Get matched with top well and pump technicians in Occoquan, VA

"I will preface this review by saying that I work as a general contractor (with regular interaction with mechanical contractors), work in the service and sales industry (as a personal trainer), and am a business owner (yes, three separate jobs in three separate industries). I say the above because I have the credibility to be able to write a review like this. On 10/3/23 I discovered that my AC (an Amana 3 ton, 36,000 BTU, R410a split system) was not blowing cool enough air to meet thermostat settings. As the original installation of the system was performed by Snell Heating & Air Conditioning [on 1/6/12], I decided to use them for the service call.  The technician (Franco) arrived on 10/4/23 within his scheduled time slot. Franco was transparent and clearly explained the process. Within minutes he was able to identify the source of the problem (the evaporator coil within the indoor air handling unit had frozen indicating a refrigerant leak). He presented me with three options: 1) refill the refrigerant at $715 per four gallons; 2) do a leak check to identify the source of the leak and replace the component from which the leak is originating (i.e. the coils at the outdoor condensing unit, the evaporator coil at the indoor air handling unit, or the line sets) for ~$7,000 and possibly higher; or 3) replace the entire system at anywhere from $18,000-$35,000. This is when I realized the 'sales pitch' was going to start. You see review readers, companies like Snell and others (that have been gobbled up by private equity firms and/or larger companies) no longer operate as a 'small local family business' where integrity, honesty, and doing what is best for the customer is the priority. Snell (which was acquired by Horizon in 2020) now operates as a giant selling machine. These types of businesses have large overhead, extensive marketing costs, training costs, fleet costs, insurance costs, uniform costs, IT costs, and much more that all need to be accounted for in their pricing. They simply cannot operate as such a large business if these expenses are not passed down to the consumer...and frankly, most consumers will happily pay it (as is evidenced by the hundreds of positive reviews). However, an educated consumer can be dangerous for these types of companies. Let me expand on what I mean here. For example, R-410a refrigerant costs <$400 for 25 lbs or <$15/lb (Snell is charging close to $200 per pound). An Amana evaporator coil costs ~$600 (Snell is charging close to $7,000). I won't even begin to tell you how much of a markup they are putting on a brand new HVAC system (it is astronomical). It is understood that their prices include installation, travel, warranty, and all of the aforementioned overhead costs, however, within minutes of their departure I found several small residential HVAC contractors that quoted the same items for fractions of the cost of Snell. Let me be clear, Franco was professional, courteous, and patient. He was an ideal employee for this type of business (a commission-based business where sales are the priority). However, the bottom line is this, Snell is part of the new wave of larger residential HVAC contractors where maximizing profit is the most important thing...and, you know what, I get it. As the old saying goes, "don't hate the player, hate the game". This is where we are in America - products/appliances/gadgets/devices becoming obsolete and having shorter and shorter life spans and businesses caring less and less. I am not some disgruntled 'Harry Homeowner' It is simply inexplicable to me that a system that was installed by Snell only 11 years ago (and just out of the ten year warranty period) must already be replaced. My hats off to David Snell and their entire team - they run a well oiled machine but I simply will not pay the type of costs they are charging."

"The repair work was well done. I had no idea it would take 2 people. The first quote was for a lower price but then they did not have the parts so I said OK to the more expensive option. But then they were not able to do the more expensive option so they went and got the part for the lower price option. But ultimately they charged me for the higher price option. I have called three days in a row and have not been able to resolve the price discrepancy."

"They charged $98 to come give me an estimate for swapping our a shower valve cartridge, which was fine, but the pricing they provided was completely unreasonable, $1,000. They were unwilling to provide any detail for the price. I ended up buy the part myself for $30 and replaced it in 30 minutes."

"John is very responsive and professional when it comes to dealing with the customer. He does what he says he will do. His team was on time to do the diagnose and assess the problem. The septic pump install went without a hitch. He even let me borrow a loaner pump so we can live normally while the new pump was being ordered,"

"Outstanding service. First to reply to our request for service. "Johno" quickly diagnosed our problem and researched to see if warranty was still in effect. Fair pricing with discount for military service. Will keep RightNow Plummer in mind for future plumbing services."

"Thanks Seth for connecting my new sink to all the plumbing stuff underneath a sink!"

"On time, lots of attention to detail, professional craftsmanship, fair price,would 100 percent use again."

"I recently had a fantastic experience with Nick from DB’s Plumbing & Drain for a leaking pipe issue in my home. From start to finish, their service was exceptional! DB’s team was prompt, courteous, and professional. They arrived on time, assessed the problem quickly, and explained the repair process in a way that was easy to understand. The plumber worked efficiently, fixing the leak with high-quality materials, and even took the time to check for other potential issues to prevent future problems. The pricing was fair, and there were no hidden fees. I am so grateful for their expertise and attention to detail. I highly recommend DB’s to anyone needing reliable plumbing services!"

"Nelson was very professional, got the issue resolved quickly, would definitely recommend and use Beacon Home Services again. "

"Great service"