Michael Johns from Edmonton

Submitted an air conditioner service request through the Excel website, and received a call from Blake that evening. Based on my description of the problem, and the age of my air conditioner, Blake felt it was likely (but not guaranteed) to be the dual capacitor in the outside compressor. Even though Blake was fully booked for the following day, he said he would come by first thing in morning before his other calls to check, and if necessary replace, the dual capacitor. Fortunately for me, the dual capacitor was the problem, and Blake quickly replaced it. As I have two air conditioners the same age, Blake suggested we also check the dual capacitor in the second compressor. Although still working, that dual capacitor was way out of spec, so I had Blake replace it as well. The entire service call took less than an hour, and I now have two working air conditioners that I confidently expect to see me through the summer. This was my first time using Excel Heating & A/C. I chose them because they're a certified Carrier dealer, and also because of the many positive reviews on HomeStars. I'm glad I did. Although I hope I won't need their help any time soon, I won't hesitate to call them again if I do.

I started using Atlas years ago for no other reason than they were the closet HVAC company to the house I was living in. Right from the start I was impressed by both their knowledge and their willingness to explain in layperson's terms what the problem was and what my options were. I've never had cause to doubt them, they've always done exactly what they said they were going to do, and the workmanship has always met or exceeded my expectations. These guys take pride in what they do. I was reminded of this recently when I had Scott in to diagnose a problem with one of my 80's Lennox furnaces. Luckily for me, it was only a faulty wall thermostat, but since I had Scott there, I had him give both furnaces a quick tune-up, which has me hoping to get a few more years out of the old units. It's been years since I even considered calling other firms for my HVAC needs. Atlas has earned the right to be my go-to HVAC guys, and while I hope I only see them at long intervals, when I do need help, they are the people I call.

Because of the excellent reviews on HomeStars, I engaged Mike to both repair and replace some ceiling drywall in an older home. The job turned out to be more involved than we had anticipated, because old homes can be full of surprises. Mike, thankfully, was not fazed by what he found, and worked through the problems to deliver the results I expected. I'm really pleased with the outcome, and the reasonable price I paid, and I won't hesitate to use Mike for future plaster and drywall work.

I needed a large green ash removed, so I called three companies with very good BBB ratings. The first gave me an absurdly high estimate, while the second (a large well-known company) never showed. Only Doug Burton from Ace of Trees was both prompt and reasonable in his estimate. So, for me, Ace of Trees it was. On the agreed day, Doug and his crew arrived on time (I like punctual) and set to work without delay. The tree was gone within the hour, and there was no discernible damage to the landscaping, fencing, or house. I was pleased. I normally use contractors for whom I have personal references from friends or family, so choosing Ace of Trees was a gamble for me--one I'm glad I took. I will have no hesitation in recommending them to others.

I needed an electrician, but hadn't used one in years. Saw the excellent reviews for Robart on this site, so checked a bit further and found they also have an A+ rating with BBB. Good enough for me! Rob was a pleasure to deal with on the phone--friendly and informative. On the day scheduled for service, the equally friendly electrician called ahead of time to confirm the appointment, then arrived right on time. The work was completed quickly, competently, and neatly. Rob and his team obviously take pride in their work--a trait I value highly in any trade. Robart are my go-to electricians in future!