Central Heating & Air

!My father's 43 year old gas forced-air furnace would no longer light.  Called Charlie on 10/29/12.  He came out that day and quickly diagnosed the problem as a faulty pilot safety switch.   He tried to replace it with a similar part he had carried in his truck for awhile, but it was not compatible. He said he would check with his parts supplier to see what they might have, but he was pretty sure that type of switch was mo longer made.  He called back later that day and confirmed the part was no longer available, but that there was a electronic pilot kit that could be retrofitted for older furnaces.  He scheduled an appointment to fix the furnace on 10/31 at 2:00 PM.
On 10/31 around 10:00 AM, I called Charlie to see if I could reschedule due to a change to my my work schedule. He was understanding and rescheduled for 2:00 on 11/1.
On 11/1, Charlie arrived with the electronic pilot kit/ with the toughest part of the process already done - since the kit is generic, it has to be custom fit to one of the parts from the old furnace. He then got to work - he said it might take 1 to 1 1/2 hours so I went to the grocery store and was back within the hour.  By the time I was back, Charlie was already done and ready to test the repair out.  He showed me where on the furnace the repairs were made and asked me to watch while he turned the furnace on with the thermostat. I observed how it electronically lit a pilot flame immediately.  After a few more seconds, the main flame lit. Then after another minute the blower came on.  Total success!
My father is happy with the results knowing he will be warm for the winter.  He appreciates that Charlie was able to keep his old furnace going and not needing to spend anywhere from $3000 - $10,000 for a new furnace.
Charlie is a pleasure to work with. He is very personable, listens well, and is cost conscious.  He was flexible with rescheduling on short notice. He explained what he would be doing in detail, and even offered to let me watch. I felt very confident in the quality of his work which came with a one year parts and labor guarantee.
I plan on getting an estimate for a wall-furnace replacement in my own home.

I have to agree with everyone else -- Charlie is wonderful.
My furnace decided to start acting up just when the nighttime temperatures started dropping into the 40's.  I had been using the HVAC company that installed my system for any repairs that it needed, but they're big and have a fairly high turnover in technicians, and I never know how good they're going to be, or whether they'll play games to try to get me to buy something I don't need.  My system is now old enough it's no longer under warranty, so I figured I'd check out reviews on the web and find someone new for a change -- preferably a small enough company that the person who comes here is actually the person who's been reviewed.
I called Charlie at 9:30am, and he answered on the third ring.  He promised to be here before noon, and he was.  He had the problem diagnosed and fixed in minutes -- a corroded flame sensor -- and cleaned the electronic air cleaner cells and prefilters for me, and checked to make sure everything was running correctly.  I asked if he had time to check out my air conditioner while he was here, because it hasn't been serviced in a while, so he very agreeably did that, too.  He noted that the system is old enough that it doesn't have a condensate overflow safety switch, and should the condensate back up, the overflow would pour right into the closet where the furnace is.  However, given that the furnace is on a wooden mounting about a foot above the floor and my house has ceramic tile throughout, little damage would be done if there was a flood, so I might not need the safety switch.  I asked whether it might develop a slow drip instead, one that I wouldn't notice but that could cause some sort of damage, and he agreed that was a possibility, and could, e.g., cause a mold problem.  My "usual" HVAC company had told me failure to have a safety switch was in violation of the building codes -- without explaining what it does -- and gave me a quote (three years ago) of $279 to install one.  Charlie charged me $70, and did the work on the spot.  Together with the $75 for fixing the furnace, cleaning the cells/prefilters, and checking out the AC, that made the total bill come to $145.
He also told me that the HVAC system I have is a really good, reliable one, and only needs to be checked out once every couple of years -- not twice a year, the way my now- very-ex "usual" HVAC company claims.  He says it wouldn't be surprising if the electronic air cleaner conks out soon, since they typically last about 10 years and mine is 13 years old.  They're next to impossible to work on -- the entire furnace would have to be taken out.  However, he says when the cleaner goes, I can just use paper filters that will fit inside the space where the cells are now.  Not only will they work just as well and I won't have any humongous repair bill, the filters will only have to be replaced instead of cleaned, which is a major pain with the electronic air cleaner cells -- literally.  I nearly sliced off a finger the last time I tried to clean them, and I always skin my knuckles trying to get them in and out.  He even offered to run home and pick some paper filters up for me, if I want to start using them right away.
It is true what he says:  Whereas most other companies think, "How much money can I get from this job", Charlie goes to a job thinking, "How much money can I save my customer."  Big difference, indeed.
And, on top of all that, he is every bit as personable as everyone else says.
Highly recommended!!!

I called him this morning and had no problem find it. He was very professional and pleased with the service.

Told I needed a replacement because of a crack but the gentleman came out and explained I didn't need one.

I received bids from two larger contractors, a contractor recommended by a friend, then Central Air, a smaller company which had very favorable reviews on Angies List.  Charlie Collins from Central Air arrived on time and completed a thorough analysis of my existing heating system and ductwork (more thorough than any other contractor I might add) - He presented a proposal to make some modifications to our ductwork, and add the A/C system.  His proposal was considerably less than the larger contractors, and Charlie said he would do the work himself. 
The job went extremely well.  All work was completed on schedule and was expertly performed.  The completed system works way better than I expected considering our cathederal cielings and the back of the house being exposed to the sun all afternoon.  All things considered, I would rank Central Air "Excellent".  Actually maybe "Extraordinary" would be a better word.

Charlie was very professional and we will be happy to call him again should the need arise
Great job!

We were very pleased with the service.  Highly recommended.

Home air conditioner stopped working Sunday night. I went to a big box store and bought some new fuses since that had been the problem previously. That didn't do the trick so I called Charlie at Central Heating and Air. He was at my home about 2 hours later. He was able to quickly identify the problem (dual run capacitor had blown). He had a replacement part in his truck so he got my system back up and running right away. I couldn't have been happier about the whole process. Charlie is very friendly and obviously knows what he is doing, and he does his work at a fair price.

Update:
I wrote the above review three years ago in 2012. A few weeks ago on a hot September 2015 day, the A/C went out again. I called Charlie and he was pretty busy but he came out two days later. It took him 5 minutes to determine that the dual run capacitor had blown again. He was surprised since it should last much longer than that. He replaced it again and got things working right away. He also refused any payment although I would have been happy to pay him. It's nice to work with someone with such competence and integrity.

  Charlie did a great job on replacing what would normally be considered a simple install but  had a few glictches. 
1)   I am an engineer myself and ask a lot of questions, get a lot of quotes, do a lot of research etc.  I  got 5 different quotes all based on number of A ratings on Angie's list.  I chose Charlie primarily for the value of the quote he provided. (best price on combined equipment and installation).  Secondarily however, he worked with me to ensure all my questions were answered to my satisfaction including some technical issues i was concerned with. 
2) Scheduling and the HOA.  since i own a townhouse in a community, i had to deal with the HOA, all the and the possibility that lines might have to be run outside the building.   Charlie was very flexible on scheduling leak test, providing information to me for the HOA etc. prior to start of work.
3) The work went relatively well.  Charlie hit a glitch because i wanted to ensure the lines were well cleaned/purged of old refrigerant prior to installing new unit since we were using old line in converting to new R410 refrigerant.  Charlie bent over backwards and worked late on a Sunday to get the cleaning/purging and installation done right so we could get the installation finished on time for me to get back to work the following day.  Secondarily, Charlie noted that the interior ductwork was routed poorly.  He replaced some and rerouted others and adjusted airflow to maximize cooling in the master BR. 
4) Charlie returned several times to make sure everything was working correctly and meet the inspector to approve the installation permit.
Charlie is a very easy going person and easy to deal with.   I would use him again, and recommend him to anyone needed AC/heating and or duct work.  Great value, service, attitude, work ethic.  

Our AC had stopped working and thermostat was off.  Called Central Heating & Air and Charlie came to do the service call.  He was awesome.  I thought we may have to replace some parts, but he diagnosed the problem fairly quickly to let us know that we were low on freon and took care of the problem.  He also spotted some other minor gaps in the main AC/Heating until that were not patched and took care of that for us.  He did a really good job explaining to us what went wrong.   He was very professional and knowledgeable.  We would definitely use him again.

unknown

House AC broke down Sunday. I called Central Heating (Charlie) Monday morning around 8AM. He came over around 9:30AM i.e. right away. He checked out the system. Replaced the blown fuse and added coolant. He was very pleasant to deal with and got us up and running right away.

For the HVAC job, Charlie came to the house on 12/30 to get the install done before the December 31st cutoff for the tax rebates on high efficiency units, which worked out great.  He did a thorough job, and was the least expensive by far of the three bids I received.  One thing I liked about Charlie was his willingness to work with me on solving issues of placement of the units and system setup.  I can talk coherently on pretty much anything related to home improvement, so having a contractor who knows his stuff and is willing to take the time to come up with real solutions is awesome.  Some guys just want to come it, sell you new stuff, and be on their way.  Charlie was more interested in putting in something I wanted rather than just something he sells, and I appreciate that.
He finished the work over 2 days (one of the units required relocation to an attic space per my request), and even came back when the weather warmed up to test the charge on the A/C system.
For the gas line, Charlie was 1/3 the cost of the other bid I received, and again he and I stepped through the whole job to find the best route and valve placement for the line.  The attic space he had to go through was no fun, but still he got in done in half a day, whereas another company quoted me two days for the work.
I have since recommended Charlie to two of my coworkers, who have both used his services.

After speaking to Charlie the morning of 7/14/12 and describing the problem with our A/C over the telephone, he concluded that we needed a new capacitor and gave us a quote of $180.  Charle also informed me that he had the part in his van.  He came out that same morning and within half an hour had everything up and running again.  He also made sure that the vents were pumping out cold air at 54 degrees Fahrenheit.  Charlie was friendly, patient, professional and answered all my questions.
This is my second time using Charlie and I owe him an Angie's List review (I don't know if I can write two reviews, so I am combining both service calls) from fixing our A/C almost a year ago to the day on 7/11/11.  And is this a story!  So please read it.
Several days before Charlie came out on 7/11/11 our A/C stopped working.  I initially called Anderson Heating and Air and after WAITING FIVE DAYS in the sweltering heat of Ramona, two guys came out and told me that I needed a new blower motor and ignition control module for my A/C blower (the unit in the garage) and it would cost $1,400!!  They would be back out the next day.
On a whim I called Charlie after seeing his great reviews on Angie's List and he came out late afternoon the same day instead of making me wait five days.  He tested the motor SEPARATELY from the control module and determined that the motor was still good as he informed that the motor and the control module rarely go out at the same time.  He offered to replace the control module for $600, including parts and labor (I then cancelled with Anderson) and came back the next day with a new control module.  He also gave me an A/C tune up (including a freon check) which Anderson wanted an extra $85 for.  After fixing the A/C and tuning it up, he came inside the house and made sure that the vents were pumping out cold air at 54 degrees Fahrenheit (just like he did on 7/14/12).
So not only did Charlie come out on the same day both times and fix one of the problems on the same day and the other one the next day, but on 7/11/11 he saved me $885 over Anderson Heating and Air by not replacing a working motor, and giving me a free A/C tune up!!
It's amazing how honest and competent a small company is over a large company who can bombard our TVs with fancy commercials.
I cannot recommend Charlie highly enough - especially with his honesty, friendlyness, professionalism, patience and competence.  Any heating or cooling job, big or small, do yourself a favor and call Charlie first.
Jason Wood

Job was completed on time and on budget.

Charlie was referred to us by another contractor.  He came with a high recommendation and we found the recommendation to be accurate!  He was very prompt and professional with delivery of estimates and services.   We are thrilled with the job he did and would definitely hire him again if needed.

Charlie was awesome. Got the estimate on a Friday. He was there on Monday and done on Friday. It was a big job but he got it done. If I have another HVAC job come up he will be the guy I call.

Charlie was very courteous & knowledgeable and did a great job custom building an exhaust vent for my built in microwave oven. I've tried a few handymen & another A/C installer but nobody could help me with this job. Charlie was able to take care of it easily and his price was very competitive.

Excellent.  Charlie really knows his stuff and it went very well.  He hit a difficult part on the install (unexpected) but completed the work without any additional charges.

After working with Charlie, I can see that he deserves every single A he has received.

I called Charlie at 1:00 on a Friday and within 2 hours from my call, he had arrived at my house, diagnosed the problem and fixed it. I wasn't sure how much the repair was going to run me but Charlie walked me through the problem step by step. He was extremely professional and courteous and didn't try to get me to replace my heating unit.

I would ABSOLUTELY use his services again as well as recommend him to all my friends and neighbors. He is very knowledgeable about the code, what is required and safety options. He also minimized the repair work to my ceiling so I wouldn't have to spend a lot of money fixing that.

Charlie deserves an A+ in my book for the work he did today. I strongly encourage you call Charlie / Central Heating & Air Conditioning first - he will get it done right and FAST!

I called Charlie and he was available the same day. He checked out the noise and said it was the gas valve. He explained everything to me and  answered my questions. He gave me an estimated cost for the repair and I decided to have him do the work. As it was already after 5pm, he said he would call the next day with the exact cost to replace the gas valve. He called the next morning and could come over even though I  would not be home until 6pm. He showed up promptly at 6pm, and had the gas valve replaced before 6:30pm.The heater works great and no more clicking noise.
 I decided to call Central Heating and Air because their ratings on Angie's List were great. I am so glad I did. Charlie did an outstanding job and I would highly recommend him. As a single women it is great to find a friendly, trustworthy, honest contractor. I recently had a another company( that is quite popular in San Diego) come out only to tell me that my heater needed to be replaced for a cost of over $6000.00. I'm so fortunate to have called an honest contractor like Charlie to give me the real deal and not take advantage of me. I would call Charlie again in a heartbeat for any of my heating and air conditioning needs. I will also recommend him to my friends and neighbors.
Kathy in El Cajon

Charlie and his assistant Jeff did a great job for us.  We found his name on Angie's List, called him, and he picked up the phone right away even though he was in an attic at the time.  He had a very friendly and knowledgeable manner on the phone, and was indeed like that in person.  He gave me an estimate on the phone, and fixed the furnace promptly and courteously.  Furthermore, he made a minor, but important repair to our hot water heater, at no charge, and ultimately billed us less than his preliminary quote.  I would definitely recommend this company.

Charlie provided same day service and even arrived earlier than expected.  He quickly  checked out our central heating and air system, got under the house and found the internal unit filter that was causing the problem.  He showed me how to get to the filter and reinstall it.
Charlie also checked out the AC for proper operation and refrigerant charge.  Throughout he was very pleasant while working efficiently.  The charge for the one-hour service was reasonable.  Very satisfied.  Will use again and recommend to others.

We live in a 1927 bungalow with original windows and un-insulated lathe & plaster walls. We don't need heat except for a couple months of the year, but when we need it, we need it. We wanted a system which was quiet, reasonably energy-efficient (but with a efficiency that was commensurate with our usage and the house).

We selected two contractors from Angie's list (based on member reviews) and invited them to provide estimates.

Charlie responded promptly to our phone call to request an estimate. He listened carefully to our concerns and helped us weigh our options. We discussed repairing our old furnace, the benefits of using our existing ductwork or installing new, the benefits (and cost recovery) of a higher-efficiency unit etc.

The other contractor interviewed also was prompt, responsive, knowledgable, and actively participated in a discussion about what was best for our specific needs.

When we received our quotes (both in a very timely fashion) there was a $1300 dollar difference. We then contacted both contractors to ask to some additional questions to make sure that the quotes were identical and we were comparing "apples to apples". The only difference was in the brand of furnace (the other contractor would have used a Maytag) but research showed that Nordyne makes the Maytag brand and so we assumed the furnaces were also comparable. Both contractors had excellent reviews from Angie's list.

I believe we could have used either contractor and received a great job. Ultimately there appeared to be no real reason not to go with the lower quote provided by Charlie.

Charlie had originally estimated one day for the whole job, but some surprises found during the installation (which is no surprise to owners of an older home) led to the job taking 2.25 days. For most of the work, Charlie had a helper assisting him.

The work was neat (they covered floors with tarps) and they  cleaned up after themselves daily. The installation is beautiful and the system is quiet and provides uniform heating throughout our home (~1500 sq).

Charlie is nice, friendly, down-to-earth and still very professional. We actually enjoyed the process of having him in our home. Also, for those of you who own pets, he is very dog friendly and our dogs really liked him.

Charlie gave new life to my 52-year old Day & Night furnace and saved me a bundle. Previous to my purchase of the house, I had the furnace checked out by the power company; they did not red tag it but instead gave me a list of parts to be replaced. OK. After I took possession of the house, the two major heating and air companies I called to fix the furnace told me it was beyond repair, and of course tried to sell me a new furnace (and associated duct work, etc.). Dejected, I was flipping through the December issue of Angie's List magazine and a short report about Central Heating & Air in the Pages of Happiness section caught my eye-- a customer described a situation similar to mine, but with a much happier outcome.  I checked the Angie's List web site for a few more reports on the company and then immediately-- and I mean within minutes-- had the owner Charlie Collins on the phone. He made room in his busy schedule to come out the next day for an estimate (and I'd called rather late on a Thursday night), and then was able to do the job the following day (a Saturday). In comparison, consider that I'd waited two weeks for an appointment with an expert with one of the major companies, only to find out the furnace had a "cracked heat exchanger," was not repairable, and I should use it at my own risk. 

The job took three hours, but the time really flew by. Charlie took the furnace all apart and explained everything he was doing (I ask a lot of questions). He did not see evidence of a crack in the system and attributed the scorched areas and funky pilot light to years of neglect and accumulated soot. He was able to get the furnace cleaned up and running like a charm-- it didn't even need new parts, just a lot of TLC. For my peace of mind, he made sure the only safety feature on the furnace, a limiter, was working. He also showed my how to program the new thermostat he'd installed.

Very impressive service, and saved me a few thousand dollars-- at least now I don't have to jump into a purchase situation and can save my pennies until the furnace finally gives up the ghost for good. I've already recommended this company to family members, and would not hesitate at all to recommend the company to others.

Charlie was great.  He is neat, personable and knowledgeable. I would recommend him to anyone.  Again, he was an Angie's List pick and a good one.  I am giving his name/number to the property managers who will be handling the rental house.