Its about time I tackle this subject. Since the Christmas miracle I wrote of a lot has transpired. Our heating woes are over and I have learned a lot about boilers, furnaces, and integrity. I gave a lesson on integrity a few weeks ago in YM so this is very much on my mind. I guess I need to back up just a little bit and some explaining.
After the 'miracle' of having our heat back, it went out again Christmas night at around three in the morning. I got it running again after about an hour and was thankful that businesses would be open again on the 26th. I called a bunch of places and set up times for estimates and prepared for my week off of getting our house securely warm again.
I had no idea the barrage we would get with estimates and opinions. Each company wanted to install a furnace in a different way and give us the most expensive/efficient unit. No one really suggested we fix the boiler. That is until Dave from Bill's Comfort Systems came over. When he walked in the door he wanted to know what was going on so I told him and showed him. After looking at the boiler he said we had a great system and that not even the most efficient furnace would be as good. He said we needed to get it fixed and not to tear it out or make any rash decisions until a boiler specialist/plumber had checked it out. He was the only one who suggested this, which was of course self defeating, because he gained nothing out of it. Before he left he told us how we get the A/C in the attic and make it work. I was very impressed with him and that while having nothing to gain gave us the most sound advice to our problem. When we get air in, he will definitely be the guy we go with.
We called a few boiler specialists, most weren't around, but got through to Thurgood Plumbing in Syracuse. After telling them what was going on, he said that he could tell over the phone that our boiler was not bad, that it was not going out, and was coming over to check it out. He got there with his son in about a half hour. He checked the system said it looked great and then proceeded to determine what went bad. He reached up to the expansion tank that had been replaced a week prior and undid a valve at the top that released the air. SWOOSH! Air whooshed out and he said, "That was your problem." He told us that when the expansion tank was installed the valve was screwed down too tight which meant that the air/water pressure mixture was too high which caused the system to shut down, a good thing. The shutdown prevented the system from exploding all which was caused because the valve was improperly screwed down. "Your system is good and should work just fine now." We asked about payment and he said no that if there were any other problems we encountered he would be happy to fix them. We didn't end up spending a dime on all this.
A few things;
After proclaiming our system was bad the system went down and we were shocked to see that they were right. Little did we know that they caused the problem.
We now know who to have work on our boiler and A/C.
Boilers are great and much more efficient than furnaces, you just need another system for A/C.
Only a few people wanted to help us, the rest wanted to take money we didn't have.
I don't necessarily feel that all these other guys were dishonest, I just don't think they were worried about fixing our current problem. They saw the big dollar signs. Only Dave from Bill's Comfort Systems was full of integrity. He wanted to help us out and they don't even work on boilers. Without a doubt we will go to them when we get air--which is forthcoming. I know he will be honest and give us what we need, not try and give us something we don't. I will also steer everyone his way or to Bill's Comfort Systems if they need heating/air help.
I would have been so mad if we would have replaced a system that didn't need replacing.
A lot of people are knowledgeable but few are specialists, that's why when you find one you call him "my" guy.
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