properly informed on what is happening. Sam and his crew were out all day yesterday dismantling the old boiler and installing the new one. They were friendly and engaged the whole time letting me observe the process. Sam called me over throughout to show me up close what had corroded in my old boiler, and to explain to me how it happened. He did the same during install of the new boiler to demonstrate all the critical aspects for maintenance--including letting me unscrew and rescrew a piece to practice for future cleaning. The new boiler is running smoothly right now. I feel like I understand its pieces. Sam even took an interest in diagnosing why my bathroom heating panel (which has never worked) wasn't heating. He cleaned out its vent and it has heat now. My cat is very happy to be warm right now. From the way Sam and his crew talked through all the aspects of the work they were doing, it was clear they take pride in the quality of the work. This wasn't just a job to get over and done with. And what's more, they did it for $2k cheaper than my competing quote. Max Heating and Cooling will be the first people I call for any plumbing projects I have going forward.

After a 3-yr search and MANY bids for a new HVAC, we settled on James Wu, who installed our system…read morelast month and proved the research paid off. Below are things I wanted to know before choosing a contractor; maybe it will be helpful for you. Our situation: 100+ yr old home with current boiler in basement. We recently insulated our walk-up attic - that would both freeze and melt items stored there - with closed-cell spray foam (more research there), added drywall and will use it for storage. This is where the air handler and ERV (for ventilation) went. Our upstairs is now ducted, with one vent running through a closet on the 2nd floor to 1st floor. We also added a Mitsibishi floor mount unit and a ceiling cassette on 1st floor. So, we had a VARIETY of equipment installed, requiring a contractor experienced in not only ducting, but mini-split installs with both a ceiling cassette and floor mount unit. We did not want the large wall mount mini split units. Our walls/ceilings are PLASTER, (metal wire mesh and cement-based): cutting them is a JOB. And, we wanted the floor mount unit RECESSED. COST - James was in-line with our other bids, which came in between 27k and 39k, largely depending on equipment recommended, with ceiling cassettes costing more. Many contractors simply would not install them, and wanted to run ducts in the corners of all upstairs rooms to first floor, which to us was a last resort. COMMUNICATION - James is very responsive to texts, emails, and even more importantly, he is a fantastic communicator. He is very calm, not pushy, explains things in an easy-to-understand way that clearly shows he knows his business. I actually told my husband after he left for the first time, "I think we may have found our guy" just based on his personality and knowledge. He's likeable, which isn't a requirement, but definitely helps. EXPERTISE - This is what truly sets James apart. Our needs were fairly complex, requiring interior ducting, 2 outside units with exterior line sets, and recessed ceiling units, but also RECESSING the inside floor unit into an interior wall. We've overseen several renovation projects recently and could tell these guys knew what they were doing. Also, they were perfectionists, and paid attention to details you don't often find with contractors. DEPENDABILITY - Not a single missed appt. Showed up on time with clear communication. The job took a week. He also helped with Masssave paperwork. They cleaned up after themselves each day, which we appreciated. KNOWLEDGE - Extremely versed in Mitsibishi equipment. He's a Diamond Contractor, which extends our warranty, but we'd have chosen him regardless. Every question I had about these units (cassette and floor unit operation, air handler, ERV, outdoor units, thermostats...) he knew the answer to. When I researched anything specific online, from multiple and trusted sources, I found the info he'd given me to be correct. I trust his knowledge and I don't automatically do that. One example: our ceiling cassette has an internal thermostat and it's off by several degrees regularly. I researched it and found we likely need an external thermostat separate from the unit to measure the room's temp. I texted James a photo showing the inaccurate reading and his immediate reply, "you need an external thermostat. I'll install one." That's what I'm talking about. INTEGRITY - Example: After the permit inspector left, James explained his philosophy on inspections. Each city apparently has different requirements. He learned several years ago how strict one particular city was, requiring a blower test to determine air tightness and the passing score was 4% or less. He got 4.1% and city wouldn't pass it. This required a lot more time/energy to go through everything and another test and more $$. So, now James says to his guys, "We install to the strictest inspection every time, regardless of the specific city's requirements, so we don't ever have to redo anything." In our case, the city didn't need a blower test but if they did, I feel confident we would have passed! I don't often take time to write reviews, esp this lengthly, but I felt it was warranted here. Finding an HVAC contractor is HARD; it's time-consuming and complicated. And a lot of money. Three years of research finally led us to James and now, looking back, it was worth the wait and headaches in research. I would highly recommend anyone in the market for a new HVAC, especially if it involves Mitsibishi and especially ESPECIALLY if it involves recessing any equipment like ceiling cassettes or wall units, to consider James Wu. He and his team are uniquely skilled in their work.

Extremely happy with the services provided by James. He installed a 6 unit/2 compressor heat pump…read moresystem in our 150+ year old house in about two days, demonstrating superior knowledge of the system and suggesting actually aesthetically pleasing choices for ducting etc. that many other contractors ignored. Price was reasonable for the scope and system specs, and James was extremely responsive and patient throughout the whole process. We also really appreciate James's help coordinating with MassSave (including some truly terrible inspections), ultimately enabling us to claim our full rebate. I'd highly recommend working with James, and we will continue to reach out to him for all our HVAC needs!

Left a message on Yelp at 11:00 PM by 9:20 in the morning the next day my AC unit was fixed. I'm…read morevery pleased with the efficiency friendliness and reasonable price.

Call answered by live knowledgeable technician. Received quick service for emergency situation…read more Good value.

So wanted to give an update to a 2 star review i left for Akian for work done about a month ago. I…read morehad two gripes: Call center customer service and dispatch and high pricing. I have to give their management credit: They saw my review, reached out and yesterday service manage Jeff called me. It's rare these days for someone to really listen to how things looked on my side of the road and to Jeff's credit he did that. Not only that we reached and agreement regarding what i felt was high pricing two two of the three components they replaced on my AC system. In addition he mentioned that they are moving away from the foreign call center customer service--this is a good thing. Who wants to feel if they get disconnected they can't call the person back? All this reassured me that despite some issues they are getting themselves on track and that they cared enough to make things right for me.

Extremely Disappointing Service -- Poor Communication, Questionable Pricing, and a Complete Lack of…read moreFollow-Through I hired this company to address a water leak in my steam heating system. Initially, I believed the problem was with two steam vents that I had purchased myself but was unable to remove because they were seized. The company charged me $450 to install two vents that I supplied, a job that took approximately one hour. Unfortunately, replacing the vents did not resolve the problem. We subsequently identified what appeared to be a clogged line beneath one of the vents. I requested an estimate to repair the problem and was instead given a proposal to replace both lines for approximately $2,150. When I asked why both needed replacing when only one appeared to be clogged, the technician's explanation was simply that the other one could eventually clog. I explained that I wasn't comfortable spending that amount of money unnecessarily and that, as the homeowner, I believed it was my prerogative to determine what work I wanted performed. I also indicated that I might seek another estimate. Later that evening, I spoke with the technician again and explained that I would like to move forward, but requested a revised estimate to replace only the clogged line. He assured me he would speak with the office and get back to me. A week passed. Nothing. What followed was an extraordinarily frustrating exercise in trying to communicate with this company. Their telephone system requires you to leave a message and wait for someone to return your call, with no indication of when that might happen. If you're unavailable when they call, the entire process starts over. The only person with whom I was able to maintain any consistent communication was the manager of their answering service, primarily through text messages. Eventually, he provided a revised price of $1,850 to replace just the one clogged line. This raised yet another concern. The original estimate was $2,150 to replace both lines. Removing what I understood to be approximately 60% of the proposed work resulted in a price reduction of only $300, or roughly 14%. I also asked the manager whether he had the original estimate prepared by the technician so we could compare the two proposals. He responded that they were attempting to contact the technician. I never received the original estimate, an explanation of the pricing, or any meaningful follow-up. Once again, communication stalled. Finally, arrangements were made for someone from their service department to call and discuss my concerns. I explained that I would be available around noon, and they agreed to call at approximately that time. I sat with my phone in my lap from 11:30 a.m. until 1:15 p.m., waiting for a call that never came. What makes this especially troubling is that I have three family members living in my home, a steam heating system that needs repair, and winter approaching. This is not a cosmetic improvement or an optional renovation. It is a necessary repair to keep my home heated. I cannot help but come away with the impression that this company is more interested in the size of the job than in providing responsible, attentive service to its customers. Whether that is actually their motivation, I cannot say, but their conduct has certainly left me feeling that way. I have no objection to paying a fair price for professional work. What I do object to is being encouraged to authorize work that has not been adequately justified, receiving a revised price that raises legitimate questions, and then being repeatedly ignored when I ask for an explanation. My recommendation is simple: Look elsewhere. I cannot recommend this company strongly enough as one to avoid. Their questionable recommendations, unexplained pricing, repeated failures to communicate, disregard for scheduled callbacks, and apparent indifference to a customer facing a legitimate heating problem have been profoundly disappointing. A company that charges professional rates should be expected to deliver professional service, accountability, and communication. In my experience, this company failed on all three counts.

Very easy to schedule and lots of openings. Did an excellent job on the vents and the floor was…read moremostly clean afterward. Professional and courteous and explained things. Will use again.

I scheduled my appointment for 3pm. They called in the middle of the work day and asked if I could…read moremeet them in 20 minutes. They told me I scheduled my appointment at 1pm. I told them I could not leave work in 20 minutes. They proceeded to cancel altogether.

Jason was responsive and patient from when I first reached out for an appointment. I would get…read morequick responses even when it was just an inquiry. He came on time, had shoe slips (something I really appreciated), and was very efficient and detailed with the job. He even took the time to explain all the numbers to me! You can tell Jason really cares about his customers from how he communicates all the little details. His price is also very reasonable! I plan to use him for my future hvac work and highly recommend him to others.

Jason serviced my 22 year old furnace. He was great and explained everything involving the…read moredifferent parts that would most likely need to be replaced within the next year or so. He also gave an estimate for the parts and for a new unit.

We needed a new boiler, ours was past expiration date but was still running.We had Jamie come out…read moreto take a look and get us an estimate. He is a superstar. I mean some of the best customer experience/ service I've ever received. He patiently explained things, reviewed options, etc. I wish he could have done the install too. He answered all our questions in the back and forth on the estimate, and the chimney liner we needed and everything. I thought all was clear, we had one miss but overall got the new boiler and crazy fan thing that goes with it (don't love, but needed it). We needed a follow-up visit and got it in a very timely way. We even worked with the owner's son, Liam he great to work with too. He really listened, he was responsive and a delight to work with. I would recommend this company based on their customer service from the salespeople and responsiveness when issues arise. Like all home repair folks, the company struggles with accuracy on arriving when they are meant to come. One time they arrived too early and it was morning so I was running out of the shower. Another time they set an appointment for 230pm and came at 815am. I'm just glad the work was done.

We've had a very long challenging history with Atlantic. The only reason we keep using them is…read morebecause our contractor really pushes using them, and it's hard to find an alternative in any case - I've had one other service out but they didn't really instill confidence. We moved into our condo 19 years ago; central AC stopped working when the next summer rolled around. Same with the next, and the next - a new coolant refill every time. Eventually, when pressed for an answer, Atlantic reported suspicion of a leak in the system, but were unable to find it over the next 5-ish years when AC kept failing to cool right when it gets really hot here each summer. At some point we decided to purchase a new system that cools the air within the unit - bypassing the concern about a possible leak. Absurdly expensive b/c it's huge and on the roof, requiring a crane etc. Except, that one also fails about every one-two years and no one knows why. They're *very good* at making you feel like this fix is the one that will stick, but it never does. Wish we had pushed for a warranty-based fix before our warranty ran out. Also, lots of variance between technicians. This summer, when the system failed per usual and I had to have a technician out, the first technician exclaimed that the amount of rust in the system was very concerning because we were "breathing it all in." When I showed it to an Atlantic salesperson/technician a week or so later, he said that there was absolutely no health risk and that the rust was completely normal. Which one to believe....? In the meantime our mini-splits on the lower floors have been conking out over the past 2-3 years - all pretty old. Said salesperson/technician from the last visit came to provide an estimate two weeks ago. Despite attempts to reconnect with him, he has vanished. I was hoping to get the AC taken care of by now as we're nearing July and it's going to get extremely hot here, but I'm about done with this company.

My tenant's bathroom sink was leaking - a lot! I do not have a plumber whom I know personally, but…read moreTom came highly recommended by a few friends we have in common at various ski houses. Plus, with so many positive Yelp! Reviews ... Tom was incredibly responsive and despite having a booked schedule, managed to squeeze my job in. He is professional, knowledgeable, a great communicator, and has an easy going disposition --- which in my experience can be a challenging combination of positive traits that isn't always easy to find. He came out as scheduled, took a look at not only the sink, but also had to move some ceiling panels in the basement (not an easy feat to access) to diagnose the issue. Within just over an hour, my tenant's sink was fixed and the area Tom worked in was cleaner than how he found it. His rate was completely affordable. He also gave some additional advice regarding updating my home's plumbing for the future. I would highly recommend Tom for any / all plumbing needs. Highly.

I wouldn't use this plumber again. He spent a large chunk of the time for looking for stuff in his…read moretruck - which he charged me for. I was very clear about what I needed - a standard sink mount. He worked at a pokey pace. I did not get a sink mount - but cheap metal brackets you can buy for 97 cents each ($60 parts). One of the brackets is installed incorrectly and wiggles - it's not tight. He also drilled into my kitchen cabinets - unnecessary if a proper sink mount had been used.

Farshid and his team are top notch, professional, and know exactly how to fix your HVAC issues. We…read morehad a major issue of lack of ventilation in a new home since it's energy efficient (aka air tight), and we had high C02 levels in our basement where our bedrooms are located. We had several HVAC companies come out to diagnose the issue, but only Farshid was able to solve the issue with an easy and inexpensive solution. I highly recommend Farshid and his team for any HVAC needs!

From the owner: Newton HVAC is your local HVAC contractor for furnace installation, cooling system repair, bathroom…read moreventilation systems & more! Call in the Newton, MA area. now installing new fresh-aire UV whole house air treatment systems for commercial and residential buildings. Protects against and kills indoor pollution such as VOC's, viruses, mold+germs.

My old water heater began leaking and I needed someone to come and replace it. Nate responded to…read moremy inquiry on yelp. We talked for a few mins, I sent him some photos of the old tank and he quickly provided an estimate to replace the hot water heater at a fair price. We scheduled a time for the installation. He showed up within the window, was friendly and knowledgeable, clearly explained the process and completed the work in short order. The estimate and payment process was frictionless. The old tank was fully drained and removed. The new tank was quickly installed and connected. I would highly recommend Bay State as a first call for hot water tank replacements.

5/5 would recommend Bay State Heating & Cooling! Asked them to come out and look at a plumbing job…read more Nate was incredibly nice, friendly, and good with communication. He finished the job relatively quickly and was very knowledgeable, pointing out potential future issues to look out for. Would definitely use them again!