CALIFORNIA ENERGY SERVICE INC

While the furnace was being installed, I discovered that the model was not the same as the one I had ordered and partially paid for; an 80% A.F.U.E. non-condensing model and not the 95% unit I wanted. I argued with the installers (who were subcontractors) and called the business office, and they finally agreed to lower the price $700 if I would accept the less-efficient furnace. They claimed the furnace enclosure would not accommodate a 95% condensing model even though they had previously inspected the enclosure and claimed that it would. As the installers who were waiting to finish their job were beginning to get a bit "testy", I decided to accept the salesman's offer and go ahead and take the less-efficient furnace with the price cut. I believe this was something of a "bait & switch" approach to selling me the furnace. After the installers had left, I also noticed that the air conditioning condensing unit installed on the roof was also not the same model I had ordered, but was only a 13 SEER rating type. Tired and discouraged, I decided to let this one go. After running the furnace for several weeks, I noticed a pervasive "burning odor", so I had a technician from another furnace service company come out and inspect the system. I was told that the installers had incorrectly installed the exhaust ducts and a fair amount of exhaust gasses were being blown into the house, with the danger of carbon monoxide a real threat. The technician also discovered that the air conditioner condensing unit had been incorrectly wired to the electrical outlet and in violation of building codes. This technician from the other contractor was able to fix both problems. He also fixed a PVC pipe draining condensate from the air conditioner coils that had been sloppily installed by the install team. (These careless installers had also left a number of good-sized grease spots in the carpeting that they had tried to remove but with very poor results!) The furnace and air conditioning units have since been working without any subsequent problems and seem to be of good quality, but I remain very unhappy with California Energy Service and would not do business with them again.