Comments on: Baltimore HVAC Contractor - MG Mechanical Services - Excellent! http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/reviews/baltimore-hvac-contractor-mg-mechanical-services-excellent/ Home improvement and related topics from four evening and weekend warriors striving for the perfect homes... Fri, 09 Jan 2009 22:34:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: HVAC Maintenance Cost Worth It: A Contractor’s Recommendations  on One Project Closer http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/reviews/baltimore-hvac-contractor-mg-mechanical-services-excellent/#comment-1616 HVAC Maintenance Cost Worth It: A Contractor’s Recommendations  on One Project Closer Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:31:49 +0000 http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/reviews/baltimore-hvac-contractor-mg-mechanical-services-excellent/#comment-1616 [...] ran a post about a great experience with a local HVAC contractor earlier this month. One reader, Scott, had a few questions about annual maintenance and warranties. [...] [...] ran a post about a great experience with a local HVAC contractor earlier this month. One reader, Scott, had a few questions about annual maintenance and warranties. [...]

]]> By: Ethan http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/reviews/baltimore-hvac-contractor-mg-mechanical-services-excellent/#comment-1429 Ethan Sun, 08 Jun 2008 13:51:57 +0000 http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/reviews/baltimore-hvac-contractor-mg-mechanical-services-excellent/#comment-1429 @Scott, Your idea about annual maintenance is a good one. I'm always curious about how suggested maintenance and weather or not a warranty is worthwhile. @Scott, Your idea about annual maintenance is a good one. I’m always curious about how suggested maintenance and weather or not a warranty is worthwhile.

]]> By: Scott http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/reviews/baltimore-hvac-contractor-mg-mechanical-services-excellent/#comment-1426 Scott Sat, 07 Jun 2008 20:47:26 +0000 http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/reviews/baltimore-hvac-contractor-mg-mechanical-services-excellent/#comment-1426 My first post maybe wasn't exactly clear. I didn't mean to complain. I was very happy with Bradley Mechanical. They did great work, and their prices are fair. The tech, Leigh (sp?), who came out was very nice, and even explained to me everything he was doing, and patiently answered all my questions (I'm a curious person so I asked quite a few). I'm just a little bummed that the repair seemed so simple and something I could probably have done myself if I had known what to look for! The blown capacitor was obvious just from looking at it: instead of a flat top, it was all bulged up and rounded. My first post maybe wasn’t exactly clear. I didn’t mean to complain. I was very happy with Bradley Mechanical. They did great work, and their prices are fair. The tech, Leigh (sp?), who came out was very nice, and even explained to me everything he was doing, and patiently answered all my questions (I’m a curious person so I asked quite a few). I’m just a little bummed that the repair seemed so simple and something I could probably have done myself if I had known what to look for! The blown capacitor was obvious just from looking at it: instead of a flat top, it was all bulged up and rounded.

]]> By: Scott http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/reviews/baltimore-hvac-contractor-mg-mechanical-services-excellent/#comment-1425 Scott Sat, 07 Jun 2008 20:36:44 +0000 http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/reviews/baltimore-hvac-contractor-mg-mechanical-services-excellent/#comment-1425 The first really hot day of this year, maybe the same day you had issues, our AC in our upstairs zone stopped working. The fan would run and circulate air, but it wasn't cold air! The outdoor unit wasn't running. I went outside and listened, and sure enough I heard a click and buzz every few minutes when the thermostat would send the signal to the compressor to start up to cool the house to the target temperature, but the outdoor unit would just hum and not start. I called a local company, after pricing some others in the area (Midlothian, VA), and ended up going with Bradley Mechanical. They charged me $89 just to come out and diagnose it. Then when it turned out to be the capacitor that had blown, I had to pay another $134 for the part and installation of a new capacitor. The worst part is that I watched him pop it out and replace it with a new one in all of about 5 minutes! At least he recharged my system by adding a little frion (at no charge). And we're good as new now! Good thing, because today it's about 100 degrees here in Midlothian, VA! I have a thought for discussion. May be worthy of a whole post by you guys with your thoughts and experiences. Are HVAC annual maintenance plans worth the money, or rip-off? I decided that I am better off saving my money now (instead of spending about $300 each year for them to come out twice a year, check on things and clean the coils, etc... Because even if it breaks, I will still have to shell out big bucks to fix it. What do you all think? The first really hot day of this year, maybe the same day you had issues, our AC in our upstairs zone stopped working. The fan would run and circulate air, but it wasn’t cold air! The outdoor unit wasn’t running. I went outside and listened, and sure enough I heard a click and buzz every few minutes when the thermostat would send the signal to the compressor to start up to cool the house to the target temperature, but the outdoor unit would just hum and not start.

I called a local company, after pricing some others in the area (Midlothian, VA), and ended up going with Bradley Mechanical. They charged me $89 just to come out and diagnose it. Then when it turned out to be the capacitor that had blown, I had to pay another $134 for the part and installation of a new capacitor. The worst part is that I watched him pop it out and replace it with a new one in all of about 5 minutes! At least he recharged my system by adding a little frion (at no charge). And we’re good as new now! Good thing, because today it’s about 100 degrees here in Midlothian, VA!

I have a thought for discussion. May be worthy of a whole post by you guys with your thoughts and experiences.

Are HVAC annual maintenance plans worth the money, or rip-off? I decided that I am better off saving my money now (instead of spending about $300 each year for them to come out twice a year, check on things and clean the coils, etc… Because even if it breaks, I will still have to shell out big bucks to fix it. What do you all think?

]]>