HVAC Repair - Maximum Mechanical Still in Biz? And Quote for Part Replacement/Install (Star: prices, money)

[lottamoxie]

Curious if anyone's used Max Mech recently, as in the last 6 months? Are they still in business? Haven't been able to get them on the phone the last couple of days. Just sent them an email, hoping that would get to them, in case my voicemail message didn't.

I've seen some bad reviews from the last few years and a comment from someone to check if they still have their license. Some comments were they went downhill and their service and response is sub-par.

Had another place come out yesterday because my downstairs unit wasn't cooling. The tech found the problem -- the evaporator coil is rusted and failed, needs replaced. The part is still under warranty, the labor is not, unless there's something I can work out with the original vendor to cover the labor for the unit (Maximum Mech).


===> Just got the quote from this other company for replacing the evap coil. The price seems outrageous to me: $1,937 for labor, $540 for 6 lbs of refrigerant, and the guy put in 3 lbs of refrigerant yesterday, which I paid for. Coil is covered by warranty.

Yes, of course I will get more quotes, but I wanted to get the opinion from C-D folks as well. What say you? Does it seem outrageous?

[Starglow]

For $2K I'd just spend a little more and get a whole new system replacement, especially if your current system uses R22 refrigerant. We're in the busy summer season for HVAC companies now so customer demand and prices will be higher.

[lottamoxie]

Originally Posted by Starglow

For $2K I'd just spend a little more and get a whole new system replacement, especially if your current system uses R22 refrigerant. We're in the busy summer season for HVAC companies now so customer demand and prices will be higher.

It would be thousands more to replace.

[zinner]

I paid around 1800 about 10 years ago for the same type of service. Given prices go up and this place is a lot more popular than 10 years ago, I am not surprised.

[Universe93B]

Unfortunately, that price is not outrageous for an evaporator coil repair. I've actually seen higher in the last 1-2 years. I had a junk Lennox system that where even the replacement evaporator coil started to leak after 2 years and kept leaking out all the refrigerant. I replaced the entire system since I was spending so much money with replacing the evap coil. Got a system with a 10 year parts AND labor.

Now for your Max Mechanical company, keep trying but companies should be more responsive than this, even in the summer heat and busy season. There are far better HVAC companies in the area but it can be overwhelming because there's too many of them. I usually go on Nextdoor to get people's reviews.

[Northport70]

Originally Posted by Starglow

For $2K I'd just spend a little more and get a whole new system replacement, especially if your current system uses R22 refrigerant. We're in the busy summer season for HVAC companies now so customer demand and prices will be higher.

New system could be 6k minimum and given the explosion of growth good luck getting a fair price as well as a reasonable start date.

[twingles]

last time I called them we had the same result - not sure what's going on but there's plenty of places around here that do HVAC work and have good reputations.

[lottamoxie]

Originally Posted by twingles

last time I called them we had the same result - not sure what's going on but there's plenty of places around here that do HVAC work and have good reputations.

Thanks! There's been changes at MM, from back during the first year of covid, affecting the owner, and I know there was loss of staff in addition. I last talked to them in 2021 and the owner told me he had lost his wife and he was struggling with that, as one would. Doesn't seem like things ever got better. They used to be terrific.

[lottamoxie]

Originally Posted by zinner

I paid around 1800 about 10 years ago for the same type of service. Given prices go up and this place is a lot more popular than 10 years ago, I am not surprised.

Thanks for that info.

I guess the price is about as expected, then, considering. I've never had to replace a coil or other major part. The original HVAC system was still in-place when I purchased my house, and it lasted a total of 25 years before it failed, and that's when I replaced it all, 9 years ago.

[lottamoxie]

Originally Posted by Universe93B

Unfortunately, that price is not outrageous for an evaporator coil repair. I've actually seen higher in the last 1-2 years.

Thanks for the perspective. Next time I replace an HVAC system I'll make sure to get a labor warranty. The only caveat is, labor warranties are purchased from the install company, not the manufacturer, and if the vendor goes out of business, one is SOL for labor coverage if a part under warranty has to be replaced.