JW Plumbing, Heating & Air

I live in a six unit townhouse complex that is 26 years old. A neighbor and I both needed to replace our original heating & cooling combination units. I met/spoke with five different companies who all had various proposals and ideas of what needed to be done. One company quoted me over the phone and another never even surveyed the site or gave me a written estimate. Jeff, the owner of J.W., came and surveyed the property and sat down to explain what needed to be done. He explained my options regarding size of unit, costs and installation upgrades (i.e. flashing, mounts etc.). He even explained that depending on the unit I purchased, I could qualify for a $1500 Govt. tax rebate and $100 from LADWP (remember to save the big yellow sticker on the unit BEFORE installation for the LADWP rebate). He gave me a GUARANTEED estimate and folder describing everything in writing that he had told me. My neighbor and I decided to have the same 3 ton units installed. Jeff explained that the new units would actually pay for themselves in about 4-5 years with the energy they saved over the old units (approx. 40% on our monthly bill). The day of the job, Jeff arrived early to meet with his installers to go over the work orders so they knew exactly what needed to be done. The crane arrived and with a bit of juggling, removed the old units and lifted the new units on to the 3 story roof in no time. I believe that it is the workers who truly represent a company. A salesperson can say whatever it takes to get/sell the job. But it is the installers/workers that you have to interact with and feel comfortable with. After all, they are the people that completing the work and at your house all day, not the salesperson. J.W. has a great installation crew. They were clean, friendly, hard working and respectful. They worked tirelessly in 90?+ heat all day, only taking one break for lunch. They worked from 7a.m. to 6p.m. to finish installing both units (I think the key to keeping any crew happy is offer them plenty of water/soda to drink and maybe a snack. I know they appreciated it that day). My other neighbor also had a new unit installed several months ago. Comparatively, J.W. did a much better job for LESS money! The other company used the original, 26y.o., rusted, conduit line and breaker box, and they mounted his unit on non-treated 4"x4"s. You can see the difference. Jeff stopped by the next day to look over the work and assure that my neighbor and I were happy. We are both very satisfied with the work and price.

I have a 1921 Craftsman home that had a furnace from the early 1970's, and no air conditioning. Out here, central AC is a must. Based on their high Angie's List rating, I called JW Heating & Air for an estimate. The owner of the company came out, thoroughly inspected my house, and presented me a detailed plan for installling a central AC system with a new furnace. His estimate included several small details that impressed me with his thoughtfulness - where to place new vents, how to run gas lines and drain pipes, and how long the job would take to do properly. Those are little things, but they showed me that JW Heating and Air pay close attention to detail in their work. After two other estimates - both from highly rated Angie's List companies - I chose JW Heating's bid. His estimate wasn't the cheapest, but it seemed to be the most comprehensive and honest. I've learned that you get what you pay for with contractors, and going with the one who promises to get the job done the cheapest or the fastest leads to sloppy work. Especially since the difference was only a couple of hundred dollars, it was easy to choose the contractor who wanted to do the job properly, instead of rushing through it. It took two and a half days to remove every trace of my old heating system and install the new one. Shawn, the foreman, and his assistant were punctual, friendly, and meticulous. At the end of the day, they didn't leave any mess behind. When some quirks in my house construction necessitated some slight changes to the installation, they contacted me immediately, explained the problems clearly, and had a satisfactory answer to the situation. Overall, my experience was terrific. Everything they promised, they delivered. The blower runs so quietly, it's hard to even tell that its on. Both the heat and the AC work fantastically. When the city inspector showed up for the permits, it took him about 30 seconds to see that everything was installed properly and in compliance with building codes. My wife and I give JW Heating and Air top marks across the board, and an enthusiastic recommendation. We're looking forward to the next heat wave, now!

Excellent first visit with Joe with followup by Jeff, owner. Jeff spent three hours with us (no cost) to go over all our options, equipment, rebates, time lines and workers needed for the job. The workers were all friendly and polite and the work was completed in a few days (including good clean up). After the work was completed, Jeff came to inspect the work his team had done and to make sure we were happy with the work.

Overall, simple and clean. Jeff came out and speced out the work which included enlarging the return, straightening and shortening some of the runs and adding a couple of registers. They have been back for a subsequent room balancing and we'll probably have them back one more time for one final tweak.

I called the office and asked if they installed mini split airconditioners. I explained I purchased one and needed it installed. They said they could do it and we set up an appointment a week later. George showed up on time I showed him where I wanted the unit installed and showed him the unit. He said they usually sell and install mini-splits. They are hesitant to install something they do not sell, but he would get me a price later that day. I called the next day and left a message for George to return my call with an estimate. On Thursday i called again and I was able to talk to him. He apologized for not getting back to me and said they would not install my air conditioner, that they only installed what they sell. He implied that I bought a "stolen product" or a second rate unit. "It is summer, we have a lot of work, we don't need to do this job," was the way he ended our conversation. Very unprofessional.

Exactly as JW told us it would. Arrived in the time they said they would and were done in the time they said they would be done. Also, worked without supervision and cleaned up nicely. Explained in detail cause of the leak and made suggestions for better usage of the A/C unit (what filters to use).

Promised it would take a week and it did. They were nice, quiet (I have an office in the house) and clean. Explained everything they did, even though I am sure it took more time for them to do that. They worked with the electrician to upgrade the power in the house.

A few glitches along the way. Got the original estimate and selected this contractor from 4-others I found on Angies List. During the walk through, we discussed how to get electrical power from the main circuit break box to the actual A/C unit. That required cutting about 10-small holes in the ceiling to run power OVER the rafters. The electricians (outside contractors) got that done. Installers arrived and set up the compressor-condenser, tested all systems and turned it on. The unit was so quiet, I had to step outside to insure it was actually running. The unit cooled the bedroom off quickly and everything was good. 2-days later, when I got home from work, I turned the unit on and only hot air blew out of the unit. Called the company and they sent the crew that had originally installed the unit out the next day. Seemed the refrigerant had somehow leaked out of the lines. They tested every line, connection, fitting, nut, etc., but couldn't find any leak. But they tightened everything AGAIN, re-pressurized the lines and its been working great ever since.

Jeff, the owner, quickly responded to my phone call. He came to the house, inspected the required work, did an area estimation of each room, and proceeded to arrange the estimation of cost and work needed to be done. He explained in detail the restoration of the air system (ducts). An appointment was arranged and low-and- behold; the workmen arrived exactly on time. The work continued over a period of almost 2 days. His crew cleaned all debris. Since then I called him regarding a question regarding a sound in the system, and he will be here within 2 days to check it. Jeff is a professional and I highly recommend him and his workers.

They were very thorough. They gave a detailed estimate. They were neat and careful with their work. I was very pleased with their work.

The owner came himself and did the plan of what we needed. He showed up on time. We are slightly out of his area that he normally concentrates in but he had done our daughter's house and he was more than happy to come over here. He was one of those who if he said he would be there and his workers would be there at eight in the morning, they were here at five to eight in the morning. The workers were probably the best we've had. They were quiet, considerate, and worked well as a team. They were very professional. We hardly knew they were here, except they were coming in and out of our attic. Everything went well and they kept within the time frame.

JW Heating is a case study on how to run a contracting business. The owner, Jeff, is hands on through every step of the process. His quote was comprehensive and thorough. His workers were extremely professional, punctual and perfectionists. A truly rare experience in construction. I cannot recommend them more highly.

We selected JW Heating after interviewing several other contractors. Right from the start we were impressed with Jeff's thoroughness and professionalism. He was prompt and and very detailed about the work that needed to be done. His bid process was very informative, competitively priced and included a lot of different solutions to choose from. There was no pushiness in trying to get the business. He started and completed the project on schedule and did everything exactly as promised. His workers were very polite and took extra care to cleanup after themselves. One of the best experiences I've ever had with a contractor and I would highly recommend him.

Jeff and his crew were extremely professional and a pleasure to work with throughout our project. We got estimates from two other companies as well as JW Heating and Air. Jeff was so much more professional, knowledgeable and courteous than the other two. There was really no comparison. Jeff's attention to detail was evident throughout our project. We had a lot of questions and he took all the time we needed to explain everything in detail. He showed us photos of his previous work, which was extremely helpful. He gave us several options of how to go about the project (none of the other companies we interviewed gave us options). He took into account our specific needs (a quiet system). Our 70 year old home, with a very small attic, presented a tricky installation, and Jeff's team handled it wonderfully. They were on time, considerate, and a pleasure to work with. The work was completed in five days, which was Jeff's original estimate. The new vents, attic access, and intake vent look wonderful; they blend right in. The system works great! Three members of Jeff's crew, Ramon, Martin, and Joe, did an excellent job and were extremely courteous and professional. This is the most pleasant construction project I've ever been involved with.

JW replaced an old furnace for me last year and Jeff mentioned that the oversized air compressor, a 5-ton unit, would likely cycle on and off too frequently and cause premature wear-and-tear on the system. He was right. A year later the system failed. JW replaced the unit with a 4-ton, 2-stage system that is super energy efficient, quieter, and smaller than the old. Tucks neatly into the side pathway of my home and is even green to blend in with the vegetation. JW's guys were professional, friendly and cleaned up the area perfectly. JW's unbiased, straight-forward advice is a rarity these days -- when Jeff visits your home you feel like he's advising you as he would a member of his own family.

All of our A/C ducts are exposed because our house is on stilts. We thought we heard a bird in the vent, so we called our regular A/C service company to take a look. The service tech said that yes, we had a bird in the vent and it would cost $950 to cut the duct, get the bird out and replace the contaminated duct. This seemed very expensive so we called JW Heating & Air to get a second opinion and quote. Our appointment was set for between 12 and 3 pm, but with the understanding that the technician would call when he was actually on the way. The technician, Yurik, was delayed by the previous job and didn't get to our house until almost 5 pm - but it was no big deal since I was waiting for his call anyway. He checked all the ducts very carefully and thoroughly, taking the attitude that he had to see a way something could access the duct before he would recommend any repairs. He didn't find anything. In the end, he recommended that we put some caulk around the ducts where they join with the registers, in order to seal out noise and dirt. He said there was no bird, and if he was wrong we would know in three days because the bird would be dead and the smell would clue us in. That never happened so I guess he was right. We spent $100 for a service call instead of $950 on a repair that wasn't needed. I was really impressed with his thoroughness and honesty and we plan to use this company for all our future service.

I got three estimates from Angie's top three HVAC contractors. Jeff was not the cheapest, but he made me feel the most comfortable about correctly sizing the system to my house and doing it very neatly. Also, Jeff was an absolute joy to talk with and spent LOTS of time on the phone educating me about the fundamentals of heating and air systems. We scheduled the work, accommodating my schedule perfectly. My wife was present during the day for most of the installation. She says that they showed up on time every morning and were very nice and did their best to make changes as she requested them. The install took four days and went very neatly. I was especially pleased at how they cut the access into the attic. I had an existing attic access hole that they cut just a bit larger to get all of the equipment up into the attic. Jeff accommodated every request and they did a great job. We had to call the guys back to straighten a couple of registers that in our opinion weren't straight and I had them straighten the furnace exhaust vent that exited the roof. They fixed all of my complaints and the system works great. AC in the valley is a GOOD thing!

Our crappy A/C finally quit working - it has been an on going problem for us... We called the company who originally installed the system and they came and gave us a quote for a new condenser. We did not feel sure about their quote or choice of replacement equipment, so I checked Angie's List for a well regarded company to give a second opinion. I chose the highly rated JW HEATING and AIR. Jeff Williams, the owner, came out personally to check out our system so he could make the estimate. He explained why the old equipment failed and sent an estimate in writing to us within a few days. We have some unusual ducting and Jeff really researched what would be compatible and work great for us. His estimate was $1100 less than the old company's. He also explained why he would choose different equipment than the old company's estimate as well. ( we couldn't really get a straight answer from the first guys - on anything they were proposing - and they were very crabby to deal with.) Jeff hooked us up with H. Electric Connection (another Angie's List star company - I will leave a report on them separately) and after the electrician's work was done Jeff's fabulous team arrived and in only a few hours they had installed the new condenser and removed the old one. When they tested it, we got colder air and a quicker cooling response than ever before! Our A/C never worked very well in the past, now it's fantastic. The whole experience was a pleasure from beginning to end and we will use JW HEATING and AIR from now on!

We faced the obvious challenges a 100 year old house presented that was not built to accommodate today's modern systems. Jeff worked with me to find solutions and use corners and nooks to get the ducting from the basement to the 2nd floor. I really appreciated that he took my suggestions into consideration when getting into the details (the upstairs return). I was feeling a little uneasy about what I was doing to this old house, and when the big truck showed up and unloaded all of that material and equipment I thought "how is that all going to go in there". Well it did. Jeff and his crew were a pleasure to work with. Jeff was here in the beginning to make sure I was comfortable with what was going to happen. He is a tradesman that understands customer service and takes great personal pride in his work. The crew arrived on time every morning and answered any questions I had, and if something needed tweaking during the process they were accommodating and professional (moving the upstairs thermostat over because I didn't factor in the doorway casing that was yet to be installed). I was amazed that in 1 week the job was done and we were ready to power up. I credit Jeff and his crew for a job well done.

We are brand new, first-time homeowners of a well-preserved 1920 bungalow, so we were nervous about everything that installing central HVAC entailed. Two other companies came out before Jeff, and we were impressed by how thorough his analysis and proposal was. But one of the others was pretty thorough, too, so what set Jeff apart was how confident he was that he would successfully work through the challenges posed by the house. Jeff explained everything clearly and repeatedly, visiting the house at least five times during the sales and work phases of the job. One of our home's challenges was getting ductwork into a part of the house with inadequate attic space. He thought of every possible solution, explained the advantages and drawbacks of each, and didn't lose patience when we changed our mind at the last minute. Joe and Martin, who did most of the work, were capable and courteous. The system works great and we're happy with how everything looks.

I was amazed how punctual Jeff was for the first appointment, incredibly responsive. We got three other estimates, and none of the estimators, displayed the level of knowledge and expertise about our fairly unique installation. Jeff was very clear about exactly where the return air register could be, and careful to explain that the size it would take, which helped us make a more informed decision about it's placement. He walked the whole house with us and made recommendations about where the best airflow would be for the supply registers and worked with us to locate the grills in the least offensive spots on the floor. My first career was as an architect, and I was always frustrated by the lack of attention to detail and care that the trades displayed. The JW crew was very careful and precise in placing and centering the grills. They were an amazingly dedicated, polite and careful crew. They worked hard, the work was complete in 3 days, and the city inspector approved, no problems. After the work was complete, we realized that one register needed it's baffle adjusted, as the air was coming too strongly out of that register. Jeff scheduled the visit quickly and resolved the issue perfectly. I would highly recommend JW Heating and Air. Warning: if you ask them to be there at 7 a.m. the door bell will ring when the second hand hits the 12!

They arrived as scheduled, worked deligently each day, and completed on schedule. We were very satisfied with the entire process.

Jeff, Pres. and owner of the company did a thorough inspection of our really old heating system, then detailed for us his recommendations. Jeff was clear and articulate and provided us with several choices. We finally made our choice and went ahead with the work. Jeff's crew was hard-working, polite, and as unobtrusive as they could be under the circumstances. Jeff constantly stopped by to check up on the progress of the work and dealt with any and all problems. After the work was finished we discovered a problem with the system and Jeff discovered that a pipe sent by a manufacturere was the wrong size. Jeff, always gracious, fixed it immediately at no charge.

Jeff came to give estimate which we accepted (becauise of his personality,very likeable and honest) . Installers came on scheduled day and performed the work in a professional way. They cleaned up every day and everything on the last day. Work was performed on time .Moses and Steve (the installers) did an exceptional job,and very helpful with their suggestions. Now we must see if they live up to their warranties. I believe they will. I would recommend them again.

Jeff was the consummate professional. I had some stressful days and he happened to meet me on one of those, which was a Saturday. So he met me several times on the weekend to accommodate my very hectic schedule. He was extremely patient and understanding during my moving and remodeling, and it made a huge difference. Everyone was coming in at similarly bid costs, but I could tell that Jeff really is passionate about the work that he does. Little did I know how wonderful he was at follow thru too. You don't always think about that until there is a problem. Jeff even helped me out when mentioning a few other trades' mistakes that I was not aware of, but always in a really discrete manner. He is extremely dedicated, professional , and really knows his business. And I interviewed quite a few people since the cost of this item is so high...and I am super picky. He was great.