American Air & Heat Inc

My A/C unit was installed in May, 1999 by American Air & Heat. I have had periodic maintenance on my system every year up until 2010, then twice a year thereafter because I wanted to be sure my A/C was working all the time. I have been told for the past two years that I need to consider replacing my system due to age and reliability. Plus there's been an air quality issue that's been going on for a few years. 
Jason, the technician arrived on time and performed the periodic maintenance. He showed mt the inside unit and how much mold was surrounding all the vital parts including the blower and the coils. After seeing all of that I decided it was time to replace the system. I need to do this for a few reasons. One was that my existing system is working, but it's on borrowed time. Another major factor is that we are breathing unclean air and I am concerned about quality of life.
We sat down and looked at all my options and financing and we agreed on getting the system replaced. I was so excited that Angies List offered a $150 discount coupon off A/C installation. Thank You Angies List! Also, the cost of the service call was waived because I am having a new A/C unit installed. I will be writing another review soon after the new system is installed and running for a little while. Stay tuned for the next review.

This company installed the unit 2 years ago. I have had difficulties with the company since the first day of installation. It took multiple visits to get the unit and thermostat installed and operational. There was no consideration given for the multiple times I had to take off of work for this to be done. Last year's annual service appointment was rescheduled by the company the day of service after I'd made arrangements to be off work. When the tech did come to the rescheduled appointment, he was asking if I really used all those tools in my garage because he could really use them. When I said I did, he was incredulous that I could name a function for wire strippers then said "excuse me". This year, the service appointment was rescheduled again. I had delayed going out of town for my father's birthday because it had taken 2 months to get the appointment. The person that called me to rescheduled literally hung up on me after I expressed my frustration with the reschedule. I was unsure if they would actually come or not. They did come within the scheduled time frame. It was, unfortunately, the same tech as last year. He performed the service and gave the suggested sell of UV cleaning. When I didn't respond, he asked in a condescending tone, "You're OK breathing all of that in?". I simply replied, "It is what it is." He left. He called a bit later to let me know he left his tools here and to leave them where they are so he can come back to get them. An hour after that, I heard periodic dripping. I couldn't find the source in the kitchen or close bathroom. Turns out, the AC was overflowing and had gotten water around the handler and on the floor in my utility room. Thankfully I was home and could shut off the unit. I'm not sure why the overflow safety valve didn't shut off the unit as I was told would happen when the unit was purchased. I called the company and he did return. He flushed the drain line then asked what a comfortable temperature was for the house. I said it is on a schedule so he could just hit the schedule button. He didn't respond to that and instead used the manual adjustment to raise the temperature. They have to turn down the unit to 65 to test it and he had not reset/raised the thermostat. It apparently overworked the unit. 
I used this company because one of my friends had used them and had a positive experience. I have had the opposite. I only used them for annual service the last two years because I have an extended warranty with them I got with the installation. Now the unit is making a loud sound when turning off - similar to a loud washing machine changing cycles. I do not plan to call this company to get it looked at - and shouldn't need to after it was just serviced a month ago. I joined Angie's List specifically so I could leave a review. I'm glad some customers have had a positive experience with this company. I wish I was one of them.

John arrived right on time.  I explained the symptoms to him, and he got to work right away on diagnosing the problem.  He took the front panel off of the air handler, and instantly recognized multiple potential issues.  He pointed out some rust and corrosion on the evaporator coil, and condensation beading.  He told me that this is an indicator of a leak in the evaporator coils.  He said that it would be very expensive to take the whole evaporator coil out and find and fix the leak, and even if we opted to do that, it would only carry a 1 year warranty, so we would probably be better off just replacing it with a brand new one which would have a 10 year warranty.

He also noted that there was mold in the system, though he never said the world ?mold?...  I suppose for legal / liability reasons.  He would use phrases like "begins with ?m? and is really ?old?.?  He took the time to explain how it can grow, and explained that it will be expensive to take the blower and everything out of the air handler and clean it - and even if we do that, it will just come back unless we purchase an "air cleaning" system, possibly coupled with a UV light to prevent future growth in the air handler, as opposed to using just a paper filter like we currently do.

So then we went outside to look at the compressor.  He hooked some gauges up to measure the pressure levels.  He said that they didn't seem right, and he wanted to do a test.  So he closed a valve which should draw all of the refrigerant into the compressor, and if everything is operating correctly, the gauge readings should drop to 0.  Well the gauges didn't drop to 0 as quickly as they should, which led him to deduce that the compressor valves are shot.  He explained that those can't be replaced, and told us we need to buy an entirely new compressor.

So then he sat us down to go over our options.  He said we could pay $5,000+ to repair our existing 10 year old equipment, but that would only carry a 1 year warranty on the repaired parts, and there's a strong chance we'll have to dump more money into it, since our system is 10 years old, and systems only last an average of 8 - 12 years.  So he strongly recommended that we replace the entire system.

He showed us the various options which ranged from $7,500 (14 SEER) to $10,500 (16 SEER) ? and these prices were after their "discounts".  I felt sick to my stomach at the sound of this.  I do not know anything about A/C systems, and had no idea if these prices were reasonable or not, so I did not feel comfortable making any commitments at that moment, without doing further research and getting a 2nd (and even a 3rd) opinion.

John did not want me to do other research, and pretty much guaranteed that I will find other contractors for cheaper, but insinuated that they cut corners and "you get what you pay for" and if we want it done "right" - we will want to pay American Air and Heat to do the work for us.

Well I ultimately opted to do my own independent research, and boy and I glad that I did.  I had another company come out first thing Monday morning.  I didn't tell them about my dealings with American Air and Heat, and wanted to let them do their own troubleshooting process, and see what they told me.  They looked at the air handler and said that the evaporator coils were fine.  They said that the rust is normal for a 10 year old system, but they saw no indication of any leaks.  They even used a refrigerant detection tool, and scanned all over the evaporator coils, and said that there was NO indication of any type of leak whatsoever.  Why didn't John have or use a tool like that, if he was convinced there was a leak?

Then he poured water down the drain, to flush it out, and adjusted the drain overflow sensor, which was not installed in the correct position.  Then he put a chemical tablet which will help keep it clean.  He wiped down the entire inside of the air handler, and sprayed a chemical which he said is like a pesticide for any type of growth in there.

Then we went outside and he hooked gauges up to the compressor and let it run for a while.  He thought that the pressure levels looked a little off, so he took the electrical panel off of the compressor.  (John never looked inside the compressor.)

So while he was looking INSIDE the compressor at the electrical components, he noticed that it's a 2 stage system, and said that explained the odd pressure levels.  The system was only in the first stage, which had a compression ratio of about 2 to 1.  He said that?s normal for this type of system, and when the system kicked into the 2nd stage, the compression ratio went to 3 to 1, which is also normal.  He said that there is NO indication that anything is wrong with the compressor valves, or that there is a leak on the system in any place whatsoever, based on the gauge readings.

He then took readings of the line temperatures (which John did NOT do), and he took readings of the current flowing through the various electrical lines, and voltages on various lines.  He noted that the system amperage was pretty high, at around 23 Amps.  He also noted that the capacitor was bulging, which is a sign that it's about to go.  He took readings on the capacitor, and deduced that it was shot.  So he replaced it with one that he had in his truck, and showed me the difference.  The amperage of the system dropped down to 17 Amps, which he said should make a difference on our energy bill.

So I paid that guy $160 to replace a capacitor, and he cleaned the inside of the air-handler and flushed out the drain system - and said we should be good to go.  We did tests and everything seemed to be working just fine.

I am left to believe that American Air and Heat are either not very competent or not very honest - but I am extremely glad that I did not purchase a brand new system through them.  Ours is purring like a kitten now, and we should get a few more years out of it, thanks to the other company, who I will be using for all of my A/C service needs from now on.

They are very good. Yearly, we pay $189 for the contract. They're very reliable and they're always responsive to a call. The technicians are always knowledgeable. I would use them in the future.

They were prompt, but sometimes they try to talk me into buying extra. It is not high pressure. We have used them for many years and we have not had any problems with them.

My husband has been using AA&H for a few years now, but I noticed each time they come out their recommendations for "necessary" services run in the $1,000 range.  We have a service plan which gives us regular HVAC inspection and servicing every 6 months, plus 10% off parts.  The service plan is $185.00 per year.  We are relatively new to Angie's list and were not members during the prior service appointments. 
During today's inspection I asked that they check the air handler coils due to a mildew smell eminating from that area.  As suspected, they are filthy (we have only been here a short while - prior owners of the home apparently were inadequate in their maintenance/filter changes per tech).  I asked the tech to give a quote on cleaning the coils and blower and expressed interest in a UV light system to prevent future microbial growth.
I have complaint about the prices this company charges.
$789.00 just to clean the coils and blower, higher because it's an A-frame coil, and then $1,575 for the UV light system with an electrostatic filter!  He recommended replacing a capacitor and a syre(?cant read the handwriting well) switch (it's something outside) - total quote all together was $2,654.10, and that's with a "discount"!  I almost had a heart attack! 
When I complained about the pricing and advised of my intent to seek competitive quotes, the tech told me no company would give me a phone quote. Knowing that is untrue, I went on Angie's list & called the company with the most A ratings and got an immediate phone quote for most of the items.
I have an appointment with the competitor tomorrow, they gave me a phone quote for $525 to clean the coils and blower (and advised it was the same whether or not the coils are an A-frame coil), plus they will waive their $59.00 service call if they are going to do the cleaning, plus a 15% discount for being an angie's list memeber.  They also offer a yearly service plan, I'll be talking to them about that as well as the necessity and pricing of the other items AA&H recommended.
American Air & Heat has just lost our business due to their greed.

I found them on Angie's List. They are pretty much on top of the list; I looked at the responses of people that had used them before. They seemed to a good job, and I am happy with their service. It was good. The price was good.

We have been using them for around twenty years. They are prompt and courteous. Their prices are very comparable! I really trust their services.

They are very good. I have been using them for over twenty years. They are efficient and do exactly what they say they will do. They are very professional.

DID NOT HAVE THEIR SERVICE PERIOD.

Both times, American Air and Heat responded that "at the time of the inspection, the unit WAS working"  Well, I knew that...cold air was coming out. The purpose of the inspection is preventitive!  I find it VERY SUSPECT that TWO times after an annual inspection, we had two major incidents less than two weeks later. 
The first time when the fluid pump broke, all of the coolant leaked through my walls and floors causing over $2500 in damage to my home.  Thank GOD for homeowners insurance because American Air and Heat sure did not take responsibility or stand by their work.
The second time was just recently.  I know...shame on me for staying with this company.  I was too lazy to switch to more reliable company.  The second time, eight days after a yearly inspection in which everything looked great, the thermostat broke.  I had to pay for an "after hours service call" ($150) to be told that the thermostat was bad.  Suspicious timing considering the inspection was just a few days prior.  The technician replaced the thermostat ($400) and was on his way. 
Yesterday when I came home, the thermostat was broken AGAIN.  I called the 800 number (answering service) who had a tech guy call me.  He told me that there was no way he could come out that night because he had three more calls to make that night. 
He assured me that I would be seen the first thing in the next morning.  When I called today to see what time I could expect a technician,, dispatch told me that my "first thing in the mornning appointment" was scheduled to be between 1 and 5 pm. So what does this mean ...hours off work to wait around for a repairman whose work is NOT guaranteed and will probably break again prior to him leaving my driveway.
I cannot wait to see how this problem is finally resolved, but I can tell you what, I will NOT be lazy THIS time.  American Air and Heat is not going to continue with my business. I caution you before you try to use this company.

Todd was very personable and professional.  He explained everything he was doing what costs were/were not associated with the service and the details of the service contract to both my 85yr old mother and myself.  When he discovered that there was a problem with the outside unit and it was not covered by the service contract, He contacted the property maintenance person and reported exactly what the problem was and it was quickly resolved.  I was very impressed by his knowledge and ablility to explain technical AC things to me in a way I could understand.  My father was an Air Conditioner/refridgeration engineer and before Todd and American Air and Heat came along I had no need to understand these things.  I asked for his card and called American Air and Heat, spoke with Arlo, also very personable and pleasant and signed up for the Energy Savings Agreement for my central Air Conditioning system. 

They've been great for us.  We have a contract with them so they come two times a year and do a tune up for us.  They always do a good job.  We had one emergency that we needed them for our air conditioning and they came at about midnight for me.  Their price wasn't too bad actually.  The workmen that come always cover their feet when they come in the house with those dust booties.  They are always very clean and very courteous.  They always give me an appointment that works for me and they are always on time.

They created an air duct so the air could get in in one of my rooms. They were wonderful and provided excellent service. I would use them again if there was another problem with my air conditioner.

I have been using American Air & Heat for over 10 years. I always get professional quality service and from all the technicians that come to the house. Their office staff is great as well. Each time I call to set up an appointment I always get a caring professional to assist me. They always call the day before to confirm the appointment.

We had not used American Heat & Air services in a few years.  A mailer with a promo arrived in our mail so we decided to give them call for an A/C issue and semi-annual inspection. 
Called American Heat & Air on Wednesday (12/12)  afternoon and technician was here at 9a sharp Thursday. Their technician was very prompt and professional.  Here's where the issue starts...
After 38 minutes and $89 check the tech advised that our condensation line is connected to our drain and therefore it is a plumbing problem. He did clean the air filter and  pour a solution to try and dissolve the clog in the condensation line.  Within a few hours we received a "Customer Satisfaction Call" from Homer.  I advised him I will give feedback once I hear from the plumbers and see if our insurance or HOA needed to get involved.  Started calling plumbers to get someone out ASAP. ALL three plumbers said the A/C company should have done the work of clearing the line. 
Trying to give American Heat & Air a chance to correct the issue I called back this morning while I had a plumber here. Homer answered the phone and basically said the plumber should do the work.  Homer did not know he was on speaker phone and the plumber jumped in and corrected him.  Homer said the could do the work but "the type of work you're asking for is expensive." We asked if their company could do the work why didn't the tech give me a quote.  Plus why would you give a quote for something you do not do? Finally after an verbal exchange and Homer telling me he was trying to control himself (I guess from yelling at me or swearing???) I was told the lead technician would come out. I admit I raised my voice at him and said the word "d***"  once but never called him a name or disrespected Homer.  I was frustrated, have a teething baby and still my problem was STILL not solved.  They were basically passing the buck. When Homer said the manager or owner (someone in authority) would call be back I said "Great" and hung up the phone.  At that point I was upset and talking to Homer was not getting anywhere.  Homer called back about 10 minutes later and advised they would not charge me and their company would not meet our needs.
Needless to say I called another A/C company on Angie's List and they are on their way to fix the issue.  I even read them the description I had American Heat & Air write out (thank goodness we were smart enough to have their tech put their error in writing on their letterhead) and the agreed just as the three plumbers did that American Heat & Air dropped the ball.  It is really sad American Heat & Air cared about their employee Homer having to control himself  with a customer than a manager or someone of higher authority trying to help us.  All it took was a phone call and sending out someone with more experience.  I will NEVER recommend American Heat & AIr.  I have also written a letter to our HOA and am posting a letter of my horrible experience with American Heat & AIr.  We have over 100 condo and townhome units. 
*There is nothing American Heat & Air can type as a response that will explain away their error,  horrible customer service and lack of responsibility.  Homer needs some training because he is costing American Heat & Air money and customers.  The money we would have paid you is now going to your competitor.  Good job Homer! 

As I stated above . . . poor, poor, poor!

Excellent technician service. Came out, dx the problem, advised repair and had it promptly working for our tenants.  The technicians communication with us was by far the best ever.  Also, recommendations were cost effective and not trying to rip you off.    Office staff unfortunately, left a little to be desired, but quality of work and promptness well worth the call and having to deal with the staff.

Installation was quick, smooth, and very professional.

The technician quoted us nearly 5 times the internet price on the part.  The total estimate with labor came to 7 times the part.  I asked the tech about the pricing and he packed up and left as if he was busted in a channel six investigation.  I never received an acceptable explanation and now they refuse to service us.  WATCH OUT FOR THIS COMPANY AND GET SEVERAL QUOTES.
We got our problem fixed for a third of what this company was quoting us.  It took the other technician less than 30 minutes to install the part.

see above

We were having a huge birthday party, and a few hours before the guests were to arrive our AC stopped working. American Air was the only company that was able to respond to my crisis right away. The office was great, they went out of their way to get a service man to my house before our party. They sent Wayne out, he was GREAT! He explained everything to us in great detail and was able to get our unit back up and running right away. He even stayed for an extra hour, at no charge, to make sure the air conditioner was working correctly. American Air and Heat saved the day.

I loved my entire experience with American Air & Heat and highly recommend them to everyone I know.  I was in desperate need of help about a month ago when my a/c decided to stop working.  I wasn't to sure on which company I was going to choose or how I was even going to afford something like this but, I knew in Florida you really don't have a choice to go with out air.  I did talk to several different a/c companies and overall the customer service I received from American Air & Heat from the begining just made me feel like I was dealing with family.  I felt like they were looking out for my best interest and not just trying to make a buck.  They sent out a rep to my home who after accessing the situation explained several different options I had to choose from.  I was able to be empowered as a customer and decide what I wanted for my home.  The unit I decided to choose came with a dynamic uv oxidizer which is just great for an allergy suffer like myself. I highly recommend anyone looking into this product if you have any sort of allergies or if you just want better air quality in your home.  I also purchased added inullation for my attic to keep it cooler in my house during those summer months.  I was also given the option of financing the purchase as well which was a lifesaver in itself. 
Everytime I spoke with an employee from American Air & heat they were always so professional, polite and courteous.  Every employee I met in person at my home from the rep to the installers were all on time, dressed professional and very respectful.  I know it can be scary as a female to let anyone in your home but, these men were complete professionals. Not one issue and completly satisfied with the product I purchased. My electric bill has gone down since the install as well.  I hope this helps make your decision making process easier.  Good luck!

Once we needed more than standard maintenance and repair, they have not been helpful.

They have overlooked the fact that a person could see through the AC closet into the attic.  Two years ago, we had ridge vents installed, and then you could see through the attic into the outdoor sky.  We never noticed it, because honestly I don't like looking in the closet - I try to believe the contactor will do it - but another contractor did notice.  It has been like this for 16 years of annual maintenance.  I suspect this might be why the unit failed to cool the house off - in fact the temperature would rise on a hot day with the AC on.

When they came out to fix it, no one came to look over the job and see what needed to be done.  They stuck tape and mastic up and created some type of ceiling and closed off the return plenum without taking measurements.  I called and told them the size of the remaining return, which they agreed was inadequate, and they came the next day and tore out the return plenum.  Yes, just tore it off and left tape and mastic edges.

I requested measurements be taken to figure out how to make this system operate more efficiently - we have several issues including mold, odor, too much air out and in.  They sent a nice man out who gave me some suggestions to move the thermostat, add another supply to shunt off excess air, but no measurements were made to see if these would work.  I was supposed to call someone else to talk to about getting more help, but I don't have confidence that this is the right place to get help.

When I called to cancel the last year of my three year maintenance contract, first I was told they had to deduct the cost of work I'd already had done for the two years.  I didn't agree, so they said they would call me back.  They did call back and they did refund that last year.  But after 16+ years, I was quite surprised that no one asked why I wanted to cancel.

We were happy with them.  We found them through Angie's List.  We've used them before.  They do our maintenance and then they had to do the replacement of the air conditioning unit.  I would recommend them.