Gas Furnace Installation in San Rafael, CA 94901
“Just before Christmas, one of our two aging (27 years old) furnaces died. In anticipation, two years ago, I had solicited proposals to replace the two 5-tons furnaces and A/C units. All three proposals were similar in design, replacing the two 5-tons with two new, 80% efficient furnaces and A/C, with upgrades to many of the 28 ducts connected. I was not happy with the concept. I wanted to raise the efficiency of the furnaces to the high 90%. I was told that the price would be almost twice as much. After the death of one of the furnaces last December, I noticed that the house was comfortable with only one furnace. Only 2 or 3 rooms dipped to just below 60 degrees in the early morning. I investigated replacing both furnaces with only one high efficiently one, capable of handling multiple zones. Engineering calculations suggested that the 5700 Sqf. house needed between 7 and 8 tons, implying I would be taking risk.
I reviewed three new proposals, one was outrageous, one was for the same price as the previous year two furnaces proposal. I was ready to go. When walking my dog one evening, I chatted with a neighbor who is a contractor. He suggested I called Chris at Enviro. Chris responded to my call when I got home after my walk and came to the house the following day. After a thorough inspection of the current installation, he pulled out his tablet and in 15 minutes issued a comprehensive proposal for a multiple zone (exact number to be determined after demo of the existing system). The 5-ton, 97% efficient Bryant Evolution, 2-stage modulating, and the 5-ton 26 SEER A/C condenser required 28 new insulated ducts (all galvanized steel) was priced slightly less that the best proposal (Carrier System, identical to the Bryant – same manufacturer). Not familiar with Enviro, I called three references, one having replaced multiple furnaces with just one. They made me believe that Chris walked on water.
The installation started two months later. It took 6 ½ days. The crew of 2 to 6 (depending on the day) was friendly, competent, and ultra clean. After a little tweaking of the program of the Wi-Fi thermostat, the 3-zone system is keeping the house perfectly comfortable (according to our standard) and I already noticed a decrease in PG&E usage. It was a monstrous job. They did not even protest when I requested relocating one of the three thermostats, whose location (on an outside wall) proved to be inadequate. Chris and Enviro deserve a 6-star review for a fantastic job on an extremely complicated installation.”
– Gerald D.