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AJ Michaels

Electrical for Home Addition or Remodel - Install, Electrical for Home Addition, Electrical Wiring or Panel Upgrade,

About us

A. J. Michaels AC, Heating and Home Performance has been serving greater Baltimore and Annapolis since 1978. Long recognized for contributions to energy efficiency measures in HVAC, and winner of multiple awards from Carrier, the Department of Energy and BG&E, AJ Michaels is expert in all heating and cooling applications. We’re also specialists in making your home healthier by improving your ductwork, reducing dust, purifying your air and killing viruses. And, we offer more rebates and discounts than competitors. See us for increased home comfort and happiness!

Business highlights

Emergency services offered
47 years of experience

Services we offer

Residential & commercial air conditioning-maintenance, repair & installation. Heating. Plumbing. Electrical systems. Home performance. Duct sealing. Bathroom remodeling.

Amenities

Emergency Services

Yes

Free Estimates

Yes

Accepted Payment Methods

  • CreditCard
Reviews
4.5125 Reviews
Number of StarsImage of DistributionNumber of Ratings
5
78%
4
9%
3
5%
2
2%
1
7%
Showing 76-100 of 125 reviews
Jaime F.
May 2012
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$6,000
We had a very positive experience with AJ Michaels. We needed to replace both our AC and furnace and obtained three estimates. A friend had recommended AJ Michaels but we were a little scared off by the reviews on Angie's List. We were pleasantly surprised by our experience. Greg was our sale representative. He arrived early and was incredibly thorough in his assessment of our needs. He explained everything clearly, and was very friendly. The estimate arrived the next day and was lower than the other estimates. A family member in HVAC reviewed the estimate and was enthusiastic that we getting a good deal. It was easy to schedule the work for the next week. Ed and a helper completed the work. They arrived on time and worked tirelessly to get as much done as possible, leaving at 7 pm that night. Ed was committed to ensuring that our AC was operational that night with the rising temperatures. Ed was very professional. He also explained everything clearly and was very thorough. Greg came by the day of work and checked in, and answered questions. Ed came back the next day to complete some additional work. He was again very friendly and asked for our input. He ensured that we understood how our equipment worked and answered all questions before leaving. We had a very positive experience. I would definitely recommend this company

Magan C.
May 2012
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$1,200
From estimate to installation, AJ Michaels was very professional. They showed up when they said they would, called to warn me someone was on their way, completed work in the time frame promised, cleaned up after themselves. There was some debris in one of the lines the day after installation causing one of the toilets to hiss. I called in the morning and they came right back out and cleared the line...no charge. :) Yesterday I received a thank you note in the mail from them with a $10 grocery store gift card attached! I have been using them for years and will continue to do so in the future! A forever customer!

Sarah L.
Mar 2012
1.0
$3,000
If you like dealing with a total hassle, cleaning up after your contractors, and having to figure out whats a real problem and whats an 'upsell,' then AJ Micheal's is the company for you.

I had them service the boiler in the summer before heat was needed. They did a full boiler servicing and replaced an old pipe. They left pieces of the old pipe and all kinds of bits and pieces from their work all over the boiler room. They also drained the boiler out of the front window and stained the sidewalk with black gunk.

In the fall, when the boiler was first needed for heat, the boiler would run for about an hour and then turn off and not come back on. I called Aj Micheals and they had a guy come out and check on the problem. He told me that it most likely was a bad roll-out switch that needed to be replaced. However, a roll-out switch is supposed to trip when it gets too hot, which it did, each and every time after the switch was reset.

I asked them how the switch could be bad if its working exactly how its supposed to be working and they had no answer for me. They said they would send someone else out to take a look at the issue. So a different guy came out and he then told me that my chimney flue was blocked and not drafting properly. This was in complete contradiction to what the last guy they had come out told me, who said the draft was more than enough. This 2nd guy advised I have the chimney people come back and take a look, even though I just had a completely new chimney lining done earlier that summer, and the last AJ Micheals guy said the draft was fine.

So I call my chimney guy who graciously came back out to take a look. He found nothing wrong with his job and even showed me the standards for BTUs, chimney lining size, and chimney height, etc. and his work was well within those standards.

So I call AJ Micheals again and ask that they come out a third time to take a look and figure this out. They are still pushing hard to sell me a new roll-out switch even though they admit that it works as its supposed to. So the 3rd time they come out, again its a completely different guy. After about an hour examining the boiler, he realizes that the metal heat guard that goes between the roll-out switch and flames is laying against the wall, most likely mistakenly not put back in to place when the boiler was originally serviced months before. After this heat guard is put back, the roll-out switch ceases to trip, and the boilier works fine.

If it wasn't for my own research and persistence they would probably be still working on my boiler. Even though a faulty roll-out switch wasn't the logical solution, they still pushed for it. Most likely because it would be easier to just keep trying different easy fixes and charging me ridiculous fees, instead of sitting down and using the brain to figure out the true cause of the problem.

The 3rd guy that came out was very friendly and did solve the problem, thankfully. But in my experience, its best to go with a smaller plumbing company that is owner operated and has the same guys on the job so they have a working knowledge of the problem and don't have to reinvent the wheel every time they come out.

Lastly, since the job got sidetracked with the whole roll-out switch debacle, they never cleaned my sidewalk or the boiler room they dirtied. And a smaller water pipe in another room that they were supposed to fix was never fixed, even after 3 different attempts. After the 3rd time they said we would need to replace more pipes, etc...I just cut my losses and got another plumber to do this small fix who did it right and without all the upsell that AJ Micheals recommended.

Buyer beware...

Laura T.
Feb 2012
1.0
$3,000
I recieved an estimate from the company in writing for the above services. When the company came to do the work they left the work only partially completed yet submitted the bill to my credit card company for completion of payment. I could not get a plumber to come out to the work site (my house) to finish the project and had to resort to calling my credit card company and putting a stop to payment. It was only then that I recieved a call back and someone to finish the project. The new sump pumps were very loud and when I asked if another pump (a quieter one) could be placed instead I was told they would look into it and call me back. No one ever did. No one explained how the sump pumps work and they are confusing. There was no paperwork left or instructions. There was a hole left around the drainage area and I have radon in the area. The area needs to be completely sealed and was not. When I called them back it took FIVE calls to get a response. When the plumber came out again he had no idea how to fix the problem. I am still waiting.

SUSAN G.
Jul 2011
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
Everything has been just fine. They are really great people. I have been using this company for years. I would recommend this company to anyone.

Joseph L.
May 2011
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$4,700
They are my favorite plumbers. They did an unbelievable job. I spent $4700 on that work. They are professional and prompt. I love them. I can call them and they will be here if it is an emergency. They have any service I can think of.

Deborah D.
May 2011
3.0
Their plumbing adhesive got all over the sink and I cannot find anything that removes it. They sent out a whole crew, so I could not keep my eye on them. They replaced the exterior water line that I discovered had just been replaced the year before. They should have realized as soon as they started to dig the existing pipe was new, but the did it and billed me anyway. I called twice to discuss and complain, no one ever called me back.

Dan M.
Mar 2011
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
They offer a service contract and they work on the most up to date equipment. They provide good service.

Lisette A.
Mar 2011
3.0
$200
I wasn't happy with them. Their price was comparable to what everybody else charged. My mother was here because I was out of town and what bothered me was that they told my mom they wouldn't guarantee what they were doing. They did reasonable work. Their punctuality was fine when I did make appointments. They say that they have emergency 24-hour service for people that have contracts with them for their heating. We had a contract and we had called when our heat was out and they said they couldn’t be here for two or three days. That is when I started looking for a different company and got someone to come out the same day and we were not even customers.
Response from AJ Michaels
"Due to the age of interior and exterior drains, we can clear a blockage but with the deterioration of piping and root invasion it is only a short term solution. We also will not warrant a drain cleaning if we find objects that have been flushed in the drain. To address the heating call...we were extremely backed up, it was the beginning November and we were swamped with calls. We were up front with the customer and didn't mislead. We can't get to everyone promptly in peak times...We apologize for that."

Kathye H.
Mar 2011
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$650
They explained the work needed, gave me an estimate and once I contracted them, they arrived promptly.

Angela P.
Mar 2011
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$450
On time, very professional, excellent service.

Kathleen W.
Feb 2011
3.0
$900
Late for first appointment, did not call. Supposed to be there 8-12; I called them at 1:30 and they said they would be there within the hour, arrived at 3....too late to do a three/four hour job. Scheduled for today. Job took two hours but I had agreed to a price (they price it by the job not labor and parts) so still had to pay the entire price.
Response from AJ Michaels
".....well here it is Monday, we just completed this job on Friday. I do apologize for this missed schedule time frame. Not all jobs go as scheduled and run over (our $ loss). Unfortunately some other customer gets bumped if we don't have the coverage. As far as the price, this customer has obviously forgotten we did reduce her price down. We will call her and remind her of that fact. We price a job for the average cost it takes to complete the task. Some jobs go well, while others may take twice as long to complete. We would not be running to her and asking for more money if it took longer than estimated, we simply provide a secure contract to protect her and us for the job. Ex. the automotive industry also works on flat rate, if your car goes in for a transmission replacement and they tell you it will take three days but they get it completed in two days.....are you demanding money back or are you happy you got your car back in two days?????? ...for some reason this customer feels our price is negotiable after job is completed. And yes her job went well, good sense will tell you that good jobs balance out the bad jobs. It all averages out."

Diana S.
Feb 2011
1.0
I have used them in the past and I will not use them again. They replaced the boiler in the furnace several times failing to address the basic problem so I hired 2 guys who are specialists in hot air and steam systems. They diagnosed the problem and resolved it and any future business I do will be with them and not with AJ Michaels Co. They were fun, courteous and involved my husband in what was going on. I was generally very satisfied. I've had 3 or 4 furnaces replaced in the space of 10 years and that expense I tribute to AJ Michaels Co and I would want any of my friends against using people who are either inexperienced that they cannot tell what the real trouble is or just particularly happy to make a lot of money on people who don't know what's going on. I actually have two furnaces because we pulled the back of the house some years ago and so with electric heaters sitting in the principle rooms and heat from the other furnace we managed not to freeze the duct, but it was months. At first they refused to do anything about it other than just charge us for service for replacing yet another boiler. My husband pays the bills and I would say that it was fairly expensive that they did so much more than just replace the boiler. It turned out that instead of filling with fresh water a couple of times a season, it was filling a couple of times a week and that corroded the boiler so that it cracked and part of the reason was because we had leaking radiators which we either were not aware of in some cases or had turned off, but were still leaking so we had to have work done on all the radiators and re bounce the system. It was a big deal, but hopefully it will be 20 or 30 years before anyone has to replace the boiler again. They came when I called originally, but in terms of responsiveness to the problem … They were punctual. Their behavior was perfectly nice. I would never ever use them again in the future.
Response from AJ Michaels
"We know for a fact that Burnham steam boilers are not lasting beyond 7 years....they have the same corrosion point on are their boilers. We have spoke to the manufacturer and they continually say it is fresh water. In the last 3 years we are replacing countless amounts of burnham steam boilers. Most of which we didn't install and show NO signs of leaking anywhere in the system. This customer will find out, I incourage her after 4 years to take the flue collector off of the boiler and look at the two end sections. There will be corrosion points about 4 inches above the water line. This criticism from this customer will have to stand for a couple of years, we can only hope she will be honest and re-submit a response when this boiler fails....and it will. We have reduced the warranty period we offer on these boilers and have pleaded to Burnham to reduce their cast iron warranty down to 5 years instead of the current 10 years, that way customers can understand they will fail. None of these Burnham steam boilers are making it to 10 years old. We see boilers that are close to 100 years old that have leaks are throughout the system, still they don't leak!!!! It is the cheap cast iron, and reduced wall thickness."

DAVID D.
Feb 2011
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$400
Their professionalism stands out. In the past our whole family has used AJ Michaels. They get the job done and they are very high qualified. They do the job right the first time. They are fairly priced. They have been in business for about 30 years. They respond quickly and we don't have to call them back when they do the job; it's done. I would absolutely use them again but I rarely need their service because they do the job right the first time.

Joseph S.
Oct 2010
1.0
$885
Contacted and chose AJ Michales because of their years in business, but longevity can be misleading. Danny Eppard arrived to determine my plumming concerns and provide a written estimate. My impression of Eppard was that he did not know anything about plumming and was not concerned about my plumming concerns. Upon his arrival, I first pointed out to Eppard that I had called because my ceiling in my front entry way showed signs of some leaking going on in my bathroom. The ceiling showed water marks. Eppard took a look at the ceiling and opening behind the tub area in my bathroom above the discolored ceiling and saw no water, but did not say or suggest anything regarding the possible cause for the discoloration of the ceiling down stairs below the bathroom and totally disregarded it. I informed Eppard that I was concerned about a possible leak causing the discoloration, but he gave no response. I also informed Eppard that I wanted to replace the toilet in the same bathroom, that I could not unclog a sink in another bathroom and wanted to know why the powder room sink was draining slowly. Eppard advised the stopper in the powder room sink was installed incorrectly, which was the cause and that it would need to be re-installed. At this point I should have gotten other estimates, but I am sorry to state I did not. Two workers were sent. One person appeared to be in charge and the other was there to assist in the removal of the old and the installation of the new toilets. Both were young and based on my observation of their work performance did not seem to be plummers, but acted more like helpers sent to do a minor job. The clogged drain was unclogged, but by a third worker who arrived later because the first workers did not have the correct bit head to unclog the drain. The toilet was replaced, but was installed crooked, which I did not notice until a few days later. At my request, one worker examined the flange before installing the new toilet because I thought it may be the cause for my ceiling discoloration and was told it was OK. The stopper in the powder room was re-installed, but continues to drain slowly. Since the re-installation of the stopper in the powder room sink did not correct the drainage, I asked the second worker sent to unclog the one drain if he could run his snake through the powder room sink. He advised that if he were to do that, he would have to charge me $250 since it was not on the initial contract. I declined. So in summary, the stain in my ceiling continues to grow and I will eventually open the ceiling myself to determine if there is a leak and if so, contract another plummer if I cannot fix. The new toilet is noticably not perpendicular to the wall and my powder room sink continues to drain slowly. The only good thing is the drain in my other bathroom is no longer clogged. In my opinion, AJ Michaels is living off its' longevity and perceived good reputation, is no longer in the plumming business, but is now in the handyman business. I would discourge everyone not to use. I would have complained, but they did what was contracted for, not very well, but they did unclog the one drain, re-install the stopper and the toilet, but did not do what I thought a good plummer would do. That is, find out what was causing the stain in my ceiling and why my powder room sink drained slowly. As a final note, I did not report this on Angie's List until now because I believe at the time I did was not a member. I selected AJ Michaels from the Yellow Pages. 2/14/2011- In response to AJ Michaels' response if the discoloration of one's ceiling below a bathroom does not require opening the ceiling to see whether there is a leak does not concern the person sent to determine what is needed on the job, why call them back. I had a bad flange in the other bathroom years ago that did not show any water behind the tub area or from under the toilet. It surfaced when the water in the ceiling wore throught the sheet rock in the kitche ceiling and causee a drip. As for the powder room, I purchased some all natural drain enzyms and after one week of use, opened the drain. So much for AJ Michaels. If anyone wants to use their service by all means do so. As for me, I wouldn't call them to install a washer as it may cost me $500.
Response from AJ Michaels
"All he had to do is call us, we would've taken care of him. We strive to be perfect, however we aren't. But we will stand behind all our work and correct ANY problems."

Teresa R.
Oct 2010
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$3,355
My main water line started leaking somewhere under my driveway. The company sent someone out for the estimate who gave me a clear picture of what was involved to replace the water line as well as what could go wrong. I got estimates from 3 plumbers; all were in the $3000 range, with AJ Michaels being the highest. However, the AJ Michaels price included the entire job regardless of what extras may be required (with the exception of damage to the sidewalk). They also offered a lifetime guarantee for the new line - as long as I live in the house. Everyone I dealt with showed up on time and was very professional. There was, in fact, a complication; they called a supervisor out for consultation and we decided how to proceed. The job was completed on time and to my satisfaction.

Thomas F.
Jun 2010
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$282
After years of great water pressure, the pressure became sporadic and went down, overall, by about 50% over the course of 2 weeks. The city determined the problem wasnt on thier side but could not tell me much else about why it could be happening. I called this company (having used them once previously) and asked if they could come out today to look at it. They were busy but said they could fit me in late in the day. They pleasantly surprised me a few hours later with a call indicating they could show up earlier than expected if that was alright. The plumber arrived and listened patiently to my description of the problem. After a few probing questions, and a look at the pipes, the plumber was able to diagnose the problem and was sure of the fix. Moreover, the plumber fully explained why the problem was happening and mentioned a few additional symptoms I forgot to mention myself that were definately occuring. The plumber hit the diagnosis right on the head! The whole job took just about 1 hour and my water preasure is great again. Although I paid a bit more than I would have liked to pay, I feel a got a quality job which was perfomed by a real professional. So the money was worth it.

Bradford P.
May 2010
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$11,798
The estimate was provided promptly and the price was very competitive. The installation was done promptly, when promised, and the installers cleaned the work site well. The duct-work was expertly hidden in closets and the attic. The installer had years of experience. The warranty is very good. The performance of the air-conditioning system is excellent. It has needed servicing only once in two years, when the thermostat malfunctioned, and that was promptly replaced, under the warranty. The unit is energy-star rated and economical. It is extremely quiet, both inside and outside the house.

Stephen L.
Apr 2010
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
He did a good job. He knew what he was doing. He gave prompt service and I thought his prices were reasonable. They fix the problem well. I thought he did such a good job that I took out a service contract with him.

Joseph P.
Jan 2010
4.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
They are responsive and thorough but very high priced. I don't remember their price but the last time we had any big work done by them was about ten years ago when they put in a new furnace for us. I would prefer to find an alternative that's less pricey. I would recommend them to anybody because they are local with the understanding that this is probably a company that's on the higher price than normal scale but they definitely know what they are doing.

Charles B.
Apr 2009
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$60
They showed up on time and were very efficient. They were professional. I was very satisfied with their service. Their price seemed reasonable. My faucet works great and it has for two years.

Charles B.
Apr 2009
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$4,000
They visited me before the job and gave me an estimate. They took the exact amount of time they said the would, so they were efficient. They were just great. I felt like their price was reasonable compared to other estimates we had received. We picked AJ Michaels because we felt like they would do good work and they did.

TILLY G.
Apr 2009
2.0
$3,000
1) They were prompt. Our furnace died first, which they gave a fair estimate and replaced in a timely fashion. The water heater died within 6 months after the furnace. Since we were happy with AJ Michaels at that point, we went with them again. 2) We got the maintenance contract because we were pleased with their installation services and they seemed reputable. But they were often late... many times because they went to a wrong address (Avenue instead of Street.... which takes you about 20 minutes away from our house). I asked them to note in our files the commonly made error and to let the technicians know in advance. So their constant tardiness started to get annoying. Plus, they told us that they would contact us to schedule maintenance appointments... but every 6 months I found myself calling to schedule the appointment. At times, they had us already scheduled, but no one ever called to let us know when they were coming. Again, it was a bit annoying. 3) The technician was supposed to arrive between 8AM and 12 PM but he didn't come until 1:30PM.... partly because he was delayed on the previous job and partly because he went to Avenue and not Street. He inspected the rise and said that the rise was a bit off and to fix that issue, walls would need to be knocked down. He then continued to tell me that we would need to foot the bill. I explained that they installed the heater and that we were still under warranty. He then explained that they just replace the same size heater and don't usually check to see if the rise is correct... they assume that the previous heater was correct. I was not OK with that justification. After much back and forth, he called his supervisor. Their compromise was to replace the water heater for a smaller one (same # gallons just shorter and fatter).... they would return the heater to the manufacturer claiming it to be leaking (which is a lie) and install the smaller one. We would then be responsible for the labor fees. Again, I was not OK with that solution, since they were the ones who installed the heater. We trusted their professionalism and checking that the water heater was the appropriate size for the given space. Needless to say, we decided not to have them fix the solution. I was not OK with the ethics of their plan. Instead, I was able to find a plumber who fixed the problem manually and only charged us a minimal service fee. I will never again use AJ Michaels, and I will tell everyone I know to avoid them as well.
Response from AJ Michaels
"AJ Michaels is a full certified and licensed heating, air conditioning, and plumbing company which has been in business, successfully, for 30 years. Our company strives to maintain customer satisfaction with all facets of service, from cost estimate to finished work. Regarding timeliness, AJ MIchels makes every effort to arrive in a timely fashion for appointments. Like all service businesses, however, AJ MIchaels provides a timeframe within which technicians will arrive because the company can never know for certain how long some repairs may take. Our records indicate that our technicians reliably arrived within our stated timeframe for this project. Our records also indicate attempts to notify the customer regarding maintenance calls, but we were not always successful. Regarding our water heater installation expertise, AJ MIchaels has installed, successfully, thousands of water heaters in our 30-year history. A home inspector, while having general home improvement knowledge, is not a certified water heater mechanical contractor. Nonetheless, AJ Michaels attempted to work within the requests of a home inspector on behalf of this customer. To meet the inspector's demands, AJ MIchaels determined that the company had to replace the existing (and functional) water heater with a new one. This replacement would be done under manufacturer's specifications, warranties, and knowledge. As the existing water heater was functional and was being replaced at the inspector's and home owner's requests, AJ MIchaels thought it appropriate that the home owner pay for the labor, with AJ Michaels and the manufacturer paying for the equipment. The homeowner chose not to accept this offer."

Elaine J.
Mar 2009
4.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$50,000
They did an outstanding job. They put up with my wife and she is very picky. Initially, they were the lowest bidder. I thought it was a fair price. Every time they would say what time they would be here and they were here. They were very professional, especially the carpenter.

TAUNYA B.
Oct 2008
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$225
The company called ahead to confirm the appointment. When the service man was running late they called to let me know and offered to reschedule. When I said that wasn't convenient they had the service man come after hours at no extra charge.
Showing 76-100 of 125

Licensing

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FAQ

AJ Michaels is currently rated 4.5 overall out of 5.

AJ Michaels accepts the following forms of payment: CreditCard

Yes, AJ Michaels offers free project estimates.

No, AJ Michaels does not offer eco-friendly accreditations.

No, AJ Michaels does not offer a senior discount.

Yes, AJ Michaels offers emergency services.

No, AJ Michaels does not offer warranties.