mountaineer

Heidi S.

Initially we hired this company because of a long standing friendship. We needed our A/C replaced and an issue with our newer furnace needed to be resolved. They met with us told us what needed to be done and gave us a written estimate. We were told that additional ductwork need installed (along with the new A/C. We were told verbally that the ductwork would be insulated but that was not put on the written estimate (our mistake). In the end the work was completed but required several return trips by them and additional expenses for us.
They scheduled to come out and begin work but had to delay due to a van breaking down. On the second scheduled day, they arrived and work began. Later they told me they would not be able to finish that day and would return the following day to complete the work. That afternoon before they left an incredible overwhelming chemical smell permeated the house and we had to leave the windows open about an inch. Normally that would not be a problem but it was 26 degrees out. When my husband went to cover the hole under the house, hot air was pouring out from under the house. Then the furnace would not shut off at all. Even when turning the thermostat off it continued to run. We had to turn the gas off to it. No heat that night. The following morning, we had headaches and nausea with the fumes. They returned to complete the work and I told them to resolve the other issues first. The hot air was gushing out due a large gap in the seam of the ductwork. The furnace was not shutting off because the new ductwork being installed had caused the wire from the furnace to the thermostat to be cut so a new wire had to be ran.
The chemical odor was so bad we had to call the manufacturers who instructed us to open all the windows and run the furnace fan-again, it was 26 degrees outside! So we had to take the dog and leave the house and open all the windows about an inch and leave the furnace running at 58-60 degrees for 3 days! Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Thank God we had a place to go and didn't have to rent a hotel room.
That Monday they came and cut out sections of the ductwork that had a sealant/mastic on it and replaced it. That evening my husband went under the house and looked and found several gaps where the ductwork joins and seams hadn't been joined/screwed/taped properly in 5 or 6 places and lots of air was escaping into the crawl space. We called again and they came out the next day to fix those places. This time the job was completed properly but not with insulation on the ductwork and with the added expenses of the additional gas and electric needed to air out the house. So we are looking at around $300-$400 to insulate the ductwork (and my hubby will have to do that work himself) and an additional $200 in utility bills.