Fritch Heating & Cooling, Inc

I called Fritsch because I tried another company in Peoria and the service was very poor. People have told me Fritsch is reliable, but pricey, so I decided to give them a shot. I called them and got one of the front desk women, who I have also heard are a pain to deal with, and sure enough they were. I tried to get something scheduled and find out some simply info on how payment would go. It was like pulling teeth. She said they were on "overtime", which of course means nothing to a person who just calls them up, but I have come to understand that Fritsch's employees think the world revolves around themselves (pretty much par for the course in Peoria, IL). Turns out "overtime" actually means "we just charge people more who want service sooner". So I say, I can wait a week to get the "regular" rate. Then I ask about the fee structure (call out, basic cost for refrigerant, hourly fee - typical stuff) - a person might think I just hit this girl in the forehead with an anvil. She could barely answer the questions, and boy, her attitude. Oof. So they give me a scheduled day for a tech to come by, which is the famous Comcast timeframe (sometime in the morning on X day), where morning could be any time from 9AM to noon. So, it's a whole day off of work. They are supposed to call ahead of time. Day arrives and I do get a call "they are coming". Ok, WHEN are they coming. "In a bit". ??? What is a bit? "Before too long". Why in TF do you even bother to call ahead then. Just call at the beginning of the day and say "maybe they are going to show". So eventually the tech shows up. I explain to him (Derrin) that I already had another company out. There is NO GAS in the A/C system because it leaked out (very common situation). There seems to be a leak and I want the system leak tested, and filled. Yes, it's the old refrigerant (R22). This Derrin is trying to give me the ol' run-the-clock time-wasting blabber game, which I've seen a thousand times, but I try to shut him up and get him to do actual work. I watch him for a while, but I have other things to do and I don't like having to babysit grown *** men. Well every time I turn around to do something else, it's like he's doing nothing at all. Screwing around. So I have to watch him and make sure he's actually doing work, but then he tries to give me the ol' Run-The-Clock-for-$125/hr blabber game. What a PITA. So after an hour of this he finds a leak outside on the condenser coil and then tells me "Oh, this is an aluminum coil, and that's kinda rare, so I'm not sure if I can fix this. It's also in a 'tough place' to get to." Hmm.... I know for a fact that aluminum coils have been very common for over 10 years, and in fact the system I have is TWENTY years old, so how in TF does a good A/C tech not know how to braze an aluminum coil leak. Not only that, but he doesn't even have the -very basic- tools do the job (propane torch, solder, and a jar of flux) with him because "those are specialized" (hint: they aren't... you can get them off of Amazon, easily: Alloy Sol). Of course I anticipated this when I was on the phone scheduling this appt, and I asked the girl "What happens if the tech does not have the equipment to do the job... are they going to run to a supply house and charge me $125 an hour while they do an errand that a $10/hour assistant could do? Her answer... "Uhhhhh, I dunno. I'm not a tech. Maybe. I'm not sure. Yes, I guess." And how about refilling the system? Do you evacuate the system first? As in, vacuum the system down? "Oh yeah". And about how long does that take? "Oh, maybe 45 minutes". Now I happen to do all the A/C work on my vehicles, and have for many years, so I'm actually quite familiar with how to maintain and work on A/C systems. I also took a 4 month long college class on metalworking, including advanced brazing techniques on various metals. I happen to know that a system of my size should take about 1 hour 15 minutes to vacuum --the dumb/lazy/poor way--, but only about 5 to 10 minutes if done --the right way-- which means taking out the cores from the valves. So I ask Derrin if he could just take out the valve cores and do it the fact and CORRECT way. "Oh, yeah, I do know about that. Yeah, that is a lot better and faster." Ohhhh, boy. So I talk to the tech briefly about this situation, and then he tells me, "Yeah, I think I shouldn't do this because I'm not sure how to and it's kinda hard to get to. But since there's no gas in the system I could just cut off the lines and flip the coil over and get to it really easily. But I'm not going to do that. I'm going to get my buddy to COME BACK OUT to do it. Maybe. Well, I'll see. I think so." Oh boy. So he looks up a schedule, I guess, and explicitly tells me, yeah someone (Tony or Joseph) will come out tomorrow morning who can and will do it, and they'll come with the materials to do it. "Oh, you're sure?" Oh yeah, someone will come and giteerrrrdunn. "Ok, bud. Let's see". So, next day I wait. No call. Wait, wait, wait. No call. I call Fritsch and they tell me "Oh, you're getting a NEW SYSTEM". Really now?!? That's news to me. "Oh, yes. Your system cannot be repaired." No s**t? That's interesting because your tech who you sent out told me that someone would be coming out this morning, and now it's 12:30. "Oh, well... Do you want to talk to sales about it?" Do I have any other option?..... So I talk to Mary. Now this woman is giving me the full-on Hard-Sell approach. Mary: "Oh, so you need a new system. Let me give you a quote." No, I don't want a new system. The system is fine. It needs the little hole brazed shut and to be refilled. It works fine besides that. You asking me to buy a new car because the tire got a hole in it. "Oh, no, no! The tech said it couldn't be repaired." Nope, he said it couldn't be repaired by him, but that someone else could do it AND they were supposed to come out this A.M. but no-showed on me. "Oh, so you want to go ahead with a new system? We can't get anyone out right now because we're on 'overtime' " Really? So if I want a new system, you can't have anyone put it in? "Oh, no, we can have someone out there for that." That's interesting because you sent a tech out after I waited a week to not be "on overtime" and he could not/would not do a very common repair. Then he told me he'd have someone else come do it and they no-show. Her reply: "Oh, well, he talked it over with the other techs and they decided they COULD NOT do it." Oh, that sure it funny sounding. "So, do you want to replace the whole system?!?" No, I do not. Can you please just send a tech out to fix the system. "Well, I don't think we have time, but I'll see if I can. I'll get someone out there." I already know this is complete B.S. Does anyone show up? Do you really need to ask yourself, at this point? Derrin, then, later in the day, texts me with a profuse apology, but says, "Oh, it can't be repaired". Horsecrap, obviously. I ignore this nonsense. Then he CALLS me. "Hi Derrin. What do you want?" "Oh, heya, so I'm reaaaal sorry about that whole mix up. We just figured the system cannot be repaired because it's so hard to get to and that you should just replace the system [note: with US]. So, yeah, sorry for not getting that other tech out there, but it was pointless. I should have let you know." Oh, is that so, Derrin? Because you told me other techs could do it, and the location wasn't a problem because the system has no gas and it could just be removed, flipped over, fixed, put back in place and reattached, then filled up. In fact, I looked up how to do it on youtube, and it's a really simple repair. Actually probably easier than cutting and sweating a water pipe. "Oh, yeah, I did see something on youtube about that. Yeah, it is pretty easy. Yeah". And how about removing the condenser coil and flipping it over to get to the spot? "Oh, yeah, we could do that." So, Derring, what exactly is the problem here? You are telling me now that it can be repaired easily, but before you were telling me it could not....? "Oh, uhhhhhhhh, well, uhhhhhh, we ACTUALLY decided that since it would cost some money to do it that you'd be unhappy, so it'd be be

Well we are really pleased with it

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They do great. They are very good, very professional. Anytime we have needed them they have been here immediately. They do a tremendous job. They are always on time. They never try to overcharge you for stuff you don't need. The people that come out are always professionally dressed and very courteous. You don't have to worry about them being in your home.

It didn’t cost us a cent. They took care of it, by the time we got back here it was fine. There was no charge, it was all covered under the service agreement. Twice a year they do a maintenance, it’s part of the contract. They come in and make sure all the filters are changed. It’s an on-going relationship.

We have always used Fritch’s. We have a service contract with them and that has saved us so much money. They’ve just been exceptionally generous in that respect. We have had to replace probably within the last 3 years well, well over a thousand dollar in service and equipment and we pay something like $200 and something a year for that service agreement. Well worth it! I would give them an “A+” on price. I wish we could get them again, but we’ve moved.

I wouldn't go to anybody else.

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It's the same service we used for 20 years now.

They had excellent service.

We got no charge because we bought a contract a few years ago that I actually get everything free. And they've always been very good about it. 

They come when they say they will, n time, professionally.

Everyone from the beginning estimate to the end of installation was professional, knowledgable, and courteous. The installation was done on time and as promised. I highly recommend Fritch Heating and Cooling. You will not be disappointed if you choose them for your heating and cooling needs.

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I have been using this company 10 years, any and every time I have had a problem they have always been there to fix it right away! Derek is the only service tech I ask for and he is great!

The technician was excellent. He came out the very same day and had my unit fixed in minutes. He told me what to expect and did not try to sell me another unit. I asked for a fridge magnet so that I will remember to always use this company. Reliable, prompt, kind, trustworthy service.

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We bought a Lennox HCSteam-16 humidifier 11/11/2011. It hasn't worked for an entire season without malfunctioning. It made loud gurgling noises then shut off because of an error code and wouldn't restart without calling for service. It also filled up with lime about half way through the heating season and stopped working (when it wasn't gurgling and shutting off because of the error codes).
We finally found out in the fall of 2014 that it was installed incorrectly. This is after it's been installed by Fritch's men and looked at by Fritch's men at least three to four times a year since 2011. So they have been to look at it about 12-13 times before they figured out it was installed wrong. The last guy hooked it up like it said to do in the manual and it worked...for a while. At least the loud gurgling and error codes finally stopped.
Now it is limed up and quit working about half way through the season...again. Another service call. We had to wait a week after calling to get an appointment. The service tech came out, determined the problem to be a limed up canister, which it does twice a year. Did he bring one with him? No. The tech told me he would be back in a couple days with the part. We have been waiting two weeks with no word from Fritch. I called and was told I need to set up an appointment and it would be a week or more. What happened to the "couple days" I was promised to finish what they started?
I asked for Joe, the owner, to call me and was told he was on vacation for two weeks in Florida. I asked them to have him call me on his cell phone but was told he couldn't do that. I guess his vacation is more important that a customer who spends multiple thousands of dollars with him so he can afford a vacation.
This is not the only service problem we have had with Fritch. Joe sold us a new furnace and air conditioner in 2011. The air conditioner would never cool the house below 83 degrees. It took Fritch multiple service calls--every time the weather required the air conditioner to run--between 2011 and 2014 before they finally figured out the duct work wasn't correct. They would come out three to four times a year and couldn't figure it out. When you install a furnace, don't you look to see that what hooks the furnace to the registers is balanced correctly?
They do this for a living, right? They are professionals and do this daily? Seems they are good at sales but not installation or maintenance.

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Joseph came out to show us his brochures and we picked the units by cost and efficiency.  He did a cursory  measurement of the outside of our house then asked us the sized of our current air conditioning unit.  It was installed but not the furnace and the humidifier because it was summer.  The furnace was not installed until October. Burrrr.  The humidifier later. 
For 4 years we have not been able to get our house below 80 to 82 degrees if the outside temp gets over 90.  For three years we have had service calls where they fiddle with this and that.  Then the temperature goes down and the air conditioner works ok. I was told that we could only expect an air conditioner to cool the house by 10 to 15 degrees at most. Duh! Why do all other air conditioners cool more? Why can't we expect it?
This summer when it hit 90's again I called Joseph and told him to fix it right this time. 
He and a service man came out and looked around.  They told us the temperature at the unit is 10 degrees cooler than the farthest air duct. Air is not getting through the duct work.  Then Joseph had the nerve to tell us the plenum was not made for our type of duct work.  THEY PUT IN THE PLENUM 4 YEARS AGO!  Our duct works looks the same as every other house's duct work that I have seen.
I was told they would have to build a new plenum and would be out in a week.  Two weeks later we called.  Joseph didn't even seem to know what our problem was and we explained AGAIN to him.  Every time we call we go through the whole story OVER AND OVER.  He was going to call back.
I waited a day and I called again.  Joseph said he was pulling people off of jobs on Friday (today) and it would be built in the morning and installed in the afternoon.  We should have someone at the house so they could get in.
Today I waited until 1:30 to call.  Joseph was not in the office today.  Seems I wasn't scheduled for anything today. After going through my story again the receptionist told me to hold. She would check with the guys out back because they were building something.  The guys told her it would take many hours to build and wouldn't be able to install anything today.
Poor receptionist got an ear full.  But I have to say she gave the best service at Fritch.  She told me it was going to be in the 90's Monday and her best advice was to turn the temperature way low before then.  I appreciated that she at least tried to do something but we have tried that and it doesn't work.
If I don't hear from Joseph by Monday I am contacting the State's Attorney. 
It seems that since Mike Fritch left the company and his son-in-law, Joseph, has taken over the business things have gone way down hill. 
I will not do business with them again.

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Called them on Saturday. Asked them to come out as soon as possible during regular hours. They also worked with us on scheduling due to our busy schedules. They came when they said they would.  He quickly determined the Freon had not leaked out and found the compressor was not running due to a failed capacitor. He had one on the truck and quickly replaced it.