Cardinal Heating & Air

"ANGIE'S LIST MEMBERS. I HAVE OVER 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE AS AN ELECTRICIAN. I HAVE BEEN LICENSED AS A MASTER ELECTRICIAN IN HOUSTON SINCE 1997. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE. REALIZE THAT ELECTRICITY KILLS PEOPLE. IN THE LAST TEN YEARS ALMOST 5000 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED AND OVER $4 BILLION IN DAMAGE HAS OCCURRED TO HOMES DUE TO FIRES CAUSED BY ELECTRICITY. MY PROMISE TO YOU IS TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING IN YOUR HOME. IF WE FIND AN ELECTRICAL HAZARD, THEN IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR THE HOMEOWNER TO FIX IT. THIS MEMBER'S HOME WAS BUILT IN THE 1930'S. 70 YEARS AGO. THE KNOB AND TUBE WIRING IS THAT OLD! KNOB AND TUBE WIRING IS A FIRE HAZARD IF COVERED IN INSULATION, WHICH IT WAS. THERE WERE INCORRECT SPLICES EXPOSED IN THE ATTIC(WHICH IS A FIRE HAZARD TOO!). THE INSULATION ON THE KNOB AND TUBE WIRING IN THE FAN BOX WAS OVERHEATED AND CRUMBLING! THEIR TECHNICIAN, WHO HAS BEEN LAUDED REPEATEDLY IN ANGIE'S LIST MEMBER COMMENTS SPENT 2 HOURS INSPECTING AND TRACING THE KNOB AND TUBE SYSTEM TO DETERMINE THE EXACT NATURE OF THE HAZARD AND UNDERSTAND THE NECESSARY REPAIR. THEY ALSO HAVE A FEDERAL PACIFIC PANEL.(GOOGLE IT) SO NOT ONLY WILL THEIR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BURN, THE BREAKER PROTECTING THE SYSTEM MAY NOT SHUT DOWN THE ELECTRICITY. THE OTHER ELECTRICIAN WHO CAME OUT AND HUNG THEIR FAN HAS DONE THEM A DANGEROUS DISSERVICE BY DOWNPLAYING THE SERIOUSNESS OF THEIR SITUATION. WE WORK IN NEW HOMES AS WELL AND WE WILL SIMPLY INSTALL A CEILING FAN WITHOUT REWIRING THE HOUSE. BUT WHEN WE COME ACROSS DANGEROUS ELECTRICAL HAZARDS, IT IS OUR HIPPOCRATIC DUTY TO INFORM THE HOMEOWNER AS WELL AS REFUSE TO TO PERFORM WORK THAT WILL CONTINUE TO ENDANGER THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AS WELL AS THE PEOPLE INSIDE. ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS IF INSTALLED CORRECTLY OR UPDATED WITH MODERN SAFETY EQUIPMENT CAN BE A SAFE AND EFFICIENT WAY FOR OUR MODERN LIVES TO FUNCTION. HOWEVER, IF THE SYSTEM IS OUTDATED OR INCORRECTLY INSTALLED, IT CAN CREATE A VERY DANGEROUS HAZARD."

"I WANT TO THANK THIS MEMBER FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO REPAIR HER ELECTRICAL ISSUE. ALSO TO LET HER KNOW THAT SHE HAS A 1 YEAR GUARANTEE THAT THE OUTLET REPAIRED WILL STAY REPAIRED. ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS IN HOMES ARE HIDDEN BEHIND WALLS AND ARE INVISIBLE. GREAT SERVICE IS ALSO INVISIBLE. WHEN YOU HIRE SOMEONE, YOU DON'T KNOW THE NATURE OF THE SERVICE THE COMPANY WILL PROVIDE NO MATTER HOW MANY QUESTIONS YOU ASK THEM ON THE PHONE BEFORE THEY COME OUT TO YOUR HOME. WHEN SOMEONE CALLS US FOR SERVICE IT IS OUR DECISION TO BE UPFRONT WITH EVERYTHING WE CAN. THIS INCLUDES INFORMING OUR CUSTOMER OF AN INITIAL DISPATCH FEE OF $59 TO BRING A CLEAN CUT, SKILLED TECHNICIAN WHO IS READY TO WORK, HAS A STOCKED TRUCK AND WILL INTERVIEW THE CUSTOMER AND EXAMINE THE JOB IN ORDER TO GIVE THE CUSTOMER AN AMOUNT FOR THE WORK THAT THE CUSTOMER THEN APPROVES BEFORE THE TECHNICIAN STARTS THE WORK OR IN THIS CASE A DIAGNOSIS OF A PROBLEMS THIS MEMBER HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE. WE DO NOT CHARGE BY THE HOUR. CHARGING BY THE HOUR IS UNFAIR TO THE HOMEOWNER. IF A TRADESMAN IS CHARGING YOU BY THE HOUR THEY PROBABLY HAVE LITTLE EXPERIENCE OR THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO AHEAD OF TIME; AND YOU ARE AT THE MERCY OF THE TRADESMAN'S SKILL AND ENERGY LEVEL. I SPEND A GREAT DEAL OF MY TIME LOOKING FOR QUALIFIED ELECTRICIANS; I ONLY HIRE ABOUT ONE OUT OF 150 APPLICANTS. I ALSO SPEND A LOT OF TIME TRAINING THESE ALREADY QUALIFIED CLEAN CUT, DRUG FREE AND BACKGROUND CHECKED ELECTRICIANS. THE TECHNICIAN WHO MET WITH THIS MEMBER AND MADE HER ELECTRICAL REPAIR HAS 12 YEARS EXPERIENCE AND IS ONE OF THE BEST ELECTRICIANS I HAVE SEEN. WITH HIS EXPERIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING, IT IS LIKELY THAT HE WOULD HAVE ARRIVED AT THE CORRECT SOLUTION QUICKLY, THUS SAVING THIS MEMBER A GREAT DEAL OF TIME. WE STAND BY OUR WORK AND OUR PRICING; IF THE DIAGNOSIS WOULD HAVE TAKEN 3 HOURS, THE PRICE WOULD HAVE STAYED THE SAME. SINCE THE MEMBER'S TECHNICIAN WAS ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM QUICKLY HE INCLUDED THE REPAIR IN THE PRE APPROVED DIAGNOSTIC PRICE."

"I WANT TO THANK THIS MEMBER FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE HIS ELECTRICAL REPAIR. I ALSO WANT TO APOLOGIZE FOR THE MISCOMMUNICATION ABOUT HIS APPOINTMENT TIME. WE REALIZE THAT WE OPERATE IN HOUSTON WITH IRREGULAR TRAFFIC PATTERNS AND THAT EARLIER APPOINTMENTS MAY REQUIRE UNEXPECTED TIME INVOLVEMENTS, THEREFORE WE ALWAYS SCHEDULE IN 2 HOUR WINDOWS WITH A PROMISE TO MAINTAIN COMMUNICATION ABOUT CHANGES AND TO NOTIFY THE HOMEOWNER 30 MINUTES AHEAD OF THE ARRIVAL OF THEIR TECHNICIAN. THIS MEMBER REQUESTED A 4PM APPOINTMENT TIME WHICH WE WOULD HAVE SCHEDULED AS AN AFTER 4PM APPOINTMENT. I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR CUSTOMERS TIME, SO I APOLOGIZE IF WE DID NOT MAKE THAT CLEAR. ALL OF OUR TECHNICIANS ARE EXPERIENCED EXPERTS. WE OFFER AN UPFRONT PRICE FOR THE WORK (INCLUDING DIAGNOSTIC WORK) AND EVEN IF THE DIAGNOSTIC HAD TAKEN THREE TIMES AS LONG AS ANTICIPATED, THE PRICE STAYS THE SAME. SINCE THIS MEMBERS TECHNICIAN WAS ABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM QUICKLY, HE INCLUDED THE PART AND LABOR TO REPLACE THE PHOTOCELL."

"THIS MEMBER CALLED US AFTER A LIGHTNING STRIKE. IT HIT THE TREE, MELTED THE INCORRECT ELECTRICAL ON THE TREE AND UNDERGROUND UP TO THE HOUSE WHERE IT WAS TIED INTO AN EXISTING CIRCUIT THAT POWERED OUTLETS AND LIGHTING IN THE HOUSE. THE LIGHTS AND OUTLETS IN THE HOUSE ON THE CIRCUIT WERE NOT WORKING EVEN WITH THE BREAKER ON. THE INSULATION FOR HOUSE WIRING IS RATED FOR 600 VOLTS. THE VOLTAGE FROM LIGHTNING HAS BEEN CALCULATED AT OVER 10,000 VOLTS. AFTER THE INITIAL INSPECTION, WE FELT THAT THE DAMAGE EVIDENT IN THE TREE WIRING COULD BE REPEATED BEHIND THE WALLS. WE OFFERED TWO OPTIONS: 1) TAKE APART THE CONNECTIONS IN THE CIRCUIT AND TEST EACH WIRE SEPARATELY FOR COMPROMISED INSULATION. THIS WAY WE CAN GUARANTEE THE WIRING WE TEST OR REPLACE AS NEEDED. OPTION 2) WE COULD SIMPLY REWIRE THE CIRCUIT AND TAKE NO CHANCES. THE MEMBER CHOSE OPTION 2 AND WAS GOING TO FILE AN INSURANCE CLAIM. THE INSURANCE COMPANY REQUESTED A 2ND OPINION. THE ELECTRICIAN THAT CAME OUT, FOUND A BLOWN OUTLET AND REPLACED IT AND CHARGED $50. ACCORDING TO THE MEMBER, THE GUY ALSO SAID THE TREE LIGHTING WAS OK AND COULD EASILY BE FIXED. NOW I KNOW HE DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS HAPPENING. WE SEE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS WITH MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEMS WORKING FINE ALL THE TIME. THE INSULATION THAT WAS BURNED IN THE TREES AND POSSIBLY BEHIND THE WALLS IS WHAT KEEPS THE ELECTRICITY IN THE WIRE AND NOT SHOCKING PEOPLE OR BURNING STRUCTURES AROUND IT. UNFORTUNATELY THIS MEMBER HAS BEEN DECEIVED INTO THINKING THAT THE CHEAP FIX WAS THE CORRECT FIX AND THE CORRECT FIX WAS JUST AN UPSELL. WE SAVE OUR CUSTOMERS TIME AND MONEY BY INFORMING THEM OF THE PRICE BEFOREHAND, WE EVEN DO THIS FOR DIAGNOSIS WORK WHEN THE ELECTRICAL IS HIDDEN AND WE ARE WORKING WITH THE UNKNOWN. WE ALSO HAVE A 100% GUARANTEE. SO EVEN THOUGH THIS CUSTOMER BENEFITED FROM OUR DIAGNOSIS AND CHOSE TO IGNORE OUR ADVISE, WE REFUNDED HER DISPATCH FEE AND DIAGNOSIS FEE WHICH SHE AGREED TO BEFORE WE STARTED. I HAVE BEEN AND ELECTRICIAN FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND I FOR ONE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SLEEP IN THE HOUSE WITHOUT AT LEAST A THOROUGH INSPECTION OF THE INSULATION AND NOT JUST A QUICK FIX."

"THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER YOU OUR SERVICE. PLEASE DON’T HESITATE TO CALL IF YOU HAVE A ELECTRICAL REPAIR NEED IN THE FUTURE."

"I WANT TO THANK THIS MEMBER FOR THE KIND WORDS ABOUT HER TECHNICIAN ERIC. WE ARE VERY HAPPY ABOUT HIM OURSELVES. OUR PRICING FOR THE WORK WE DO IS ARRANGED TO BE EASY TO UNDERSTAND AND PRESENTED TO OUR CUSTOMERS. IT ALSO GUIDES OUR TECHNICIANS WITHIN OUR ETHICAL STANDARDS. ERIC IS A LICENSED JOURNEYMAN ELECTRICIAN WITH YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND EVEN WENT TO A FOUR YEAR APPRENTICE PROGRAM, WHICH IS VERY RARE. OUR DISPATCHER WHO SCHEDULES THE HOUR APPOINTMENT WITH OUR CUSTOMERS IS WELL TRAINED FOR HER JOB AND HAS SOME UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORK WE DO, HOWEVER, SHE HAS ZERO YEARS OF PRACTICAL ELECTRICAL EXPERIENCE. DESPITE THIS, IF ANYONE IS EXPECTING A "BALLPARK" FIGURE OVER THE PHONE FOR A JOB, THAT IS SETTING UP THE CUSTOMER FOR A "BAIT AND SWITCH." IT ALSO PUTS THE CONTRACTOR IN A POSITION OF CHOOSING BETWEEN BEST CASE AND WORST CASE SCENARIO FOR A JOB. WE DO NOT PRICE WORK OVER THE PHONE. OUR TASKS MAY BE SIMILAR FROM JOB TO JOB, BUT NO JOB OR HOUSE IS EVER TRULY THE SAME. PART OF OUR ETHICAL STANDARDS TO OUR CUSTOMERS IS TO PRICE THE JOB ACCURATELY BEFORE WE START THE WORK SO THAT OUR CUSTOMER UNDERSTANDS UPFRONT WHAT IS INVOLVED AND IS NOT SURPRISED BY ADDITIONAL CHARGES. $59 DOES NOT BEGIN TO OFFSET THE COSTS INVOLVED IN DISPATCHING A TRAINED, DRUG FREE BACKGROUND CHECK TECHNICIAN WHO IS READY TO WORK AND WILL TRULY INVESTIGATE THE JOB TO GIVE OUR CUSTOMER AN ACCURATE QUOTE. I WISH TO REMIND THE MEMBERS THAT THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A "FREE" ESTIMATE."

"I WISH TO THANK THIS ANGIE'S LIST CUSTOMER FOR GIVING US AN OPPORTUNITY TO ANALYZE HER ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. I ALSO WISH TO ASK ANYONE READING THIS REPORT TO PLEASE CONTINUE REVIEWING OUR OTHER REPORTS AS MOST OF THEM ARE STRAIGHT A REPORTS. UNFORTUNATELY, SOME ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ARE NOT READILY APPARENT AND REQUIRE DIAGNOSTIC INQUIRY TO DETERMINE THE EXACT REASON. WE TRY TO BE UPFRONT ABOUT EVERYTHING. OUR DISPATCHER WOULD NOT HAVE LEAD THIS CUSTOMER ON ABOUT THE DISPATCH FEE. IN TODAYS ENVIRONMENT, IT IS NECESSARY FOR A SMALL DISPATCH FEE TO OFFSET SOME OF THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH SCHEDULING A PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN WITH 1000'S OF PARTS ON HIS TRUCK WHO IS READY TO WORK AND READY TO PREPARE AN EXACT AMOUNT PRIOR TO WORKING FOR ANY TASK THAT IS NECESSARY. WE DO THIS TO PROVIDE OUR CUSTOMERS WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR SERVICE EXPERIENCE AND THEIR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THIS CUSTOMER WAS INFORMED ABOUT THE AMOUNT FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC BEFORE ANY WORK WAS STARTED AND SHE WAS OFFERED THE OPPORTUNITY TO AUTHORIZE THE WORK. THIS ALLOWED US TO PROPERLY INSPECT AND ANALYZE THE PROBLEM. IN THE CASE OF HER A/C UNIT, THE CIRCUIT WAS INTERNALLY DAMAGED TO THE POINT WHERE A MINOR REPAIR WOULD NOT HAVE SOLVED THE PROBLEM SAFELY. THE DIFFICULT BUILDING CONDITIONS REQUIRED A NEW CIRCUIT INSTALLED IN PIPE. I UNDERSTAND HOW SHE FEELS ABOUT THE AMOUNT, HOWEVER IT IS A LARGE PROJECT AND THE ONLY WAY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM SAFELY. WE OFFERED TO CREDIT THE DIAGNOSTIC TOWARD THE CIRCUIT INSTALLATION."