Roderick S.
07/01/2021 12:00:00 SA
Sam was fantastic! I contacted him yesterday around 12:30pm, Wednesday, June 30, 2021; he arrived promptly within 1-2 hours and reviewed the work that needed to be done. He provided an OUTSTANDING estimate, but I told him I'd contact him before 5:00pm; he needed to coordinate with the crane company, if I wanted the work completed on Thursday, July 1, 2021.
Side Note: Sam was the ONLY contractor that able to visit my home the same day, and provide an estimate and approximate installation/completion time for the project.
Our home is OLD! Well, I'm sure it's exaggerating to some, but it was built in 1983. We moved into our home in November, 2020. At the time, I didn't know anything about the state of the air conditioner. All I knew was that it passed the home inspection (i.e. IMHO, a pretty weak home inspection).
Another Side Note: NEVER USE AMAZON HOME WARRANTY! THE SERVICE SUCKS!
I realized when our AC stopped working, something serious was wrong because the 'Amazon Home Warranty' wouldn't cover the repair or replacement. I started researching and contacting various contractors. The HVAC contractors that came out to see our home identified our AC unit was installed in 2005. Also, the SEER level on the old unit was around 10-12, which is low compared to current standards, and only 2 tons, which is weaker than today's units.
So, after 6 estimates for installing a new AC unit, the price ranged from $5700 - $7300. I cancelled the 7th estimate visit because Sam from NP&A started to 'grow' on me (lol). Generally, these estimates included the removal, crane, installation of new unit, warranties, etc. Well known brands: Trane/American Standard, Carrier/Day&Night, and York. I quickly decided against the York installation; I knew the other brands had better reputations and the price was a little high for what I thought was an inferior unit (i.e. I'm no AC expert, just lots of online searches). I kept the various contractors anonymous, because it's not fair to disrespect other business processes, practices, and services.
Here are the quotes:
American Standard (over/under unit - Contractor A): $5700
American Standard (side by side unit - Contractor A): $6500
Carrier 3 ton 14 Seer (Contractor B): $5900
York 3 ton 14 Seer (Contractor C): $6500
Trane 3.5 ton 14 Seer (Contractor C): $7100
Trane 3.5 ton 14 Seer (Neighborhood Plumbing & Air): $5700
I chose NP&A based on the speed of service; Sam appeared reliable and felt like the right contractor for me. As you can see from my list, there were 2 quotes for $5700. The biggest reason I chose Sam from NP&A was how professional and expedient he presented himself. He was just as knowledgable as the guys with the higher end quotes, but very down to earth, friendly, and confident in his ability. The other $5700 contractor seemed flaky and kind of had a 'meh' attitude. It's like he didn't care one way or the other if he got our business.
After background checking and researching his ROC licenses, I called Sam Wednesday around 4:00pm and asked him to proceed with the installation on Thursday, July 1, 2021. He told me the crane would be at my residence at 3:30pm - approximate start time.
From the 1st phone call to project completion, Sam had our AC humming in a little over 24 hours! AMAZING!
The crane showed up early! I was fine with that; the faster I can get the air going, then 'bye-bye' portable swamp coolers! I believe Sam started work around 2:00pm or earlier! Now that's great initiative and prompt service. By 4:00-5:00pm, Sam was done with the installation, cleaned his job site, and was ready to complete our business! Wow! When he turned on the AC, I started feeling the cool air in less than 5 minutes! It's amazing how much difference a 3.5 ton 14 SEER unit compares to the old unit we had. ESPECIALLY A TRANE AC UNIT, WOOHOO!
He switched out a circuit breaker because the AC unit was tripping it. That's 100% my fault. Since we've moved in, I've switched out 2 breakers already. The breakers in my panel are OLD AS HELL! Yeah, so no big deal. I picked up 3 breakers from Home Depot; 1 50amp to switch out and 2 other spare breakers when I need to replace them. I ordered a Google Nest thermostat; it's super easy to install, just watch some videos online and your middle-schooler should be able to do it. I purchased my Google Nest from SRP for $124 because they have a program to help you manage your electrical use and save money.
So, in the end, Sam from NP&A is the MAN TO BEAT! He is a licensed professional HVAC/Plumbing contractor and a great pleasure to work with. He's honest, reliable, and exceeded all my expectations. You know what the best part was?
He gave me a $200 discount for being a 'valued customer' and I ended up paying $5500 for the installation of my brand new 3.5 ton 14 SEER Trane AC unit! Ok, do your due diligence, but in my case, Sam and Neighborhood Plumbing & Air are my go-to HVAC/Plumbing guys.
5+++ Star Experience!