Complaint Review: NRG Heating and Air Conditioning

 My name is Mike Molloy and I am the office manager of NRG Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc. as well as our air duct cleaning subsidiary, AQB Heating and Air and am responding to his bad review of us.  Mr. Madaus paid us $175 to perform and air duct cleaning and full furnace cleaning at his home on 10/7/11.  This was 2 hours worth of work by two men.  We use a negative pressure hepa filtration vacuum to clean air ducts and it is very effective, without damaging the air ducts themselves. We ran his condenser and it was very old and not functioning properly.  We gave him a quote for a new condenser, Ultra Violet Air Purification Device, and new digital touchscreen thermostat.  The client wanted to move forward, but didn't have much money.  We agreed to help the client out by accepting 15 post-dated checks (so the client did not pay in full).  We installed the new condenser on 10/11/11.  The client called to say that the unit wasn't cooling properly.  We came out immediately and determined that the unit was working properly, however, the client had a pre-existing condition (he needed to enlarge a return and install new airducts) which did not allow the proper air flow through the home for this new unit.  We offered to do this work at a discount.  The client refused, stopped payment on all of his post-dated checks, and would not allow us to pick up our equipment.  We finally mediated the issue amicably, returning to the client every cent he spent with us, all of his uncashed post-dated, stopped payment checks, and picked up our equipment.  This client was extremely unreasonable as anyone can see.  In contracting, as everyone knows, unforeseen issues come to light from time to time after work is performed, however, a contractor cannot be held responsible nor liable for pre-existing conditions at a client's home which inhibit the performance of our equipment.  We always come back to make things right and are extremly fair in doing so, always taking care of our valued client's and doing any additional, unforeseen work at a discount. We have thousands of satisfied customers all over Southern California and would be more than happy to send you referrals prior to having any work done by us.  Thank you.

Oh yes, there are a lot of companies rippin people off. But, there are a few old-school good guys like me out there. I sell my customers units when they NEED it and not when I need to make a mortgage payment.

My problem with advising homeowners to do-it-yourself is that most people don't have the skills or tools to do a good job without damaging the unit you just paid for. Quick connect fittings on freon line-sets may eliminate the need to pull a vacuum or flush lines out, but they leak. Professionals know this and avoid them. The hardest thing to teach a new tech is control wiring. Can you figure out why the control fuse keeps blowing on a new unit ? There are a lot of tips and tricks that we learn as we go. I've seen so many times where the customer tried to repair or replace only to give up and call me. Sometimes, it would be cheaper to have called me first. Do you have mastic to seal properly ?

I can take the cheapest unit on the market and give you a good install, or a lousy installer can make the best unit perform like a junker. Find a good local tech you can trust and stick with him. Todays high efficiency systems require an accurate freon charge. Can you do that ?

Angies List is a good reference or check Google Places for reviews.

DO NOT CALL THE COMPANY WITH THE BIGGEST ADS - you will pay for his ads.

DUCT CLEANING IS A SCAM with VERY few exceptions. Search this site for "duct cleaning" and see for yourself.

Call the local licencing authority to see if there is any recourse. Especially if they didn't sell the model they quoted. At least, leave a report on their Google Place page. I hear complaints about my competitors all the time, yet see positive reports online. Let your voice be heard LOCALLY.

I have unfortunately been in your shoes before. After I had company's come and give estimates that ranged from 3500-6000$ I became angry because all these places charge to much they lie. Ill be honest do the work yourself it is easy. There is a website called acwholesalers.com I purchashed a Rheem 2 ton condensor unit for my home for around 600 dollars. I got the a- coil also known as the evaporator coil by  the ac repair clowns but anyways that part was 125$. I got the line sets for 150$. You need a copper line cutter a torch and flex-seal stick. There are tons of videos on youtube that also show you how to install but basically condensor unit outside use your torch and flex-seal stick to attach copper lines to it. Then attach the other end of those lines to the new evaporator coil inside. Hook power to the condensor unit outside. Most new systems have 410 refrigerant also known as puron. The new unit is precharged with puron for about 15 ft of line. If your inside and outside unit are more then 15 ft apart you will need to add puron watch youtube its easy and you can buy puron on ebay. I installed my own unit my has blows 38 degrees out of the vents when its 85-90 degrees outside. I saved a lot of money. Look into that next time you will be amazed how easy that is to do and you wont get screwed by any company. And there maintenance stuff is total ripoff. You can change your own filters and you can buy a-coil cleaner in a spray can at home depot for 4 dollars and to clean the outside unit kill the power remove the top take a hose and spray it out its that easy. Expand your knowledge learn things and how they work research and you wont get ripped by clowns. Im also going to add my neighbor had a new Bryant air conditioner installed by one of are local companies she payed 5000$ the install was crap compared to mine. I installed That Rheem on my house the install is clean and looks better then my neighbors so called pro install she was ripped off on also Ill note my system is quieter and cools better so you might actually surprise yourself and install even better then some companies. I dunno what the techs are like in your area but here in my area most of them appear to be uneducated not so legit peps.  Good Luck to you in the future and good luck from a fellow consumer.

                                                                                        

This customer seemed to skip out on some very important details. We went out to perform a maintenance on his AC unit in the summer. The unit was not working properly and we proposed to replace it which would be the most cost effective solution. The customer agreed and we went ahead and did the job. There were some small issues with the unit later which we took care of in a prompt and professional manner. 

I would not mind speaking to this customer if he has any further questions or concerns. My direct line is 818-340-7333.

Thank you,
Martin Reavh
NRG heating and air conditioning inc.