My experiences with Michael and Son have been terrible. This review will span over a month period. I purchased a new HVAC system this summer. My air conditioner stopped working after two months. A Michael and Son (M&S) salesman, provided written estimates for a new Carrier HVAC system. He returned to write a purchase contract for a new Carrier HVAC for $4,590. Secretary called to confirm appt. for installation. I told her to call my cell phone number so I could call my daughter to let the technicians in. The technicians arrived at my house, and the secretary called my home phone instead of my cell phone number. Thus, the technicians were not able to get in, and therefore left the premises. Secretary called again to reschedule installation. Technicians arrived again. Daughter was called to let technicians inside. They installed a new Carrier HVAC. I arrived home during the latter part of the installation. Afterwards, I inquired about the Seer Rating because the label on the unit said 13.5. I called salesman to check on the Seer Rating, and he said it was the same Seer as the one he wrote the estimate for which was14.5 Seer. I didn't know anything about Seer Rating, so I dropped the concern. A County Inspector arrived to inspect the new system. It was not approved because one of the four port bolts that was to secure the unit was missing. The County Inspector told me to call M&S to have them return to install the fourth port bolt. He said that although the unit was not approved, he would leave the "Approved "sticker, and stated that I should call him once the correction had been made by M&S. Technicians returned and installed the missing port bolt. I informed the County Inspector. Oct. 1 I noticed that my new HVAC air conditioner was not cooling my house, and I called M&S to report the problem. After working for about 4-5 hours, the Technician found a blown disconnect amps fuse. He said he had to order the part and would return on Wed. Oct. 7. Later that night, I discovered the technician had left the door opened and the light on in the storage room where my unit system part was stored. I brought this incident to the attention of Technician and the Customer Service Manager. The Technician said he would give me $50 towards my electricity bill. I didn't receive anything. Oct. 7 I received an itemized invoice for my new unit to be repaired. The invoice contained an estimated total close to $3200, which included all warranted parts. The invoice included an order for a compressor with a new terminal kit. Oct. 9 Technicians arrived again to install parts for the new system. They worked almost 6 hrs. Again, my new unit was not repaired. In addition, the Technician plugged his laptop into my inside living room outlet so he could charge his laptop. . He said my mother gave him permission. I told him he didn't have permission to plug anything into my outlets without checking with me first, and that he should pay me for the electricity he used. Again, he said he would give me $50 toward my electricity bill for that incident. I haven't received anything for the left-on light or for the electricity used to charge his laptop. Oct. 10-15 I called and told M&S Customer Service Managers that I was very unhappy with M&S service and products, and that I wanted them to come get the unit and void the contract. I decided that I didn't want them to return to try to fix it again and again and again. Oct. 15-16 I talked to the Customer Service Managers again. Although I was still unsatisfied with their response and service I was getting, I agreed to allow technicians to return to try and repair the system a third time. One of the schedulers for M&S called and scheduled my appt. for Friday, Oct. 18, during the 2:00-6:00 p.m. arrival window. Oct. 18 Technicians arrived between 5:00-5:15 p.m. I asked the Technician again about reimbursement for the electricity used for the light being left on and the laptop plugged into my outlet. He said I would have to consult M&S about the reimbursement. Again, I haven't received anything. The Technicians worked until 6:15-6:30 p.m. and informed me they still couldn't repair the system the third time. No invoice was received from the third visit. One of the Technicians said that the Customer Service manager was going to offer to give me a $1200 duct cleaner system for my troubles with my new system. In conclusion, M&S has not repaired my system after 3 tries and my new system that I paid $4590 is still broken and has been sitting outside for almost a month now. I have decided that I no longer want to negotiate anymore deals with Customer Service managers or schedule any more repairs with Michael and Son. I want them to come pick up their equipment and void my contract. I promise to do my homework and read reviews like this one before making other big purchases from now on. I encourage you to do the same! read more

Let me give a little background first I have a 88yo mother whom we had just brought home from rehab on 11/15/14 , I was at work on Sunday received a phone call from my wife telling me my moms heat had gone out , so when i returned home I was able to restart the gas furnace , but wasn't sure of the problem so i called Michael & Son for a service call , they said they could be out on Monday to check it out and they would call before they came so at some point on Monday midday i received a phone call saying yeah this is the tech from M & S ( no name was ever given ) so i had my 26yo son there waiting his arrival , the tech got there went to the basement looked at the unit and informed my son the heat ex changer had a crack in it , so he called me and i spoke to the very RUDE tech asking him how soon we could get her heat , well he had no concern about her age or health condition and said the best he could do was possibly Friday which was 4 days later and this is right when we had that short cold snap, so again i asked is there anything you can do to help me out seeing what was going on there , and again the very RUDE tech said nope , so at that point i told him to get his payment and leave since he didnt even make one phone call to see if there was anyway to help us out . So i being very pissed called M & S they informed me they had to send another tech to confirm the crack , at this i had left work and come home to meet the other tech Jermaine Allen who was very pleasant and made a few calls to get the date moved to Thursday we sat down wrote up a contract and he informed me they would be out between 9am to 11am on 11/20/14 well guess what that never happened after several phone calls to inquire as to when they would arrive i received a call at approx 2:30pm stating they had some problems on another job and were on their way well 3:30 is when the job got started , well the work went on and on and at 9:30 pm the tech came upstairs and asked what time does Home Depot close I ran short of PVC fittings and if i cant get them i wont be able to finish tonight . i told him i don't care weather you have to call Basim Mansour the owner out to get fittings your finishing tonight . So the trip to Home Depot was successful the job was completed at 12:20 am , now im informed her chimmy needs a new liner to meet new code , i was like why was this not caught before when the job was being looked at the water heater is only 3 feet away , so ok we have to get it done and i told the M &S office i would just add the price to the check , the next day i got a call to set the appointment time for the liner to be installed we set it for 11/28/14 at 12:20 Friday i called to find out when they would be there to install the girl said i see no pending service calls for your address , oh boy was i thrilled at that so i asked to speak to Micheal in the install dept. she said let me call them find out where they are ill call you right back , so at 1:20 i called again and asked for Micheal , she said they didn't call you yet i said nope sure haven't well let me call them again , i was very frustrated at this point so i called Jermaine who again was helpful in getting me my answer, within in 10 mins i got a call saying the would be out around 4pm to do the job . the 2 tech arrived around 4:15pm i took the down to the unit and he asked did they leave you a box i being puzzled now said no and then he says i cant do this job i have no material , i asked when can it be done he said maybe Saturday if i can get the parts well now all hell is in me i called Jermaine again and told him whats going on he said call Vance in customer relations well i called asked for Vance and who ever i was speaking with acted like they didnt want me to talk to him so i got Victor i vented to him but this still didnt get the work done , we did work it out to have it done Monday 3 days later then it was scheduled. So if your going to use Michael &Son make sure you have several days to deal with them on getting your work complete. MR. MANSOUR I WATCH YOU ON TV WHEN YOU DO WORK FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME TO HARD TIMES AND THATS AWESOME THATS SOMEONE WHO CARES ABOUT PEOPLE MAYBE YOU NEED TO GIVE SOME OF YOUR TECHS AND OFFICE STAFF A CLASS ON HOW TO TREAT PEOPLE . FOLKS ILL LEAVE YOU WITH THIS THOUGHT MICHAEL & SON HAS LEFT A BAD TASTE IN MY MOUTH !!!!!!!!!!! read more

After three basement floods, 10 days with no sewage, two other plumbing companies failing to solve the problem after numerous visits, and four days of virtually constant interaction with companies serving various purposes, Michael & Son was a breath of fresh air. We spent a significant amount of money to diagnose and understand options for repairing or replacing a collapsed sewer line and the only options I had been presented with all involved extensive excavation. Our concrete porch, mature landscaping, hemlock and maple trees, abundance and tricky positioning of utility lines, and depth of the sewer line all contributed to a rather complicated situation. The potential destruction, disruption, and cost needed for the repair was more disheartening than I care to relive. I had done a fair amount of research and became aware of trenchless options, though quickly realized this was a specialty that few in the Northern Virginia area were able to provide. In speaking with a very helpful Loudoun County inspector I was alerted to a job where Michael & Son was performing pipe bursting near my neighborhood. I showed up at the site unannounced and couldn't have been more welcomed; Terence and Mario were happy to answer questions and explain the process, and Paul was kind enough to come to my house to evaluate the possibility of pipe bursting as a solution to my problem. Not only did Paul come to the property, but Jason and Terence also came by that same night. I was floored with the customer service. When Bill came out the following day to camera and snake the line in order to confirm that pipe bursting would be feasible, I was again impressed with the incredible customer service provided. Bill was unbelievably patient with me, answering all of my questions calmly and definitively. He worked diligently with both the camera and the snake to succeed where two other plumbing companies had failed. Technically speaking, Bill's job was done when he was able to clear enough of a path for the pipe bursting cable to get through. But rather than call it a day, he continued to work to clear the line so that my husband and I would have mostly-functional plumbing for the weekend until the new sewage line could be installed on Monday. His customer service exceeded all expectations. Friday morning I was again pleasantly surprised by Michael & Son when Paul called to say that both Jason and Terence's teams would be brought in to try and complete the majority of the job that day. I was impressed by the professionalism, technical skill and commitment to excellence and customer service that I observed throughout the day. Jason's team was terrific from start to finish on Friday and Terence and Mario expertly completed the pipe bursting. And enough can't be said about Paul and Bill, both of whom have managed the project phenomenally thus far (to additionally include crowd control of nosy neighbors, reassuring and educating intensely interested parents and a very anxious customer). When paying for any service I absolutely expect to receive technical competence and good customer service, though very seldom find both to the extent to which I have thus far experienced with Michael & Son. I observed the company to have excellent professionalism, technical skills and customer service. Additionally, I know that these qualities extend beyond me as the customer; the relationships the company has with partnering entities such as Miss Utility, Loudoun County and VDOT were critical in moving my project so quickly toward resolution. Following the work on my house, my 8-mo pregnant best friend needed emergency plumbing to clear a sewer line blockage and Bill was at her house within 10 minutes and was able to fix the problem. I have recommended the company to all of my neighbors, several realtor friends and have been a walking commercial for you all since the work was completed. I appreciate the business model, commitment to community and the values which are the foundation of the company. read more

I have been dealing with damage in my kitchen for approximately 1 month, after US Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning (Manassas) took almost 1 hour to replace a garbage disposal. My review can be read on Yelp. After contacting 3 other plumbing professional companies, I contacted Michael and Son on 9 Sep 14. I was expecting to schedule an appointment for later in the week, because surely I couldn't get same day service without paying a hefty emergency fee. Imagine my surprise when the representative took the time to research availability and offer me two options for less than $30. While that was great! It was no indication of what was to come. When the representative called me later in the day to let me know that they had some time available and offered to have the plumber come earlier, I could have passed out and when the plumber, Johnny, showed up within 30 minutes of me accepting the generous offer. I was done! Johnny walked into my kitchen, turned on the faucet and walked into my living. He put his ear to the wall and in less than 5 minutes he had diagnosed a specific problem. I have taken time off work on three occasions and wasted hours listening to guesses and declarations of the damage not being US Plumbing's responsibility. Johnny informed me of the cost, got my approval and opened the wall. I could not believe what I saw. It was leaking from the exact spot he said it was. If I wasn't already impressed, I was when Johnny recommended that I contact the property manager, because the main pipe was not up to code and that I may not be responsible for replacing it. In short, he saved me over $500. When the property manager got to my home, he drilled Johnny, but Johnny held his own. He was incredibly professional and knowledgeable. Johnny was able to cite code standards, make workable solution recommendations and detail the perimeters of Michael and Sons expectations of excellence. When the two gentlemen used terms that I didn't understand, Johnny broke them down into terms I could. I felt that Johnny exemplified a standard that, I hope, is uniquely Michael and Son. I got the feeling Johnny opted to walk away, before cutting corners or performing work that did not represent his personal best. I am left with the feeling that it is very possible that Michael and Son care more about integrity and their reputation than they do about making money and as a result, the $400 dollars I spent is the best $400 I have spent. I feel amazing! I feel like Johnny respected me and was honest with me. That's super hard to find in the world of contractors. I pray that Johnny is a reflection of Michael and Sons business practices, because if that is the case, we will have a long relationship. While, I do not expect to see Johnny regarding the work he did in my home today, he took the time to explain to me in detail what I needed to do if for some reason I am unsatisfied with his work. He also detailed what I could expect from Michael and Son if I needed them to come back and address the work done in my home today. He made sure that I knew that Michael and Son stand behind their work. On a personal note, I truly cannot express how I feel about my experience with Michael and Son, specifically Johnny. All I can say is that I feel amazing. Johnny also noted that I had black mold and buckling wood floors, while this is not good news, I feel certain that Johnny was honest and I hope that the Michael and Sons restoration team is all that Johnny was and more. All too often, consumers feel taken advantage of by contractors. Johnny was a blessing for me today. If ever I need a plumber, I plan to call Michael and Son and ask for Johnny. Peace of mind is everything. I believe Johnny had the skills to successfully perform the job well. I believe he did perform well and most importantly, if he had made a mistake, I believe he would have been honest and that's peace of mind. Thanks Johnny and Micheal and Son. read more

This is a rating/review for an outstanding technician from Michael & Son Services - HVAC tech Ron Edmonds - who came to see why my HVAC system was not responding properly (either heating or cooling). Two technicians, one from Michael's and one not, had come earlier - but insisted that it was a. either how we used the thermostat or b. how the thermostat was positioned in the house. This was in spite of my saying repeatedly that the Carrier system and its thermostats had worked perfectly regardless of "placement" or "how they were used" by us - for at least 7 years already! Ron arrived on a freakishly hot, early summer day - when I was desperate to have cooling other than by ceiling fans. After a reasonable length of time, he came in from the heat to let me know that it was a faulty circuit board that needed replacing. Fortunately, I had signed up for the Michael's home care program - and the new circuit board, as well as his 2 visits, were covered. He returned (I believe after a week - maybe less) - when the circuit board had arrived - and soon we were again enjoying a cooled home, Ron was smart, professional, efficient, on time and pleasant - and the best diagnostician we'd seen in years. When I went out a few times during the few hours he spent outside in the brutal heat/humidity to ask if he needed something to drink - he wanted only room-temperature water. I would hire him again in a nano-second - couldn't have asked for a better experience. I am sorry to have delayed a review of him, in fact, but busy summer! PS: I didn't want to mess up Ron's review with a mixed general comment on M&S - especially after perusing the many and varied reviews - but couldn't figure out how to do it separately. Overall, I would say the experience depends heavily on the technician you happen to draw. My initial experience - with a plumber named Mike - who quickly cleaned and restored into action our tankless water heater (still a rarity in this area - was nice, efficient and professional - getting me started on a positive note with Michael & Son. While he mentioned the home care agreement, I was reluctant to jump in with both feet - but I did on the suggestion of a second HVAC technician, who not only "sold" me on benefits of home care, but also "upselled" me several items that he said would improve the quality of my HVAC system - including an Air Knight and a "hard start" for both of our units and a permanent filter for the main intake in our LR. This same technician, who was personable, made a strong case for these items - but naturally they came at a cost (I later found significantly higher than average cost - and of course these guys get commissions on sales). However, since I am often at home and my husband overseas when home crises start, I was just ready to "buy" more "peace of mind." And indeed this logic worked - as I describe above when our downstairs HVAC stopped working altogether (the first technician was unable to address the problem which was already there). The subsequent ducts crew was excellent (separate review) - however, I found the electrician who did our (now-free-with-home-care) inspection was spotty in terms of covering everything and seemed most interested in "upselling" me everything from a whole system surge control (maybe a good idea) to totally replacing all of our current bulbs (mostly compact fluorescent) with LEDs at a frankly outrageous cost. I accepted the "free" inspection and told myself we will do this ourselves, over time!! read more

I've now used Michael & Son Services two times. The first time we used them was last summer - my wife was nine months pregnant and our AC/HVAC died. After a couple of days of sleeping in the basement, we had M&S come out. After the diagnostic they informed us the AC/HVAC was kaput and that we would need a whole new unit. I asked them whether it could be fixed or could coolant be added, and of course the answer was no (after reading some of the other posts here, I wonder if they were feeding me a line of bull about the AC/HVAC being beyond repair). At any rate, M&S quoted us $5K to $7K for the replacement, and of course we paid because it was July, 100 degrees outside and our kid was nearly on the way. As others have said here, the service was good and we got a warranty but their prices are extremely high, much higher than the market. I don't even know how they can justify their prices. Additionally, in the installation process they had to cut several holes in the ceiling. After cutting the holes, I asked the M&S whether they would patch the holes and he replied yes but for a cost and that I would have to schedule for those repairs. I am like damn all that, I'll patch it myself. I don't understand how you can perform work and not leave the job the way you found it (and they left dirty hand prints on the walls). I find M&S whole business to be predatory and their pricing disingenuous. Now the second time - we had the unsettling of experience of working with Michael and Sons in fixing (I say that loosely) a leaky pipe. We initially thought that the AC/HVAC was leaking as our basement was flooded and asked M&S to come out since we have the warranty. Once the AC/HVAC tech came out, we were able to determine it was a leaky pipe. So I waited for another tech to come out but this time from the M&S plumbing division. The tech, Dave locates the leak and I ask him how much it will cost. Well he days $90 to cut the hole and $325 to patch the pipe. I told him I can cut a damn hole in drywall and I did just that. After that the Dave patched what seemed to be the leaking pipe and I looked at it and I took pictures of the work. This should have been the end of the story but no, the next day I go back in the basement and it is flooded again in the same spot. The leak was still there and now I am wondering whether M&S even fixed the right pipe. I call M&S and let them know they didn't fix it and they came back out . The same tech, Dave arrives and tells me that it is a different leak and that they will have to charge an additional $311 to fix the pipe. WTF! So Dave begins repairing the pipe and all the while I am wondering if M&S is attempting to hustle me out of another $300 plus. At this point, we call M&S to speak to Dave's manager - since I don't believe the leak was fixed in the first place and I let him know we were not paying. So the next day I received a call from the M&S plumbing manager, Malcolm. During our conversation Malcolm instantly became nasty, combative and condescending during our exchange and kept attempting to over talk me about the issue of the price. Overall, Malcolm was a world class jerk. I took all of my being to remain civil with Malcolm and we were able to settle on a price of $252. By and large, M&S service is questionable, their prices are exorbitant and the customer service is a joke. If you are reading this, I hope you consider another company because M&S is doo-doo. read more

Always prompt .. always professional!! These guys are great. I find them to be reliable - which is most important to me. Sure .. they often try to sell up their services and add-ons, but what company doesn't try to up sell stuff while they are there? I find NO PRESSURE in the up sell items (i.e. electromagnetic filters in place of the the current A/C - HVAC filters I buy at Lowe's or similar type DIY store.) BUT -- no one says I MUST purchase this or else... they simply encourage the items as a means to prolong the life of whatever ... which be it plumbing, water heaters, A/C and heating units or whatever else falls into their realm of expertise. That means I won't have to buy a new gadget or whatever next time .. right? I have found them to be extremely courteous and cautious while in the home. I had a new HVAC system installed 2 years ago at my mother's home. They call ME once a year to schedule the annual maintenance/check-up to maintain the warranty on the new and expensive system. .. Service call $59. Not bad for an annual check up and to be told all is well and in perfect running condition. (which hopefully it stays that way). But really, any good company will offer you options and choices. If you think it's up-selling stuff you don't need... then don't buy it and they'll see you next year. No one's gonna leave disgruntled just because you're gonna wait until next year or two to invest in the extra whatevers. Just gives you time to research the suggestions and decide whether or not you want to go with it next time. I'm sorry some folks have given less than stellar reviews. I can only speak from my experience and I'm not one to get pushed into purchasing something I don't want or is outside of my own budget. I have never felt pushed or coerced into any service I didn't feel was necessary or I was willing to purchase. Michael and Sons is a very reputable company. If you think they are too pricey .. you don't have to go with them and find another company more in line with your budget. I am willing to pay what I feel is a fair price with the knowledge they back up and guarantee their service and work. If you plan ahead of a crisis or the seasonal rush, I doubt you have to wait more than a week. If you have an emergency -- they will be there promptly! Within the next 24 hours or less based on your level of emergency and location. My mother lives out in the boonies .. the waaaaaay out boonies and they have come by the end of the day when I called with an emergency (busted/leaky pipe - hose bib on the the side of the house which apparently froze over winter due to a failed 35 year old "frost safe" spigot) I guess everything has a certain life expectancy. They always put on hospital footies/shoe covers when they come into the house. All employees wear shirts with their names on them. They always call 30-60 minutes ahead of their arrival time to let you know they are on the way. You may have a 4 hour window when initially scheduling, but they will call and let you know before they arrive. I like that. You can have all your receipts emailed to you. I find that convenient to forward to my tax people for repairs on the house. Michael & Sons has a fantastic staff and they make every effort to keep and maintain your loyalty. I like that the same service guy has come by the past 2 years to check on Mom's HVAC system. Thank you Michael & Sons ... Keep up the fantastic work! read more

We had a very positive experience. This is a large firm that employs a very large number of technicians, so it's entirely possible for different people to encounter widely varying levels of responsiveness, performance and satisfaction. I initially made the appointment because our garbage disposal gave up the ghost, and the kitchen sink plumbing had a slow leak. On arrival, the technician/plumber, Wael T., quickly diagnosed the issues and also identified a few others that we already knew about (our faucet was original to the house and dripping/leaking, and the previous owner's DIY plumbing work to accommodate an outdoor patio sink that he never actually installed was abominable. Moreover, they'd never installed a shutoff valve on the water line running from under the sink to the outside hose bib. In all honesty, I found the quote for the entire repair/remediation job to be somewhat high. But Wael walked me through each component (for example explaining the features and warranty differences between the disposal he would install and one that we might buy from a home goods store and then pay separately to have installed). I decided it was better to have all the work done at once, by a single contractor, and with a very good warranty included in the price. Wael was fantastic. Not only competent, skilled, and efficient, he was incredibly personable and a pleasure to work with. With the work priced by "the job" rather than by the hour, I was pleased to see him work deliberately and without rushing through the details (botched soldering or incorrect fixture fitting can turn a plumbing repair into a soggy disaster). He even uncovered a couple of major "boo-boos" that the prior, DIY owner had made, apparently in repairing an earlier burst pipe in the same space. When all was said and done, we had a top-quality (and quiet) disposal and high-end sprayer faucet installed; a repaired water line with new quarter-throw shutoff valve and new exterior hose bib; new quarter-throw shutoff valves for the hot and cold water feeds and the one to our dishwasher; an easy-access drain trap should we ever need to snake our main drain line; a new drain cap in our sink; and clean, efficient drain pipes under cabinet in place of the roller-coaster Rube Goldberg mess that the DIYer had put in place. After we removed the "copper lines to nowhere" that went to the nonexistent outdoor sink, Wael made sure to apply some plumber's putty to the holes to prevent infiltration until we can get the drywall under the sink patched. Nobody likes to be faced with a (frankly large) unanticipated bill, myself included. But I was able to get all of the above work done in a single afternoon, without having to go shopping in two to four different stores and make two or three separate installation/repair appointments, and was left with very skilled work covered by a strong warranty. So overall, we're very satisfied, and in particular cannot say enough good things about Wael. He really epitomizes what any homeowner thinks of if one is asked to envision the "ideal" plumber, electrician or other similar service provider. I would happily have him come and work on any future plumbing job of mine. As stated at the outset, anybody can encounter a bad experience, even with a good company. I can offer only that in this case we are satisfied with the overall job, and really commend Wael to company management for his truly outstanding performance. read more