Donmar Co Inc

Our air conditioner was not cooling, and the problem happened to coincide with the hottest week of the summer. We called late on Tuesday night and Donmar sent a tech out first thing the next morning. We have a small baby, so the responsiveness alone earned major points considering the extreme weather. The tech (David) was very professional, and was able to diagnose the problem fairly quickly. We'd actually had the original installer of the unit out to the house twice in recent months to look at the unit, and after taking with David, it seems the other company was borderline incompetent. In any case, the whole system needed to be replaced. I'm not sure what the market rate for a leak check is, but what we paid didn't seem unreasonable considering the responsiveness and quality of service. Based on price and the ability to do the work earlier, we ended up using another company to do the replacement. However, I would recommend Donmar in the future.

I had a unit installed in a prior home by the same contractor and while that install (5+ years ago), I consulted and received proposals from 5 other contractors. Donmar's was not the lowest, but was about middle of the pack and for I felt was good value for the $ spent. Donmar advised me that the install would take 3 three days (which it did) upfront and let me choose the order of replacement , we selected the upstairs first as it could be done in one long day. This allowed me to make sure we had heating/cooling upstairs at night for sleeping (we have 2 small children). Edgar arrived at 7:00 AM on the first day (as I had been advised) and went right to work, explaining how the next three days would go, what he needed to do, etc. The rest of his crew (Juan) arrived a bit later. Together they worked on installing the first unit and worked until 6pm+ to make sure the unit was in place and working. They cleaned everything up behind them (they had placed drop cloths everywhere). They arrived the next day on time and worked through the end of the day, again keeping me updated, communicating and cleaning up after themselves. The 2nd unit was not functional at the end of the day (this had been described to me in advance) and they again cleaned up after themselves at the end of the day. On the third and final day, they again arrived early, set to work and worked until the job was done. They walked me through the work they had done, walked me through all of the paperwork and answered any questions. The installations look like works of art. The units are incredibly quiet compared to what was in before, and I can already tell that they are doing a better job of regulating the air temperature inside the home. Would not hesitate to recommend.

The estimate was handled promptly by the owner, communicated back and forth electronically so there was no need to meet in person. Donmar had the specifications for my home from the installation done 15 years ago. The team arrived promptly, covered their feet and the floors and set about taking out the old system, taking measurements for the new ductwork installation and from there installing the new equipment. I wish I could photograph the beautiful installation, it is just that beautiful. The Donmar team of installers arrived promptly at 7 a.m. and worked nonstop until 6:30 p.m. to get the new furnace, A/C and humidifier installed. This system has water warnings built in in two places and an electronic thermostat that does everything except cook breakfast (and it might have done that, but I didn't ask for that service.) This is the new Carrier Infinity System and it is quiet and lovely. It is suddenly 85 degrees outside and my home is fabulously comfortable. Let me tell you a little story about Donmar Heating: 15 years ago, Donmar was the only company that answered with a person on the end of the phone, on a late Saturday afternoon. My central air conditioning system failed and there was no getting it started, was time to replace. I had a longhair terrier at the time and he was a family member as were all of my pets including two mature cats. Donmar understood that my pets could not withstand summer heat for very long. So, I called on a Saturday afternoon, Donmar came out the NEXT DAY on Sunday and took measurements, and the next day, Monday, my new system was installed. Crisis over. I bought an extended warranty which was used only once but was beneficial pricewise, and only used several years after the original installation. With the "answering the phone with a human," and the emphathy for my pets, I knew I would call Donmar for HVAC installations which I have for my home, now with this installation, and for an investment property. The experience was the same at the investment property. My tenant was running "hot" systems and needed correction fast. Donmar came in with "military precision," waiting on the curb for my tenant to leave for work that morning.... Get the picture? This company knows Customer Service. Thank you Donmar!!!

I had several contractors estimate a replacement of my failed A/C unit with a high efficiency heat pump with gas furnace backup. They call the install dual fuel and it's the lowest cost to run without using something like geothermal. A few contractors actually understood what I was looking for, but Donmar suggested using a Trane unit with a Carrier thermostat. I built units for York air conditioning and their selections were the best options for effectiveness, efficiency, and cost - they obviously knew what they were talking about. They even determined I could keep my existing furnace and save some decent $. They showed up on time and the install went smoothly. The unit is running fine to this day. Highly recommend.

Donmar was professional, courteous, prompt and informative from the initial service call to inspect our failing furnace, to the in home consultation regarding new system options and finally for the actual installation. We chose to replace our HVAC as we had done multiple repairs using a different local contractor since August on our previous system. First our AC heat pump, then our furnace blower and computer. The HVAC system was over 10yrs old, with expired warranty and we started to see diminishing returns when the computer blew out a second time, we did not want to pay for a repair if it was going to fail again. We found Donmar on Angie's List and decided to try them. We were quite pleased and even asked them to replace our hot water heater which was about 10 yrs old as well. They gave us a very reasonable price on the hot water heater and we saved money by having both installations done at the same time. For the HVAC system Trane had a financing offer that was great, 36 mos interest free, no money down. That really helped make this an affordable option for us. We'd recommend Donmar to others!

PROCESS: I personally oversaw the process of identifying potential companies to do the work in question, working with them to ensure they met all the needs of the job, negotiating price, and eventually selecting the company to do the work. I sought estimates from 10 different HVAC businesses in northern Virginia and Maryland. Each one sent a representative to do an on-site evaluation of my home. Most of the representatives spent approximately one hour inspecting existing equipment and discussing my family's needs. Out of the 10, only 6 provided a plan and estimate for the job. Of those 6 two were poorly thought out and not feasible, even to my untrained review. That left four plans and estimates worthy of further consideration. Across the 4 estimates was an approximately 30% spread in overall cost. The average of the estimates was approximately $20,000. DONMAR APPROACH: 1- Comprehensive needs analysis: DONMAR was the only team that performed a formal Manual J Residential Load Calculation - a complicated and time-consuming analysis of home heating/cooling needs critical in establishing the real needs of a home. All the other HVAC reps were comfortable in eyeballing our needs or just assuming that they could extrapolate our needs from the home's current configuration and my complaints about its performance. 2- Intelligent, defendable planning: DONMAR submitted intelligent, well conceived plans that addressed the home's needs and my requests for future performance. They did not try to sell me equipment and excess capabilities I did not need and were honest in challenging me when i suggested equipment that was not indicated by their analysis and experience. 3- Continued engagement: DONMAR remained in periodic (but not annoying) contact with me as I spent the weeks necessary to review the several other estimates for work I had solicited. Along the way, as I learned more from my experience, I asked increasingly more targeted questions about their proposed system. To DONMAR's extreme credit, when it became clear that there was better equipment to employ, they readily reworked their proposal, but committed to keeping the cost to me exactly the same. 4- Technical excellence and customer-centered service: The installation went smoothly over three and a half days. The on-site boss spent a half hour with me each day going over plans for the installation, the impact on our cooling of the home and availability of hot water, and potential complications in the work. At one point it became clear that the installation of intake and exhaust pipes was going to potentially pose some serious technical problems. One fix would have required me to replace the doors of the basement closet where the gas hot water heater is located with louvered doors at my own expense. Another fix would have had DONMAR create an additional air intake vent from the closet into my wife's home office. Again, to DONMAR's credit, they spent an extra half day working out a code-complying fix that permitted the piping to run through the ceiling and paid for the repair of the cut out in the ceiling.

They were great. I like that they were efficient and honest. They came when they said they would come, and they were always very helpful. I had another company beforehand that recommended repairs or replacements, and Donmar told me that I didn’t need it and in fact I didn’t. The other people had spun a yard about how my water heater would wear about and was going to flood my basement. They said that was not the case. The other people said the air conditioner had to be replaced, and it didn’t. They were in a position where they could have told me stuff or taken advantage of me, but they didn’t and I appreciated that.

See comment above. DONMAR isone of the few contractors whom I can trust and who NEVER disappoint. I offer nothing but the highest approval and have a great appreciation for their work.

They are really good. They are prompt and always come on time. I had a problem about a year and a half ago and they worked on it continuously till they finally fixed it. They didn't know what the problem was but they kept coming back without charging me and just worked with me and tried to fix it. This gentleman came out at least seven times to make sure that the system wouldn't send out a signal that it wasn't working when it was. I thought that was way above and beyond, and they finally figured out a way to fix it. It was lovely. They are always pleasant and they always wear covers on their shoes when they come in to the house. They have a variety of contract levels and the cost depends on the level you want. They always come when they say they are going to be here, and that is a really pleasant thing. They have been lovely and it has been well worth the price. It is well worth it to have the insurance and the ability to call them out at any time. I just signed up for another year.

I contacted Donmar because I had purchased a Groupon for an AC inspection. The tech showed up right on time and checked the AC unit in our condo. I explained that the unit had leaked last year and that I was concerned about future leaks. He installed (at an extra cost of ~$100 and with my consent) a sensor that sits on the floor in front of the unit that will immediately turn off the AC if it detects a leak. Then he wanted to check out the larger unit that sits on the roof, which I was not prepared for. Luckily he had a ladder and we were able to open the hatch to the roof. He figured out which of the units was mine and gave it a thorough inspection all the while explaining it to me. Afterward he stuck around and had a soda and we just chit chatted until he had to leave for his next job. All in all a great experience.

Donmar gouges their customers for all they are worth. I used them to install a $1,000 water heater earlier this year. Had a problem with it this week and they charged me $79 just to have their tech come out. They charge an additional $15 "billing fee" if you ask them to send you a statement. And their tech said he would have to charge me an additional $110 just to turn one screw on my meter. Since the problem was related to the gas line (not the heater) I told him not to bother. Too bad...the quality of work is good but they leave you feeling like you've been fleeced. There are plenty of providers out there who aren't trying to wring every nickel and dime out of you.

I used them twice over the past month. I had the same guy come out twice. The quality of service was good. He was responsive, punctual and professional. I would definitely use them again in the future.

Everything went smoothly. The serviceman called before he arrived, arrived on time, was pleasant and professional, completed the inspection promptly and thoroughly, noted a possible future problem but did not try to sell me a repair that wasn't necessary yet.

They did a very good job overall. I recommended them to a colleague and that work also went well. They offer reasonable rates and are willing to work with you. I also found them to be professional.

Donna called me at 12:45 to ask if the technician could come early. I happily agreed. He arrived at our house at 1:30, 30 minutes prior to the original appointment time. David came right in, was friendly and professional. He checked out the outside unit, and recommended we replace the capacitor. He estimated less than $300. I agreed. He promptly installed it and the AC turned right on. After installing it, he observed the unit. He recommended that we also replace the compressor. He said the cost starts around $1,100. We discussed the options, the pros and cons of waiting instead of doing it now, and he agreed to provide an estimate. He contacted the office and provided a written estimate for $1,250, and told me we could call to schedule the work at any time. I was very satisfied with this experience.

Excellent, we had a major family gathering at our house for Easter. Donmar was able to install the HVAC system on Friday (a long day) to make sure we had AC on Easter. They came back on Monday morning to finish installation of the humidifier and electronic air cleaner. There sales staff was very flexible to accommodate us. They advocate for Trane systems. I read an article and received recommendations for a friend about the Airflow 5000 electronic air cleaner that is superior to the Trane electronic air cleaner. Their staff worked with us to put together the system that we wanted. We also had Donmar install a heat pump for the upstairs (we have a dual zone system) about 5 years ago. Same comments, very professional installation. We have not had any problems with that unit. Additionally, we have Donmar under contract for a maintenance agreement on this unit and the new ones. We are very happy with the company and highly recommend it.

In order to take advantage of the 2010 tax credit, and knowing that our particular configuration for our water heater was complex and costly, we decided to go ahead and proactively replace our 15 year old water heater. Our water heater serves both the domestic hot water and hot water for our space heating. I had Donmar come out to give an estimate in early December and expressed concerns over getting the work done before the end of the year, but I accepted the proposal for an ultra high efficiency unit. They scheduled for December 28th and called that morning to tell me they had an emergency and could not make it that day. I expressed my concern about it being done before the 31st and they agreed to come out on New Year's Eve. Two hours late, Ten hours later and three trips of theirs to Home Depot the unit was "installed" and working; however, they needed to come back to wrap up a few loose ends. About a week-and-a-half later our "regular" installer (the person who did such a fantastic job on a previous repair which convinced me to continue to do business with Donmar) came back (on time) to wrap up a few loose ends, and turns out would have to re-install it because the drain pan was too small (wasn't replaced from the previous unit which was smaller in diameter). Nine hours later the unit was properly installed and operational and we were all happy with our new unit. Then, I get a knock on the door one Saturday afternoon from our Groundskeeper (I live on the 3rd floor of a condominium). He said he believed our pipe outside which was completely frozen over may be coming from our water heater and we should check it out. Investigating the issue, we find that the new high efficiency units condense and have continuous drainage, and the drain leading outside really was only intended to be used as a one-time emergency "if the water heater blew up it just all goes out in one big swoop" and not intended for continuous drainage. Donmar worked with me to determine if anything could be done (i.e. heat tape but no electrical outlet, tie-in to another interior drain, but there was none...) Donmar agreed that my existing infrastructure could not accommodate a continuous drainage unit and we really could not modify the drainage to make it work, and I just could not have a unit that requires condense drainage. Of course this all should have been investigated by the experts before the install, but it is what it is... This all being said, Donmar "Made it Right" by installing (on time) a brand new, identical to the one I had originally unit, at no cost to me. I fully intend to use Donmar again for future efforts and I believe this experience includes lessons learned for both Donmar and myself.

The standard check seemed to go ok ($79). The inspection turned up a couple items. Basically that the water panel and orifice needed to be replaced on my house humidifier. I was put off by the estimate. I was quoted ~ $280 for this work. The panel and orifice cost maybe $20 online and replacing the parts takes maybe 5 - 10 minutes of work at the most. I probably would have had them do it if the quote was more reasonable ( < $75), but not at ~ $280. Especially considering I'm already paying the guy to be out there for the inspection. I'm not really sure if I'll continue to use Donmar because of this. Maybe its the specific rep they have working my neighborhood. At the very least, I'll start looking around for another company to service my HVACs.

About 5 years ago we used DonMar to install a new Trane A/C unit in our other home. We had no problems with the installation or the unit and were very happy with the work and professionalism of the crew. At the old house we also had them install the unit in a new location so the installation included drilling new holes in the concrete foundation. Based on our previous experience, we decided use them again. We got three other quotes and they came up the cheapest and were the only company to mention the Trane $1000 instand rebate on the model we were thinking of getting to replace the heat pump and A/C system in our new home. We were also able to schedule the appointment within a week of signing the contract and with the nightime temperatures dipping in the 40s we didn't want to wait too long to get it repaired. We were originally told that the installation would take 1 day but then we found out it would take 2 days since they said they would have to replace some duct work. That was OK with us since my husband was working from home. We asked the workers to not use one of the bathrooms because the water for the toilet was shutoff and we needed parts to repair it. We have 3 other bathrooms in our home for them to use. They used the toilet anyway and we didn't notice this until 4 days after the install when the urine smell became very strong. Why you would pee in a toilet and not flush it or not say anything to the home owner is beyond me. They could of just turned the water on, flushed the toilet and then turned the water off since it didn't shut off. They did use drop cloths to cover the carpet and removed their shoes when they entered the house but they also used our vacuum cleaner without asking. When they left after the first day we walked outside to look at the unit and noticed that it was not level. The trane XL 20i a/c unit is very tall (approx 4.5 ft) and was leaning towards the downward slope in the yard but we thought that since they are not finished it would be taken care of the next day. We didn't think they would leave it like this. We also noticed that they peeled an orange for their lunch and left the peels and other trash in the driveway and yard. The workers returned the second day and finished the job at 2:30PM. They asked for payment and I signed the contract and then I asked if they had leveled the unit outside. We walked outside to look at the unit and found out that they hadn't so they slipped some old pieces of wood from the old unit underneath the base. I told Bobby that it was supposed to rain the next day and I couldn't see how this was not going to get worse once the soil washed away. We were also a little bit surprised that they didn't show us the 'basics' of the system or ask if we had any questions after the install. They left and the next day we got approx 1 1/2" of rain and it did just like I said and removed the dirt from around the base and I was able to slip my whole hand under it. The unit was clearly not level. I called Don Mar and they scheduled to have them come of the following friday. They arrived and worked to level the unit. This time they arrived with some gravel and did a better job. That evening we tried to use the unit but all it would do is display error codes and would not kick on. The temps that evening were in the 40s. I called and left a voice message at 10:30PM and someone from DonMar called approx 8:30am the following morning and said they would be right out. A different technician arrived and walked in and out of the house several times until he realized that the circuit breaker got tripped when they were outside leveling the unit. Each time he came in and out he tracked mud on the carpets that I didn't noticed until he left. The next day my husband noticed that they used our trash cans to dispose of some of the pieces of our old unit. He also said it looked like they clean out their truck and left their trash in our cans. We don't have trash service so my husband had to clean this up and take it to the dump since it left no room in the cans for our trash. It wouldn't of been so bad if they would of put the screws, wires and pipes in a trash bag but they threw them in loose. I was also disappointed with the scratches and a dent that they left in the drywall. When they finished it would of also been nice that they carry their tools down the ladder and not drop them from the attic. My husband's office sits directly beneath the bedroom and it disturbed him while he was on a business call with his client. All I kept thinking is that they offered to do this install when we were not going to be home... this is why I always make sure I'm here. I can't image how things would be treated had we not been around. The following monday, Oct 18th I smelled gas in our basement and found out that our other heating unit in the house is broken. We are now thinking of replacing that system and looking for someone new. They new unit has only been on for a few days so I can't rate the installation or dependability just yet.

New Carrier heating and A/C system installed in September 2009 - have made 5 service calls regarding the A/C unit freezing up - unit still not functioning - NO emergency service as advertised on website - I paid $8500.00 for an A/C unit that does not work and in over 100 degree heat they refused to provide service on the weekend. This has happend on two consecutive weekends in July - the customer service is terrible and obviously so is the quality of work since the A/C unit is still not working properly - avoid this company!!!

AC unit stopped working suddenly today. Called and they were able to squeeze me in immediately. Mark the tech came on time and was professional. He was able to diagnose the problem easily and had the parts on hand. Problem fixed in less than an hour!

Overall the furnace and heat pump seem to be working fine. But one would expect that from a brand new unit. They did break some of the trim around the ladder up to the attic on the 2nd floor. I ended up just gluing the trim back onto it. They didn't seem to understand the concept of warranty details document. They provide a 1 year warranty on the work performed but don't tell you what the details of the warranty are. Ended up having to speak to the owner/president to get that document.

We are very pleased with the professionalism and careful installation of a new system by the Donmar crew. This involved a day and a half of removal of the old and installation of a new furnace, heat pump, humidifier, and air cleaner. The install manager, Edgar Cornejo, kept us informed throughout the process and provided excellent customer service. We now have an upgraded and more efficient system that hopefully will save us money on utilities.

Overall the experience was excellent. The sales person took the time to explain all our options but didn't pressure us into buying unnecessary items. They did detailed load calculations in order to determine the proper size unit that was necessary for our house. The installation crew showed up on time and they did a fantastic job. All wires and pipes were neatly run compared to the installation the previous homeowner/contractor did, which had wires and pipes running all over the place. They dug a spot for the new base pad that was needed for the larger outdoor unit. All duct joints near the inside unit were taped up. They cleaned up the work area and went through the basic instructions on how to use the system before they left. I feel that they went above and beyond my expectations. Update: It has been a little over a year since they installed our new heat pump. Initially we were really impressed with the install. Unfortunately as time went on we ran into issues with the unit not being able to keep up with the demand when it was really hot or cold out. With the old unit we would see up to a five degree temperature difference between what the thermostat was set to and the temperature in the rooms on the second floor. With the new unit this was now up to a 10 degree difference. At first we tried different settings to see if we could fix the problem. That didn't work and when Donmar came out for the fall maintenance I asked the technician why this was happening. He looked at the unit and said that everything was fine. He couldn't explain the difference. We had a similar problem in the winter. Another tech came out for the spring maintenance so I asked him why the temperature difference doubled but he was unable to find any problems. So I decided to get a second opinion by having another company come out and see what is going on. The other company did a very thorough job and found that the Superheat was 33 and the indoor unit was not getting enough refrigerant to cool the house. They had to add refrigerant and also replace the TX Valve. Now the unit runs less often and the temperature difference is only a few degrees. I'm disappointed that Donmar didn't take this problem seriously and wasn't able to solve the problem. If the tech that shows up doesn't know how to solve the problem they should call the office and get someone else out that can fix the problem. The other issue that we ran into was the saddle valve they used to connect the humidifier was leaking slowly. The tech that came out for the spring maintenance said they would call me with an estimate to replace it with a better valve. He even wrote a message on the slip however I have never received an estimate. I had to hire a plumber to fix this problem.

They were professional and came on time. They gave me an estimate and then immediately performed the service. The technician did a good job and the unit has been working fine since then. I thought the price was expensive, but I didn't get estimates from other companies so I can't compare. I would use them again in the future if needed.