Around the Clock Heating & Cooling Inc

My furnace heater coil was clogged due to an issue with the water softener. ATC suggested a return visit to flush the coil but said the first step was to replace the external regulator valve. My issue is they charged me $269 for this valve. I commented I thought it was expensive and the technician agreed. Later, I found the part at Home Depot for $79. My sister is an office administrator at a plumbing service in another state. I asked what her company would charge for this part. She said $105. Clearly I was way overcharged by ATC. We're all here to make a profit, I understand that, but $269 for a part another plumber would charge $105 is too excessive. Once I learned I was gouged, I had the furnace coil replaced by another company. That went well. ATC had installed the furnace 13 months prior to this incident. Now I wonder how that was priced. They made a nice profit on that valve but lost a regular customer who is now taking the time to write this negative review. Not a sustainable business practice I imagine. Also, changing the external valve did not affect the low hot water pressure. It was not needed at all apparently. When they called THREE weeks later to schedule the coil flush visit, I expressed my disappointment with their price. I was offered to talk with the owner but declined as I had already employed another service to fix the issue.

These folks installed a new furnace/boiler for me in December 2015. In January 2017, I called them to investigate why my hot water pressure was so low. They came out and suggested the heating coil in the burner was clogged from hard water and suggested a return visit to remove and flush the coil. They also said the first step in this was to replace a mixing valve external to the furnace. They replaced this valve and it did not help, but I took them at their word that this was the "first step." They charged my $269 for this valve (just the part, labor was additional.) I commented to the technician that I thought that was expensive and he agreed. He also said they would call me to schedule the "flushing" appointment. After he left, I googled the part and found it online for $79 at Home Depot. I then called my sister who is the office administrator for a plumbing business in another state. She said their price would have been $106. Ouch, $269 was very expensive. I called two other plumbers who both thought that price was way too much and said they would not have replaced that part. I had the coil replaced by one of these two plumbers and am happy with their service. After two weeks, Around the Clock called to schedule the next appointment. I told them no thanks. Bottom Line: Way overcharged for a part I did not need. Two weeks to call back - doesn't seem very responsive to me.

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I had to call for emergency service after an oil fill resulted in debris clogging up my oil lines to my boiler. ATC came out quickly at 10:30PM because my house was 42 degrees and I didn't want to risk freezing a pipe. The technician cleaned out the lines and got the boiler back running. I paid the $310 bill and sent him on his way. I didn't feel the house warming up but figured it would take some time, but I was able to take a hot shower so I didn't think anything was wrong. I woke up at 3AM and the house was still 42 degrees so I had to call them back that morning. After another hour of work, I was told I had to call a plumber because I probably had a frozen pipe and there was nothing wrong with the boiler. I was a little surprised to get another $140 bill though. I protested that had they figured out the night before that my heat really wasn't working, I wouldn't have had to call them back in the first place, nor would I have had to spend the night freezing! According to them, it was working when they left, which I disagree with. I actually would have been fine had they cut it in half, but to be inflexible after all that was upsetting.

I've used this provider for maintenance on my furnace for a few years and they have always been responsive. Last March (2014) when my furnace needed repair they came and did the work and recommended some preventitive maintenance be scheduled. Well, it was the end of the heating season and I let it slip. Of course this November the furnace needed another repair. When they arrived we discussed the current issue and the preventitive maintenace it really needed. A new furnace was suggested and I agreed it was probably the best idea - versus spending more money for this repair and then possibly another repair later this heating season. I can only estimate the furnace's age at 25 -30 or more years. After I was quoted a price, the technician (the owner I believe) saw a few more minor issues and said he'd address them too at no additional cost. They introduced me to a promotion by United Illiminating for 0% financing and helped arrange it as well. They arrived the morning of the scheduled installation right on time - to the minute. Two young men arrived and we discussed the job. They seemed well experienced just from our conversation. Soon after the work started, a third person arrived. Near the end of the job, the owner arrived to make sure all was going well. They took their time to veify all the zones and thermostats were working correctly. They also thoroughly explained the new unit, all the various valves and the paperwork at the end. When they left, the basement floor was cleaner than when they arrived. Each of the four guys were professional and very courteous. I would recommend them to a friend and would use them again myself.

Very professional, friendly and knowledgable. Would use again - no problems

They were on time, and very professional. The work was exceptional! It was so neat! It was installed in my basement and the metal is wrapped so nicely so you don't see the bare material. It was a very detailed job. I feel like a got a fair price. I would definitely recommend them to friends/neighbors/family and would use them in the future.

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see above

I haven’t used them much since they installed the compressor. I think they did good work, but time will tell. I think the price was about $4600. Their service was good. They showed up promptly and did the work. They suggested doing some work we had been considering; so we had to do the duct work. We had some unnecessary ducts that we were considering taking it off and they proposed to take it off. So, we had them do that. It went well and the work was fine. I am having problems with the thermostat; so I am having somebody else look at it today. I don’t know the cause of the problem with the thermostat. It might have been because of the wrong settings by Around the Clock. So, that’s my only reservation. I don’t know for fact yet and I have to figure that out. I had read that the really important factor in air conditioning work is the quality of the contractor. So, I was willing to pay more than the lowest bid. They were very responsive.

They do excellent work, but they are expensive. They are very professional, they know what they are doing, but I just think the price is too high.