Frequently Asked Questions

We repair, replace and maintain home air conditioners, gas and propane furnaces, heat pumps, ductless systems, and hot water boilers. We also install thermostats and work on heat-pump water heaters. We do not install or repair ductwork, work on steam boilers, service oil furnaces, or work on commercial, geothermal or variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems.

In some homes, a compatible heat pump can be added while the existing oil furnace stays in place. We assess the heat-pump installation and explain the thermostat and settings. Your oil-service provider remains responsible for the oil furnace and its maintenance. Oil-furnace and oil-tank removal are outside our offered work.

No. A request starts a conversation about the equipment, property and work. An appointment needs a separate confirmation.

Yes. Our HVAC second-opinion service reviews the system and recommendation. Send the equipment information and the proposed scope so we can discuss the review.

Yes. We check your hot-water needs, available space, airflow, water drainage and electrical connections before recommending a heat-pump water heater.

Often, yes. A room that never gets comfortable can sometimes be fixed with a ductless unit or by setting up your existing system to help. We look at your equipment and airflow and tell you what will actually work.

We size it to your home, not to whatever is easiest to sell. We check your current equipment, settings and connections, then the proposal spells out the exact replacement and the work so there are no surprises.

Our service area includes Germantown, Gaithersburg and Montgomery Village. Review the service-area page and contact us with the property address.

It comes down to three things: how old the system is, what the repair costs against the value of the whole unit, and how well it has been keeping up. Once a system is past its teens and the repairs start stacking, replacement usually makes more sense. We look at yours and tell you straight which way we would go if it were our own home, with no pressure either way. Call or text 301-355-2238 and we will walk through it.

In our area, a well-kept air conditioner or heat pump usually runs about 12 to 15 years, and a furnace often 15 to 20. Regular filter changes and a yearly check make a real difference. If yours is getting up there, we will tell you honestly whether it has good years left or whether it is smart to start planning.

The usual causes are a clogged filter choking the airflow, a dirty outdoor unit, low refrigerant from a leak, or a frozen coil. You can safely check the filter and make sure nothing is blocking the outdoor unit. If it is iced up, shut it off and let it thaw, then call us. We find the real cause instead of guessing at it.

It can be as simple as the thermostat on the wrong setting or the fan left running, or it can be a clogged filter, an ignition problem, or a safety switch doing its job. Check the thermostat and the filter first. If it is still blowing cold, leave it and call us, because a furnace that will not fire can mean something that should be looked at, not forced.

Usually it is airflow: a long duct run, a room far from the system, or a system that was never balanced for how you actually live. Sometimes the fix is simple, and sometimes zoning or a ductless unit for that one room is the real answer. We will tell you what is actually causing it and the honest options, from the cheapest fix up.

Bigger is not better. An oversized system short-cycles, leaves rooms uneven, and wears out early. The right size comes from your home, not a rule of thumb, so we measure instead of guessing. You end up with a system that is quiet, even, and matched to your house.

Sometimes. Maryland has state and utility programs that can help with the cost of a high-efficiency heat pump, and they change from year to year. We will point you toward what might apply to your home and be upfront about what we can and cannot handle on the paperwork, so nothing gets promised that does not come through. We will tell you what your home qualifies for before you decide anything.

The ones we install do. Today's cold-climate heat pumps are built to heat through our winters, and many homes run one as the main system with the existing furnace left in place as backup for the very coldest nights. We size it for real Maryland weather, not a brochure.

A quick professional check once a year, heating before winter and cooling before summer, catches the small things before they turn into a cold night with no heat. Change a standard filter every one to three months, sooner if you have pets. It is the cheapest thing you can do to make a system last.

Watch for energy bills creeping up with no change in use, rooms that will not stay even, strange noises or smells, short cycling on and off, and repairs that are starting to stack up. None of those mean you have to replace it today, but they are worth a look so it does not quit on the hottest or coldest day. We will tell you honestly where yours stands.

A service call is a paid diagnostic visit, and we tell you what that covers before we come out. Past that, you see the work and the price in writing before anyone touches anything, so there are no surprises on the bill. Nothing happens until you say go.

No. We find what your system actually needs instead of selling you the biggest box we can. If a repair is the right call, we say so. If replacement is honestly the better long-term move, we explain why and leave the decision with you. That is the whole way we work.