Efficient AC, Electric & Plumbing

Finally found a company that fills all the boxes! Called and asked about the maintenance service. Got an appointment set up for the spring. Ross called on the day and made us aware of an arrival time. He was professional and personable. Serviced all three of our units in a timely manner. We are good to go! Will have our fall maintenance with them as well. So happy to find a company that is on top of it all. Excellent in all ways!

The tech, Ross, that came out was great. Fast, efficient, friendly, knowledgeable. He's the only reason this place gets more than 1 star (and I would evaluate him separately as 5 stars). But I was charged $385 for a capacitor, which is a $15 dollar part -- a price I'm sure the company sets, not the tech. (And that's JUST the charge for the part, not the service fee.) Which in my book is straight up theft - and exploitative of their customer base. It's unlikely I'll ever use Efficient again. I hope Ross somehow received the lion's share of that ridiculous markup.

This is a reply to Efficient, who replied in November to my September 14th complaint. My problem with Efficient became a 2 part issue:

1. Failure to repair the Air Conditioner

2. Failure to respond to our repeated phone calls, online communications, and hard copy letter addressed to George Drazic, President and Molly Drazic, CEO in a nearly two month period to discuss the bill. The November Yelp post is the first peep from Efficient in the face of all those attempts and appeared just one day after I posted a bad review of Efficient on the BBB website (to be followed by a formal complaint with BBB).

But first things first: As I suspect that the posted Efficient Yelp response is mostly for the benefit of not discouraging future customers as it was a public post rather than a private attempt to even look into our complaint, let me post the report by the AC repairman who came a few days after Efficient and fixed the whole thing for $141.60. I encourage readers to compare it to the elaborate description of the hopelessness of our AC system posted by Efficient:

The vents basically had to be adjusted to restrict so much air to be pumping into the living room area, so that there is more forced air going into the bedrooms. The vent in the living room was basically allowing too much air to escape. So it was not an AC issue, but more of an older system setup type issue. The vendor was able to install ductboard baffles and said that should be all that is needed to make the airflow push into those rooms better. Since the tenant described it as the living room stays very cold, there is obviously plenty of cold air getting in, it was just a matter of controlling the air flow.

Unlike the detailed diagnosis described by Efficient, which I again and most importantly invite the reader to compare to our happy ending, what was communicated to us, the owners and decision makers, in a phone call by the tech was much simpler. I repeat: We were told that the system was 25 years old and beyond repair, too old to even attempt a cleaning AND THE ONLY SOLUTION WAS TO INSTALL A NEW AC SYSTEM. When we suggested an approach much like what was actually successfully done, the tech was very dubious and sounded unwilling.

But for the sake of analysis of Efficient's performance, let's assume that the tech did suggest to us the $500-$600 fix (which he didn't) and we went along with it because we were over a barrel and already $99 into it, we would have grossly over-paid for a solution that might not have even worked. We suggest that readers review the Yelps sorted by worst reviews first and see if there isn't a pattern.

I love these guys. They come promptly and do a great job. They found the problem that made my AC quit, but also checked out the whole unit. The charge was very reasonable. These guys know their business.

I'm part of the HOA board for a condo complex in South Austin. When the 2021 Winter Snowstorms burst a pipe in our complex, we were deeply concerned about getting things back online once everything thawed out.

Efficient came out quickly and made sure all 42 of our units were back online properly! They fixed up the burst pipe, inspected for other pipe issues, were incredibly courteous and helpful, and did an amazing job overall. They even stuck around to handle issues that came up afterward, such as installation of hot water heaters, toilet fix-ups, fixing leaky valves, and so much more.

Dallas and Carlyle were excellent to work with and we will happily call on them again for any complex-wide services.

I thought I had a simple project, but I was in over my head. John was great! He was very nice, explained what was going on, clearly told me his plan, and completed the job right and fast! Definitely will be using Efficient anytime I need a reliable and efficient electrician!

Efficient is awesome, when I called I actually spoke to a live person who went above and beyond to accommodate my service call with my schedule. Then when the technician arrived I received that same awesome service and I also learned a few things about my unit that I never knew. Five star service in my opinion

We were with this company for 12 years - from installation on the upstairs unit through yearly maintenance with service' as recently as March 2021. When it came time for a new a/c Downstair, we asked for a bid and got not much of a response, so we called someone else. Fair enough. But today, when the services in March 2021 unit failed, we called the company that did respond and had installed the new downstairs unit. What they found: 3 months after Efficient's service call was cut wires, a missing relay and a massive rodent infestation. Add to that cut wires that were just wound around in a jumble - I have pictures. We can't prove a direct link to the upstairs unit's failure, but the condition of the unit speaks for itself.  We used to think they were great. We do not recommend this company.

So I recently installed a new water after the 2021 winter storm (it was just old).  One of the original connectors (where the hot water exits) was leaking ever so slightly, which was not a quick attach/flex hose and I needed the pressure valve line to be rerun/soldered (only a couple of feet of copper).  So I called Efficient to have a plumber come out to replace the intake/outgoing lines/connectors as this would require some soldering of the copper pipes and to rerun/solder of the pressure valve line.  I am not a plumber but I know this was a quick and fairly easy job to do considering the water heater was already in place.  Alan and Carlyle came out and quoted me $873 to Replace Water Heater Flex Lines: $399 and Replace T+P piping under 5': $474.  I was shocked at this price and when I asked what was causing the quote to be so high, I was told it was mostly the labor without further explanation.  I paid the $99 service call fee even though that was never mentioned to me when I made the appointment and decided to get other quotes.  The next plumber I called came out and was able to make the repairs for $170 and it took him all of 40 minutes (from when I opened the door to when he left)...Clearly my assumptions were right and Efficient was grossly overcharging.  My guess is this company plays on peoples lack of knowledge, plumbing emergencies, or just lack of time to deal with issues and they overinflate their prices...my guess (I can only guess because they did not give me an itemized/detailed quote)  is they were trying to charge me for the labor for the two plumbers (because they sent two, not because the job required two) for the 2 items listed on the quote and at a rate of one hour for each plumber for each item.  Basically I believe they were trying to charge me two hours of labor (one hour for each plumber) for each of the two different items they listed on the receipt regardless of how long it would take them to actually do the job.  Go elsewhere...

The good: Quick AC service.
The bad: Charged me $648 to replace a damaged capacitor, which costs $60 at any store. I wouldn't be so upset about the price if the technician had been a little more professional. From the start he had a very sour attitude, didn't explain the process, the issue nor the pricing. I needed the AC working again so I just paid.
My advise: If you can bear the heat for a bit, shop around for more friendly service.

I hired Efficient for some electrical work and Jonathan Padro was the technician.  Jonathan provided outstanding work and service.  Besides finding and resolving the problem, he also help find potential risk areas.  I had him go back to do additional work and he followed up with great work and professionalism.  Will certain call Efficient and Jon specifically again for future work.

We worked with Brian Moran and got a great Carrier system, and he was great! We have already recommended him to all of our neighbors. It's always tough someone reliable, but Brian was the best.

I am very unhappy with their plumbing service. I live in a condo in the north west hills, and our HOA only allows this vendor to shut down the water and do plumbing repairs in my unit. Otherwise, I would choose a different plumbing company in a beat! I can't get a hold of them in the past TWO weeks! I keep leaving voice messages and I sent an online form request, and nobody still responded. Now, our HOA property manager is trying to schedule a service with them for my unit (still no response since yesterday). This is ridiculous! They keep claiming they have 24/7 service on their website,  and so far, even two weeks is not enough to schedule an appointment.

I used their service last year to replace a shower filter, and it was a similar story. I couldn't schedule a service for over a week, kept leaving voice messages to the master plumber, and when he finally responded and told me he needed to order the part, he forgot about it. I don't remember how long it took them to take care of this minor problem, but it was at least several weeks. Their prices are above average and the service is terrible.

$99 fee to come out.  Otherwise they got back to me within a day on A quote to replace and gave me several options. They do work on Sunday

Have used this company for the past several years for routine electrical  repairs and air conditioner, lighting, and ceiling fan installations. When the company expanded to include plumbing work, I utilized their services for the installation of a new water heater, garbage disposal, and toilet. Here's what happened each time - the technician called when he was a half hour away on the scheduled installation date, he arrived at or before the scheduled appointment time, and the work was done in an efficient manner. When it was necessary for follow-up work, it was done in a timely manner. All of the technicians have been very knowledgeable and professional. Would highly recommend.

I worked with a different AC company previously but I still had an issue with our indoor unit freezing and then leaking water. I wanted a second opinion about our leaking issue and I found Efficient recommended on my neighborhood's FB page.

Ernie was thorough and professional in his assessment of our issue. Our previous AC technician didn't seem as knowledgeable in comparison to Ernie. After checking our system thoroughly, Ernie correctly diagnosed the problem and our unit finally stopped leaking. In addition, the pricing was very reasonable. Highly recommended.

I had the bad luck of having my A/C go out during the July 4 holiday weekend.  I called 6 repair shops and Efficient was the only one who responded to my request.  Scheduling was quick and efficient and the technician (Ross) had the expertise to diagnose my issue and complete the repairs quickly and efficiently.  Charges were clearly explained to me over the phone and in person.  I highly recommend them for A/C repairs or installation.

Called these guys out when my a/c was blowing warm air. Dan came out, diagnosed multiple leaks (which I'd suspected) and recommended a new system (which I expected), loaded me up with enough coolant to get through at least a couple of weeks while I set an appointment to have a load evaluation and quote done with Darwin.

I'd already gotten a quote for a new system from another company, but Darwin came out and not only gave me a better price for the same system, but was willing to work with me on adding some returns to some especially warm rooms. The following Monday (less than week later) we had the crew out to install a brand new full house system including three added returns, enlarging existing returns already in place, new duct work and even a new drip line installed at the under-eave drip line. They got it all done in one business day AND came in a couple of hundred dollars UNDER their quote. They actually left the hall and stairs neater than they found it, and were as unobtrusive as possible. I'm highly impressed and will be (already have been) telling everyone I know about Efficient.

Our experience with Efficient has been nothing short of a disaster.

Efficient installed a new HVAC system for us. One year later, our ceiling collapsed from a leak caused by Efficient's workers. Efficient wouldn't pay to have the ceiling and mold repaired, so reluctantly, we had to use our homeowners insurance even though it is their fault.

Now, another year later, the AC unit leaked and ruined the ceiling again and we have to try to get Efficient to pay for the repair. What a headache, not to mention the time spent, mold, etc.

Take your honest business somewhere else.

The AC was not working at my Round Rock home. The efficient AC fixed it by replacing a capacitor (Capacitor is usually a standard problem). The problem is they charged $648 for it. That's ridiculous! Most others would charge less than $200. I will better shop somewhere else next time.

The dispatcher was kind, understanding, and professional. Our technician Arthur was FANTASTIC and came out right away despite the dispatcher mis-hearing my phone number. He quickly diagnosed and fixed our problem - a clogged drain line - and was kind enough to even tell this first-time homeowner how he knew this, showed me why the unit was turning on and off, via the safety switch, how to change the unit's air filter, when to get maintenance done, how to do a little bit of easy monthly maintenance for ourselves, and even a little more about our particular unit. Arthur worked smoothly and easily with me despite me being quite stressed, and he simply put me at ease that he had things completely handled. I am very grateful that they were able to come out after hours, too, albeit for a bit higher rate (which was what I expected when I called).
Something to be aware of, no matter how wonderful they were, the price on the phone quoted to me was by the hour, and the price quoted when he got here was from a book which they use to make sure each customer pays the same amount. This didn't remove any stars for me, as I understand this policy, but it was something I do wish the dispatcher had clarified before the service call was made.
Thank you Efficient! Will use your services again!

We've hired this company for a few recent home-related, outdoor electrical projects and have been impressed every time. They delivered professionalism and courtesy, along with fair pricing. We definitely recommend Efficient and will be sure to use again. Thank you!

Technician was fine.

Their pricing comes out of a book.  I got a quote to bring two furnaces up to code by replacing a 3 foot long gas flex line going into the furnace with a small section of iron pipe, with a sediment trap.  The quote was nearly $700, and their trip charge is $99.   A competitor quoted me $250.  Pricing is outrageous.

This review is solely based on my experience with their Semi-Annual Service Agreement and not the repairs originally performed.

Per my review below (April 19), I was so pleased with the repair services that were provided, I decided to purchase Efficient's Semi-Annual Service Agreement.  As the repair was done on Friday, the repair person said I could expect a call on Monday (April 22) to schedule the first inspection.

When I had not heard from Efficient by May 6, I used the e-mail feature on the Efficient website where it promises Let us contact you!.  I provided both the invoice no. and work order no. for reference.  When I had not been contacted, I repeated the same process on May 8.  

When I still had not been contacted by almost noon the next day (Thurs, May 9), I used the Angie's List Message Business feature to again request Efficient contact me and provided the same reference information.

Additionally on May 9, I e-mailed the person who did the repairs to let him know I was still waiting to be contacted by Efficient and asked if he could get someone to contact me  to schedule the inspection service.  He responded in a very timely manner and let me know that he had forwarded my message to their lead dispatcher.  He had also suggested that I call the office directly and gave me the names of two people to speak with.

As of today May 14, I have not been contacted to schedule this service.  This service is supposed to include both a spring and fall servicing. Yes, after four failed attempts, I could now call their office to schedule the appointment directly, but for a recurring service, shouldn't they be contacting me?  Also, am I going to have to put the fall inspection on my calendar and go through this same process again to schedule that service.

Their repair person inspired such confidence, but everything since then has made me regret my decision.  Best case scenario, Efficient will refund the money I spent on the service agreement.

I called Efficient Air Conditioning after reading the positive reviews on Angie's List. I'm so glad I called them, within 30 minutes, Ernest Rodriguez, was knocking at my door. I'm so glad I contacted them. Ernest was so knowledgeable and explained every single thing he was doing.

I will contact them for all of my AC needs!

We were doing an inspection on our home and needed the sewer line scoped to ensure the cast iron was in good shape. I called to get a few quotes and Efficient AC was $25 more affordable than others but had better reviews so I decided to try them. I didn't realize they were going to make a video of the lines and send it to me. That was an added bonus! The person I worked with, was extremely​ professional, very nice, and answered all my questions. I had to call customer service​ a couple times ahead of the appointment to make changes to the time and they were always very warm and inviting to chat with. Overall, I was very impressed and would definitely​ call them for any future plumbing needs. Oh and added bonus, they are active on Yelp so you can talk to someone for a quote right within the interface.

These guys are excellent.  I've used many of the big names in town over the years across several properties, and Efficient stood out to me in terms of their promptness, courtesy, and professionalism.  

I called them in the early afternoon for an unidentified (to me) leak coming from the ceiling that was obviously in the area of my attic unit.  They were at my place within a few hours of my phone call, took care of the necessary work quickly, cleanly, and with a great attitude.  Communication was excellent along the way.  

I highly recommend these guys!

I will continue to use Efficient. Robert, one of their senior techs, just left my house and was really so helpful. He was on time, very knowledgable, very friendly, gave me tips on how to work my Carrier system, offered clear instructions on changing out filters, and liked big dogs (which makes service appointments less stressful). Chyna, who set up the appointment, was patient with trying to communicate with me as I was nuts at work, and was able to book Robert to come out the next business day. Thank you Efficient!

I definitely recommend Efficient to everyone and would use them again.  They were not only reasonably priced but also fast, friendly, professional, and gave me great advice in how to do my own preventative maintenance.  They also improved the water pressure in my kitchen sink when they replaced the faucet.  And when there was a problem in diagnosing and fixing the AC problem, they came back at no charge in finally fixing the problem. It was a great experience!

I contacted EAC&E in the dead of night via email and got a phone call first thing in the morning. Tony was my tech and was out within a day or two to service my geothermal HVAC unit. He accurately diagnosed the problem, and had me up and running in no time. Excellent customer service, quality work, fair prices. And for what it's worth--I just got a good vibe. I would recommend highly.

One of our heat pumps broke down during the hottest part of July.  I called several companies and Efficient was the first to call back.  They were able to get a technician out later that day.  The bill ended up being much less than expected.  While he was here the technician (Ernest) noticed that we had condensation from the A/C dripping secondary drain lines under the eaves.  He checked the air handlers inside the house, replaced the air filters, and cleared the clogged primary condensation drains.  We ended up buying a maintenance contract so we can have them come out later this year and make sure that everything is working well at no additional charge.  Overall, I was very pleased with their responsiveness, the work they performed, and the price charged.  We will use them again and I would definitely recommend them to others.

These guys get my business every single time. From great estimates from Darwin, to helpful and prompt phone support person Michelle, to excellent service manager Dustin, this is a professional bunch that gets the job done on time, on budget and with a great warranty.
Overall, they have done 2 Mini split installs for me, electrical work and have us under maint contract just for the convenience. While they do a lot of large commercial work, they treat residential customers with respect while providing some of the best pricing thanks to economies of scale.

Efficient installed two new units in our house in 2013, and did a great job.  We also signed up for twice a year preventive maintenance checks.  But they failed in that regard. We discovered mold in the 4-ton unit that was due to failure in the return air plenum that allowed warm ambient air into the system.  We contacted Efficient and showed them the pictures of the mold and the plenum failure after we had the system re-mediated.The remediation and repair cost us over $8,000.00 and Efficient, after exchanging numerous emails and stopping communicating with us, has failed to offer any meaningful remuneration.  We paid for preventive maintenance and they failed us.  We will have to look for an honest HVAC company.

We have a geothermal A/C in Lake Austin.  Tony is terrific and maintenance and repair.  Always on time, efficient, and fixes the problem or routine maintenance.

I contacted Efficient at a time when my unit was malfunctioning--not completely down, but cycling on and off continuously.  They were quick in response and worked hard to get it up and running but the next day I had the same problem again. I called them and they came out and got it fixed this time at no charge and with a free review of my entire system thrown in for free.  I signed a maintenance contract with them and they show up like clockwork to do my free preventative maintenance in the fall and early summer.  I like their 'can-do' attitude, their professionalism and their dedication to doing a good job.  Another plus is that my unit is situated in a difficult place to access but this does not slow them down.  I appreciate their efforts.  I have no hesitation in giving them five stars and a high five.

Best AC company in Austin.  Their employees beginning with the receptionist are the kindest folks!  I have worked with Darwin twice and he is very knowledgeable, patient, kind and extremely helpful!  I highly recommend Efficient AC to everyone!

I had a leak coming through my ceiling.  Shutoff valve was corroded and I could not turn off the water.  My wife called Efficient AC , Dallas and Eddie were here in 20 minutes...  They turned my water off and identified where the leak was coming from.  Top notch response, they could have not been nicer and more professional!

Just had my AC go out last night.  Called during lunch and left a message for the scheduler, Michelle, who called me back right when she returned!  Dispatched Jeff to come out and he reviewed our issue.  We were worried there were large issues, but he fixed it and only charged us the service fee and some labor.  Jeff was straight forward and honest!  Definitely recommend!

Quick and efficient service, and didn't have to book to far in advance to get a summer AC appointment. The office staff was very good to get me set up with an AC tech and electrician to come at relatively the same time. One of the techs did get lost and was a bit late, but was in contact with me and the service was quick once they got here. Both techs were very friendly.

These guys are awesome.  Had one of my units out.  Jeff promptly responded, made a temporary repair, and diagnosed a leaking coil. I got 2 other estimates and Efficient was reasonable and they made an effective repair.  
This by itself would not earn five stars.  Saturday evening on Labor Day weekend the other AC is out and it's 100 degrees!   I call their number and Tony promptly responds. He explains emergency service is $15 more per hour. Ok, that's pretty reasonable. He is at my house 30 min later, replaces bad capacitor and I'm up and running literally 90 min after I called.  Labor Day weekend. Extra $15.  Five Stars.

Courteous and knowledgeable technicians. Great and efficient work, what else can you ask for...Highly recommend!

Efficient Air was my fourth estimate for a new A/C/Heating system, and Darwin really nailed it. He's a fun, patient, highly intelligent, super helpful guy, who has a passion for designing air conditioning systems. By the end of his pitch, I could see how amateurish and untrustworthy the other sales reps/companies that had given me their estimates were. He really seems to care about your satisfaction from beginning to end. He'd always pick up or get back to me soon with any phone calls, and ended one call saying he would be right over with an expert to do an inspection of my air ducts and address a last-minute concern I had. In the end, to allay my concern over mold in the air ducts, he said he'd install some new flex air ducts for what another a/c company said was at cost of material or below cost (when I was having mold removed from house, contractor brought in a/c guy to give estimate on flex ducts). I needed to have mold removed from my A/C closet, and Darwin even agreed to disassemble and take away my old A/C and then come back to install the new one right after the mold remediation was completed, and before I signed a formal agreement.

And Tony and another man whose name escapes me took away my old A/C and installed the new A/C and were both outstanding as well. Tony was very patient answering all my questions and left me feeling very confident they did a top-notch installation (inspector just came today and when I was in another room, I heard him say under his breath, Very nice job.). I went with a higher-end system than I received any other estimates for, but the pricing on the other mid-range system Darwin gave me was the same as other estimates I got on lower-quality brands. Dustin was another employee I interacted with regarding paperwork and duct work, and another consummate professional.

I'm new to Austin and a first-time homebuyer who has had a lot of work done on my house, and I've quickly learned how difficult it is to find service providers you can trust. Whoever owns this company knows how to hire, keep his employees happy/engaged, and the importance of a good client experience from end to end.

I noticed there are five other reviews that are not showing per yelp... weird. Yelp, these guys ARE that good.

Did several electrical jobs around our new home.  Super friendly, great work.  Definitely recommend and would use again.

I recently used 911 Electric to un install two chandeliers in my boss' home. He has already moved and I am on a very short time frame to get everything out of the house. 911 was great to schedule me quickly, arrived on time and Jason & Jeff were both very professional! They charged exactly what was quoted and left the home without any evidence they had ever been there. I definitely recommend 911 Electric if you need an electrician in the Austin area!!

I am shopping for a new H/VAC system, which reminded me to write this review about the work they did for me several months back.  I will not be using Efficient  for any future work on my H/VAC and here's why: Back in August, my A/C was working and not working (i.e,, coming on sometimes, but not always).  I called Efficient and they sent a nice tech out to diagnose the problem. He diagnosed it as a low performing capacitor. Replaced it at a cost of $260. The unit cut on after he replaced it so I figured he knew what he was talking about. Later in the day though, the same problem occurred. I called Efficient and they sent the tech out next morning. This time he told me it was the motor. Cost: 600+!!! Well, it's August, I'm boiling, I stupidly fell for it. The unit worked okay for about a week and then the same problem presented again! Same exact problem - sometimes cutting on; sometimes not. I started doing some research online and everything I looked at suggested the problem might be the relay switch. But who was I to tell that to a professional? LOL Efficient sent out a tech who diagnosed.....what else but a broken relay switch. He replaced that and to Efficient's credit, at no charge. (Had they charged me for it, they would have received a one star review). So turns out the relay switch was the problem and the A/C worked fine from that point on. However, I ended up spending way more than I should have (i.e., almost  $1000). The relay switch, if it had been properly diagnosed in the first place, would have cost much less. That's why we call professionals --- to properly diagnose and fix a problem, not to just keep replacing things until something works.

Efficient was the first (after MANY phone calls) to quickly respond to us and keep us posted about when they'd be at our house. We purchased 2 hours of service to determine some outlet problems, but he finished quickly (even having to move heavy book cases that had been bolted to the wall) and credited us for the extra time. We are very happy with the service!

Service calls are always a nail biting experience. But Efficient Air Conditioning sure lived up to their name. I called them in the morning to come have a look at my non-working air conditioning and they promised to be out that afternoon. Sure enough, I got my status call letting me know they were 30 minutes away from being at my front door. Again, how nice is that? Two fellas turned up, had a look and let us know it was just a tripped fuse in the attic and fixed it and were out of there within 30 minutes. Now the air is working and I can breathe easy.

I recommend them!!!

My A/C died while I was deployed to Afghanistan,  the entire staff at Efficient A/C did an outstanding job and making what could have been a highly stressfull stituation very easy.  From the company president to the sales manager to the service tech and the installation crew they all were extremely professional and attentive.   Even with the time difference I was able through email to get all the details worked out and have a new system installed in just a matter of days!  They truly lived up to their name!

Super happy with all they have done for my family.  I had another HVAC company come out to look at my system and they told me I needed a new blower and a new control panel.  No service fee for the evaluation, but extremely over quoted replacement parts and labor.  Spoke with Michelle at Efficient A/C & Electric and she was extremely helpful, worked with me to get a technician out for an evaluation the same day.  The technician confirmed that I did NOT need a new blower and talked with us about a resolution that was best for us, rather than what makes his company the most money.  Very impressed and will always use Efficient A/C & Electric in the future!