We used Worcester to install new ducts with a 90% eff furnace and 1-stage AC with humidifier and 5" media filter in fall, 2018 as part of a full renovation on our house. We're very happy with the work Worcester did for us and would recommend them to anyone who needs their existing system serviced or plans to install a new one.
I'm the kind of person who will understand what the market has to offer, weigh the available options against best my needs and budget, then make a decision. Everything from cars to coat racks (not an exaggeration). Researching heating systems and contractors was a very lengthy endeavor. I started with the company who was maintaining my boiler, but after 4 weeks of waiting for a quote I decided I needed to move on. I had a spreadsheet that I would add to every time I got a new quote from a different contractor. In the end, I was comparing 6 quotes, each showing 2 to 4 configurations (different efficiencies and features) and had a $10k spread between the low and high quotes. Not only was there a range of costs, I also had different contractors quoting different capacity systems for the same house. As my spreadsheet got longer, I didn't feel like I had any more clarity on what was the right fit. I needed to weigh this differently.
I also looked at what the major HVAC manufacturers had to offer on their websites to try to understand what I was being quoted by the installers. Trane's website, I thought, was the most helpful for getting a feel for what the cost might look like, which gained them some confidence in my mind. The industry relies on installers to give you equipment pricing, so the budget range that Trane offers is more than what most manufacturers will give you. I looked for what the internet had to say about quality of the major HVAC manufacturers and consumer reports slots Trane/Am Standard near the top for having fewest break downs in the first 5 years of operation... Another vote of confidence.
So I took my best 3 quotes, two of which were using Trane equipment, all within $1500 of each other and started drilling down on their quotes with questions about the install, the system, proposing different configurations, and making sure no stone was left unturned. The communication from Brian, Bill, and Penny was excellent (and still is). They were great about getting back to me with answers when I asked about efficiencies, capacity, rebates, duct layout, and warranty. I can't say the same about the other two contractors. Because the system will need to be maintained per the warranty terms, our relationship will be ongoing after install. I didn't want to keep calling on someone who either gave me bad info or was offended when I questioned why he was doing something differently from his competition. The professionalism of everyone at Worcester was probably the biggest deciding factor for me.
During install, Kevin and Drew were really good about communicating conflicts and talking through the duct configurations. They were on-site when they said they would be. On the one item I wasn't thrilled with, we worked though to get a fix we all were happy with.
Our furnace ran great all winter and looking forward to having central air this summer.
PS. Get the humidifier and media filter if you are considering a new system - definitely worth it. read more