Eylander Sales & Service Inc

Description of Work: Repair of heat pump system, wasn't repaired!

Description of Work: Install 50 amp RV hookup

Description of Work: Last Fall, our heat pump failed. It was installed over 10 years ago by a "popular, well-known 'energy services' company" (with an "A" rating on Angie's List) and was, unfortunately, just out of warranty. When I had them out to take a look at it, I soon became alarmed at how the situation was unfolding. Having a technical background and good troubleshooting skills myself, it became clear to me that the technician was going through a convoluted troubleshooting process that increasingly appeared to be geared for maximizing labor (and parts) expense. The focus was put on replacing expensive parts (such as the controller board) that could easily be ruled out using a different troubleshooting approach. When I started asking a few questions, the defensive responses I received quickly led me to get another opinion. I had another, well-known, HVAC firm (also "A" rated on Angie's List) send out a tech who was helpful and a bit more open to detailed discussion about the problem. He was willing to work a bit more rationally and helped to rule out the expensive parts, but he didn't have a lot of time in his assigned schedule to do any more troubleshooting. We had definitively determined the system had a leak, but unfortunately it was not obvious where it was. It would take another trip out (and another "Trip Charge") to do a "leak detection" service which, at $200+/hour, could easily cost $1k - $2k -- not including the cost of repair. Being a bit frustrated with that, I called for some additional quotes to do a "leak detection." Every firm I talked with was quoting "at least $1k" and probably much more to repair -- or might even end up having to replace the entire system to the tune of $5k+. With Christmas around the corner and the heat-wave pretty much over, we decided to "deal with it later." When the weather started getting hot this year, I talked again with the company that did the original installation to explain what we had discovered through additional troubleshooting and asked how much they would charge to just pressurize the system enough to find the leak. They refused to listen to anybody else's findings -- even though they could be easily demonstrated -- insisting they must follow their own "procedure" using labor rates over $200/hr. (and grossly inflated parts costs too -- I researched them in anticipation of what might be required). After calling many different firms in the Seattle and Eastside area (nearly all of which have "A" ratings on Angie's List I might add), I was either not confident in their intended approach to identifying and solving the problem or would have to wait for many weeks to even look at it. I was beginning to lose hope in finding an affordable solution to repairing our system. My youngest son and I started praying for "an affordable solution." While sharing my Tale of Woe with my brother-in-law, he recalled that a firm he hired several years ago to do some electrical work, Eylander Electric, might also do HVAC work. He felt the guy he worked with was honest and straight-forward and suggested I give them a call. I am so glad I did. (And, it's probably a good thing I did NOT check Angie's List first as I explain below.) My initial call was quickly routed to their Service Manager, Steve Fields, who returned my call promptly. Even though they are based in Everett, coming down South was not a problem at all and an appointment was easily set up within the week. Still being wary of getting ripped off when I *knew* key components of the system were ok, I laid out the situation and asked how he would approach it. I knew within minutes that Steve "knew his stuff" and was being honest with me. He suggested a simple "divide and conquer" pressure testing strategy of isolating the outdoor heat pump unit from the indoor furnace side by taking advantage of valves that were already installed in the unit by the manufacturer for holding refrigerant when the unit is shipped. It was a straight-forward approach -- with the best labor rate I could find anywhere -- so I decided to give him a chance.

Description of Work: NEEDED AN UPDATED HEATING/AIRCONDITIONING SYSTEM THAT WAS ENERGY EFFICIENT, QUIET AND COST EFFECTIVE.