Primarily because of circumstances over which we had no control, Patty and I are in our second year of seeing the results of a home repair experiment.
I thought you might be interested, especially if you've been sitting on the decision-making fence like we were.
It was the month of August two years ago that we decided we were tired of the monthly calls to the air conditioning repairman. The compressor coil had a teeny leak that was in a place that was impossible to solder shut. It was obvious to us that it was time to replace the unit, and experience has taught me that it is almost always wise to bite the bullet and replace the entire system.
After having about seven well-known Dallas air conditioning contractors prepare bids, we chose Quigley Air Conditioning and Heating. That was primarily because I was impressed that their engineer came out to personally check the condition of the existing duct work, and to measure to see if we needed additional outlets and return air vents.
Secondly, when I was in the home and apartment building business some years back, our experience had taught us that Trane and Goodman units were the most reliable, and that their warranties were dependable. I figure we had bought at least 8,000 of those brands, probably many more.
So Quigley reworked some of the ducts, added one return air and three new air registers, and they installed the complete Trane unit.
Immediately the unit ran less frequently than the old one, and our electricity bill dropped significantly. We were amazed.
Hail damage came the following spring, and State Farm replaced our decking with one faced with the radiant barrier, and our new roof included ridge vents. While we were at it, we added to the attic insulation.
At the end of this season, our savings in electricity alone will have paid for our complete Trane unit, and by the beginning of summer next year, the new attic insulation will have been paid for in additional savings.
But then there was another issue. The new air conditioning unit required an upgrade to #8 wire and a 50 amp breaker. No one had noticed the need for the upgrade when the unit was being installed.
This summer the breaker started shutting off every day or so. I had the electrician out, and he pointed out that the new unit took too much amperage to operate on the old breaker and wire.
I contacted Brandon Quigley. Rather than give me a zillion reasons as to why this was not their problem, he said, "Let me send out the head of my installation department to look things over, then we'll get an electrician out to upgrade the wiring (125 feet of #8 pulled from one end of the attic to the other) and the breaker.
And that's exactly what happened. Quigley Air Conditioning and Heating certainly showed Patty and me why their rating with the Dallas Better Business Bureau is A-1. Now know that getting rid of old units and putting in radiant barriers and additional insulation in the attic quickly pay for themselves.
Here's the 1st piece I posted about why we selected Quigley.
Finally, real estate brokers and agents are cautioned against endorsing any vendor, so please understand our experience is nothing more than that. However, when you are considering air conditioning and heating work, you most certainly should include Quigley among those whom you interview and from whom you get written bids.
BILL CHERRY, REALTORS
DALLAS - PARK CITIES
Our 45th Year
214 503-8563
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