Home Comfort Systems Inc

We purchased two Aprilaire humidifiers from Home Comfort Systems in January 2009. One of the LED displays of one of the humidifiers was no longer legible, so we requested that the cover be replaced. After calling to verify which version of the screen we had the date of service, the repair technician showed up within the agreed upon time and resolved the issue in a timely fashion AND despite our original invoice (from January 2009) showing a parts/labor warranty of good for 2 years (which would have expired almost 2 years ago), he thought that the cover of the humidifier as a "part" should have a 5 year warranty, and called to verify that it was still in fact under warranty, and saved us $100. This is my idea of a honest, hardworking vendor that I wish could provide all of our "handyman" services. Definitely recommend this company.

It's not often that a sales person comes to your house and tells you that you don't need what he has to sell. Yet that's what happened last week with Home Comfort Systems. My furnace is 17 years old and for a couple of reasons I thought that it might need to be replaced. I looked on Angie's List and invited two contractors out to give me an estimate. Both "finalists" were very highly rated and I would feel comfortable using either one to replace my furnace if that's what was needed. But the one that stood out was Home Comfort Systems. From a rating standpoint there were 109 reviews and in the summary Home Comfort got straight "A"s across all categories. Not only that but 98% of the reviewers gave them an A rating! And of course the comments in the reviews were very complimentary about the firm from virtually all perspectives. So it was easy to include them on my short list. The founder and owner of Home Comfort, Steve Bilica, came to my house, looked at my furnace and then we sat down and he gave me several options before telling me that at this point he didn't think my furnace really needed to be replaced. He also gave me a couple of suggestions for things that I could do that probably would fix the problem that caused my initial concern in the first place. We agreed that I would keep an eye on it and see how things stood next spring and if need be we could revisit the idea of replacing the furnace then. But for now, he said, just save my money. Again, how often do you run across someone with this kind of integrity and genuine consumer focus? Needless to say, if and when I do have furnace or A/C problems you know that I'll be calling Home Comfort Systems. For now, you can add my "A" to their rating scorecard.

PROS: -Steve Bilica, the owner, came out to the house to quote the job, not a salesman that you will never see again. -Steve came out at the beginning of the job to start his workers off. This means you can confirm all the work that was discussed in the quote with him and his workers. And he can explain to his workers any details that he promised. Definitely a selling-point compared to just a salesman. -Steve made his case with good reviews in Chicago magazine and on local TV news (Fox Chicago). Home Comfort Systems was one of the top rated on both surveys. He shows you the articles during his quote visit. So he can back up his claims. You don't have to just take his word for it. You can research it yourself. -Home Comfort Systems uses American Standard brand, which is one of the top-rated manufacturers. (The same manufacturer makes Trane brand equipment.) -Seems knowledgeable and passionate about HVAC business. Was able to adequately size equipment without over-specifying. -The Angie's List reviews speak for themselves. I agree with the ones written before I posted this review. You can get a general picture of the company from these reviews. -Steve is an honest and straight-forward businessman, trying to make an honest living. -Does not use subcontractors. All his own guys are doing the work. -We got 5 quotes, and this was one of the lowest. -The 2 workers were on-time both days. They were friendly and answered any questions. Showed us how everything worked and showed us how the new thermostat worked. -Explained what we would need for the Nicor rebate. Gave us the barcodes from the boxes. The invoice was written in a way that it was easy to submit for the rebate. -Did not ask for any money before all the work was 100% completed. -Steve made a follow-up phone call a few days after the work was done to make sure everything was still working OK. -The workmanship was great. The installation is definitely top-notch. CONS: -The only thing to improve would be the quote sheet itself. It does not clearly state which model is actually being quoted. Compared to other competitors which do spell it out clearly, this could be improved. But the quote sheet did clearly state the price for each item, along with the warranty terms, payment terms, the brands that he uses, and Steve's personal cell phone number. So overall it was a good quote sheet. The problem was he was the first of 5 quotes we got, and by the time we got back to comparing quotes, I could not remember exactly which model number in the brochure that he quoted us, so I had to call and ask. I would have felt better having it in writing. CONCLUSION: I would definitely recommend using Home Comfort Systems for HVAC work. They use good-quality equipment and professional workmanship. Their price was fair and their quote and terms were straight-forward. I would definitely use them again.

Extremely friendly, knew what he was talking about, and had good pricing. In the end, I ended up going with another contractor due to the restriction of contractors that you can use for a Comed/Nicor Energy loan. I wish I was able to use the services of Home Comfort Systems - I'm pretty sure I would have had a better quality job than what was actually performed.

They showed up on time and finished the work over three days and were as neat as could be expected.

I was very impressed with Steve's service. He was willing to take creative approach to solve my problem. It was done in a timely and professional manner. The rest of the summer was very hot and the A/C unit worked flawlessly. The original company wanted to sell me an air conditioner, and never see me again. Steve wanted to help me with my problem and he did it at a very reasonable price.

From the initial call, Mike was one of the most honorable, knowledgable and considerate contractors I've ever meet. Before coming out, he asked a series of questions about my lack of A/C. When he found out my filter was dirty and outside pipe was frozen, he first had change the filter and me run the fan with the A/C unit off to defrost everything. Many other contractors would have just come out and hit us with a service charge. When that didn't work out, he came out immediately the next morning - which was a relieve because our house was approaching the 90's. I'll add that is was a Sunday. He quickly found out the evaporator coil was bad. After agreeing to move forward with him on the repair, he waived the weekend service charge. He promptly got the part and had it in within hours of receiving the part. Just this week, we started having problems with the A/C not blowing cold air. He came by promptly and we found out the fuse for the outside A/C had got tripped. Again, he didn't charge us. I think he actually should have charged us for stupidity. :-) In any event, finding a contractor that does great work, is incredibly honest and has fair rates is very hard to come by these days. However, Mike delivered on all fronts! You will not go wrong with Home Comfort!!

After getting the run around from a nuimber of HVAC contractors, I found Steve @ Home Comfort Systems. His knowledge, skill, and expertise are second to none! At several times, when I OFFERED to pay him to perform a service, he declined, telling me that he would rather check out my furnace, evaluate it, and understand what needs to be done BEFORE he suggests any action to be taken. His honesty and business acumen are top notch which is incredible given the current state of the contractor business. His professionalism EASILY saved me over $1500 from another contractor who recommended work to be done at rip off rates. If you doubt me, call Steve, and talk with him about the problems you are having. Still not sure? then ask him to provide the contact number for Ron.... I have given him the approval to provide this. I'll be happy to tell you all about the nonsense I ran into, and how Steve's expertise and pragmatic approach are a credit to his business and to the industry in general! Ron

First of all, when Steve came to look at the job, it was obvious he wasn't interested in it because he said he would only "hang sheet metal". But he still said he would give us an estimate. He never sent it. We haven't heard from him since. I would not recommend this contractor at all.

Right on schedule, an excellent product that completely balances our a/c and heating. Extremely pleased with the outcome!

My 22 year old unit was not working properly and I called on the weekend to have someone come out. Steve came on Tuesday and I told him I would like the unit replaced. He called later and said they would come on Wednesday to install it. It was very convenient because they have an afternoon crew and they came a little after 7 pm. The installers worked very hard and were finished around 9 pm. They were very skilled and did a great job. My only issue was that the installer then asked for a check and I said I was going to pay by credit card, since Angie's List says they accept credit cards. The installer said they stopped taking credit cards this year, and he also said I was the second customer that day who thought I could pay that way. I was shocked and spent the next two hours deciding how I was going to raise $3,000 in cash quickly. Steve and I never discussed payment options so I guess shame on me for not asking. I just assumed that the information on Angie's List was correct. I am also surprised that it hasn't been changed even after I notified Angie's List of this.

Everything went well. Smooth. Professional (well, there was a problem closing my door, but I'll blame the wind as the guy went in and out of my home). The new system works great. Only problem is I still don't get my upstairs cooled off well, but that is a ducting problem and that cost another 3K so it will have to wait....but, I'd definately hire these folks again. Recommended them to my parents.

Mike came out and checked out old unit and found out that compressor was shot and being that the unit was almost 10 years old I decided to replace it. then mike called his brother steve to set up a date to put in a new unit.Being that this was in the middle of a heat wave they still managed to get me setup with appointment even thought they were booked solid with calls.For a smaller company they treat there customers great and I will pass that on for sure.

Originally they came in the middle of a heat wave to fix a broken AC. Our unit was over 14 years old and did not want to put any more money in repairs. He did not take any money for the quick visit and said just give his brother a chance to bid on the replacement. His price was very fair and theyhave the best warranty in the business. Competitors only have one year labor or ten years labor but only if you buy the expensive maintenance through them. Home's warranty was ten years parts and labor with no gimmicks. I thought they were very professional.

They came about 8pm. The phone diagnosis was accurate. Fixed the A/C in about 10 minutes. Price was less than what was said on the phone. This is a company I'd fully recommend using and will use again if I need this kind of work. Side note. I asked if this failure meant that I should be planning on getting a new unit. I was told that this is just one of those things that happens to units old and new. No attempt to up sell. I REALLY appreciated that!

Everything was RIGHT from the beginning from when Steve the owner came to home to offer a quote through the install process. All interaction and activities were competent, professional, and well done at a very competitive price. Steve knows his business and the needs of the customer. No hype, aggressive upsell or pushy transactional approach but a very consultative and honest desire to win your business. The installers, Charlie, Mike and Vic were on time, very knowledgable and efficient. Great service and followup. One of the BEST contracted work experiences we have had in the past 25 years living in Naperville.

It was very good. They were professional. I will use them again.

His men were punctual and professional. They were efficient workers and all questions were answered. Steve checked in too to make sure everything was running according to plan. He made sure I was comfortable with our payment arrangement.

I have used them for about 12 years for all of my heating and air conditioning needs.

The owner came a day after I contacted him by phone. He did a quick survey of our house and presented what he thought was our best option. After he answered all of my questions, I agreed with him on our best option. He was very knowledgable, polite, and explained everything thoroughly. The price was very fair, we had quotes from other highly rated Angie's List A/C providers, but Home Comfort systems was MUCH more reasonable. Also, I should note that the equipment was American Standard, which was the top rated by consumer reports in terms of reliability. Another plus, the unit was installed the day after the price quote, even in the midst of a hot spell. We did have one issue of the unit developing ice on the very first day of use in 95 degree weather. After a call he had me check the air filter (which was not changed at the time of installation). The filter was VERY clogged and old, and I replaced it and turned the unit back on w/ a new filter...this fix worked perfectly. Although I wish they would have advised me on the filter issue at the time of installation, the problem was quickly remedied with the phone call. The owner even called me back later in the day to make sure the issue was resolved. The installer was very polite, laid down a covering to protect our carpet as he went in and out, and helped me to move the old A/C unit's pad. They also hauled away the old unit for free. All in all, I do not regret using Home Comfort Systems at all, from what I can tell, I got a great unit, with great service, at substantial discount to other reputable competitors. Would highly recommend.

Home Comfort Systems had repaired our A/C unit once before as well as our furnace twice. This time the compressor had died and it was time to replace the unit. I was thinking a more expensive one but the owner, Steve, recommended a less expensive model since the extra efficiency gets wasted this far north. i.e. a very high seer unit is worth it in Florida, not so much in Chicagoland. It was refreshing not to get steered to a more expensive unit. Steve also recommended the zoning system (~3500). I had seen it on the Home Comfort System website and was intrigued. Our basement is usually too cold whereas the upstairs is usually too warm. The two story entrance foyer doesn't help. They installed a 4 zone system which is pretty ingenious. It uses the current ducting and controls airflow via inflatable baffles (or something). Now we can set different temperatures for the basement, first floor, master bedroom, and other 3 bedrooms. It is pretty nice because now the upstairs and first floor can be at the same temperature. He gives a 30 day guarantee where he'll take the system out if you decide you don't want it (at least that is my understanding) but we'll be keeping ours. Just having the ability not to "waste" A/C into the basement makes it worth it. They also ended up removing the 2 registers that the basement had and replacing them with 5 that were more evenly spread. Doubt they'll see much use in the summer but they will make the basement much more livable in the winter by more evenly distributing the heating. That change was sort of a bonus that I wasn't expecting. I wholeheartedly recommend Steve and his company for any a/c or heating needs.

The owner, Steve, come to my house and explained all my options in great detail. I had had two other companies in for estimates and Steve explained things far better than anyone else. He also solved two problems that the other two companies said were unsolvable. Another company claimed to be giving away free furnaces but Steve’s price still came out to be within a few dollars of the price with the free furnace, AND he did two additional pieces of work (moving the air return and added two new ceiling vents). On the install date, Steve had some sick employees, so he came in and did a lot of the work himself. He and the rest of the guys did a great job cleaning up and absolutely everything Steve promised is exactly what was delivered. Steve’s guys were friendly, which is important when you’re spending 2 full days with them. Steve guarantees his work and I know for certain that I could call him at any time and he would take care of any issue I might have. He is actually interested in having a positive relationship with his customers, not just making a buck – a VERY rare quality today, and very much appreciated by me. Thanks Steve and all of Home Comfort.

I had three quotes for essentially identical equipment, one from the biggest company in the metro area, one from a middle-sized HVAC firm, and the third from Home Comfort Systems, clearly the smallest company. All three companies were top rated on Angie's list. In developing the bid, I worked with Steve, the co-owner, who spent about 90 minutes with me discussing our "comfort" issues and walking around the house. Steve was knowledgeable about his trade but also a straight-shooter in talking what would and what would not add value to a project like mine, and where upgrades were available, what the payout time was for the incremental investment. Steve's bid was the lowest of the three. I had similar levels of confidence in the medium sized company and Home Comfort Systems, thus I went with the lower bid. The installation went very smooth. Steve and his two installers arrived right on time on my scheduled day, about 8:45 a.m. and the guys finished about 5:30 p.m. The quality of the install looks very good on all counts. They protected the basement carpeting with dropcloths and did a complete cleanup job after the project. The installers were friendly and kept me appraised of their progress during the day. Bottom line - Home Comfort Systems delivered the spec'ed equipment and performed all the work they represented to me ahead of time, all in a high quality, workman-like fashion. Their price was very competitive if not the lowest of my quotes and I felt a high level of accountability with the owner and his people .... the benefit of working with a small company. I am very pleased with the work and would highly recommend Home Comfort Systems to others.

They were absolutely fantastic. They were prompt, courteous and I will definitely use them again in the future.

This is an excellent company that produced an outstanding experience. I dealt primarily with Steve Bilica. He is a polished professional with a friendly and personal approach. He's got great knowledge of HVAC and a clear and honest approach to telling you just what you need and what you don't and exactly why. Their pricing was the best of the multiple quotes I received, and my level of confidence in the company as I selected them was the highest. This isn't always the case as you sometimes select a lower quote and wonder about what you're getting, but in this case it was an easy call. Steve gave me outstanding information that helped me decide: -Why/why not to re-line the chimney when switching to a high efficiency furnace while still having the water heater vent through the chimney -Where the best bang for the buck is on comfort between two stage furnaces and variable speed -How to think about fancy furnace filter options and whether or not to bother -What brands to consider and what the differences are -What maintenance is really necessary in the first 5 to 10 years and what isn't -Explained some new systems to do multi-zoning in the house with one furnace etc. etc. I asked those questions of everyone who quoted and got some pretty inconsistent advice that didn't always make sense. Steve cleared it all up in a way that was easy to trust because it just plain made sense. Our furnace went out right at Christmas, and Home Comfort Systems not only responded promptly, but was willing to temporarily replace our blower to get us heat over the holidays while waiting for them to begin the real install - at no charge! He first installed a booster to the existing blower, but that wasn't working right so he came back that same day and put in the temporary blower as soon as we called him. Outstanding. Frankly, we were blown away by what a pleasure the process was and how fair the pricing was. I've had a couple of "opportunities" to replace HVAC over the years and this was by far the easiest and best experience. I would recommend these guys to anyone and everyone without hesitation. Do yourself a favor and call them.