We’ve lived in our house for nearly 22 years and during all of that time we had, at the most, maybe a week or two of sporadic hot weather where temperatures were in the 90s. We thought we could survive without the expense.

But all of that seems to be changing. So my wife, daughter and I know all about “global warming.” I can’t recollect when we’ve had a streak of hot weather in which daytime temperatures ranged in the upper 80s and 90s for such a long period of time. It’s almost like we live in the Carolinas.

One day, we decided we’d had it with coming home to a sauna every night, so a week ago we finally had air conditioning installed. And now we wonder how we ever survived without it.

Usually, I don’t promote businesses in my column, but I have to credit where it is due-this case the Baldwinsville-based Hill’s Heating and Air Conditioning. When we started shopping around, several contractors said they couldn’t get to it for a month or so. Also, they advised, it would take three separate contractors to do the job-a carpenter, an electrician and an installer. Trying to get three separate contractors lined up alone would be next to impossible-especially this time of year.

But Hill’s did everything. They even went out of their way for us and sent a crew out on overtime on a Saturday to accommodate us. What’s more, we live 35 miles from Baldwinsville.

If that’s not service, I don’t know what is. But that’s the way businesses are in Baldwinsville. They know their business, act promptly and professionally, and do the job right the first time. And add to that they show up when they say they will. I would say this is an excellent reason to patronize our local businesses.

Aaron and Rob were very efficient and courteous both days in our home and worked well together to get us toasty warm once again. We were very impressed with how neat they were and made sure they cleaned up any mess they made.

Your staff-from the secretaries, service techs and installation techs are to be commended for the excellent job they do. Everyone went out of their way to make a stressful time for us a lot easier. We are also happy with your suggestion to go with the Rheem furnace.

Thank you to everyone–
Sincerely,
Bob & MaryAnn Mahunik

I am writing to tell you of my complete satisfaction with the Rheem central heating and air-conditioning system you installed for me during the week of August 19th, 2002. I rarely have written to anyone regarding my satisfaction with their products and services but my encounter with your company was completely satisfying I’d thought I should share it with you.

Our old Lennox/Sears system died last spring and we knew we had to completely replace it with the latest technology heating and air-conditioning system. We had also desired to extend the forced air ducting to the master suite, which was added to our house long after the original heating/cooling system had been installed. The new system would have to serve our entire 2,600+ square foot house.

During the late spring we contacted five contractors, including Hills, to come and quote on this major job. Hills promptly came within a couple of days of our call and examined the job offering excellent suggestions on how we might go about extending the ductwork to the master suite. Within a week of the site survey we had a written proposal and offer from Hill’s covering the entire job and even an alternative system for consideration.

Our experience with the other contractors was less than favorable. Of the other four, two came within a reasonable amount of time but they did not like the idea of extending the ductwork and eventually quoted on a best effort basis. The quotes were slow in coming and were a single page without any explanation of their offer or alternatives. The remaining two took some time to even get them to survey the job and after finally coming, they completely failed to deliver any quotation verbal or written.

Thus, we were presented with three quotes of a possible five. Hills was a complete typed binder with explanation, alternatives and sell sheets and the others, single pages and handwritten. We were not looking for the lowest price but the best proposal that would meet our requirements. It was more important to us to get the job well done than to pinch pennies. The decision for us to go with Hills was simple, not only had you presented yourselves as the best option, but you were the lowest price!

After answering a few questions during a follow-up visit we signed the contract and scheduled installation for the week of August 19th. The installers arrived on schedule and set about the work in a very professional manner. They always addressed me with extreme courtesy, cleaned up the work site each day and left notes regarding the status from day to day. I was very impressed with the neatness of the cutting into the sheetrock to install the ductwork extension. It was so cleanly done that I replaced the sheetrock cutouts myself without having to hire a contractor. The work was completed on schedule on August 23rd and the installers cleaned up and hauled away the old unit leaving all the operation and installation manuals and giving a brief tutorial on how to use the system.

Being a hot summer, we got to try out the central air-conditioning soon afterward and upon closing up the house and setting the thermostat for 70 degrees it proceeded to pump the whole house to a comfortable temperature. I took a thermometer from room to room, upstairs and down and, after a little adjusting of the central damper and some floor registers, was surprised to see the whole house a uniform 70 degree F to within +/- degree F while it was a steamy 85 degrees F+ outside.

The fall progressed and we didn’t have much need for cooling or heating until October came along. Winter seems to be coming along colder this year and we have had excellent use of the heating system. We have the thermostat programmed for 67 degrees F while we area at home and we area still seeing the remarkable whole house uniformity of +/- degree F.

In addition to the above benefits, we have found the system whisper quiet, not disturbing our sleep in the slightest and the air in our house seems much fresher and less stale due to the excellent circulation and filtration system.

Thank you for doing such a great job and selling us such a fine Rheem system. I wish you season’s greetings and please rest assured you have a warm and very happy customer this holiday season. Please feel free to use my name and this letter as a reference if you ever desire to.

Sincerely yours,

Ian K. Edwards

“After a long days work, I love to come home and turn on my fireplace (with one flick of a switch). It’s great at taking the chill out of the air. When Hill’s put in my fireplace, I was impressed with how neat and clean the service techs were. They actually put down a drop cloth before they even walked into the room.”

Commercial and residential construction, remodeling and renovations.
They serve all of Central New York.

“We use Hill’s Heating exclusively for all of our heating, air conditioning, ventilating and computerized control systems. They give us on time, on budget construction and great customer service after the sale!”

Would you please pass this note along to Aaron and Ben to thank them for doing such a fine job installing the fireplace insert in my family room, and to Paul for his assistance and attention. It was an excellent experience dealing with these gentlemen and to the two folks in your showroom. Everything was done with the customer in mind. From start to finish, my wife and I are so glad we chose Hill’s for this project.

Thank you.

Raymond Lawrence

This is a letter of thanks and great appreciation for the exceptional employees that you have at Hill’s Heating and Air Conditioning Inc.

Great thanks to Paul Elkie, he was incredible with helping us, with our furnace, and his intelligence for all the duct work that needed to be changed and added.  He was extrememly helpful and went out of his way to help us.  He took us out to the Auburn showroom to show us the beautiful fireplace there.  So mention that we love!  he is very polite, and very considerate.

We also want to thank Aaron, Ben and Kevin for the great job and their consideration with the installation of the furnace and fireplace, for which they had installed in our home on the days of March 23, 24, 25 and 26, 2004.

We enjoyed having them in our home.  They also were extremely poliet, very hard working guys.  They also cleaned up after themselves, after each task.

We are very impressed and pleased.  They did an excellent job!  We just can’t say enough good about your crew that you have.

We will highly recommend Hill’s Heating and Air Conditioning nc. to our friends and anyone who ask.

Sincerely,

Michael & Theresa Fey
Kirkville, New York

I am writing to tell you how extremely happy my family and I are with your company and your product.  From the moment we signed the contract, everything went smoothly.

Your crew was knowledgeable, friendly and efficient.  They arrived with our furnace exactly when they said they would.  They answered all of our questions politely and completed the job quickly.  When they returned to do the start up test on our furnace, we couldn’t believe how thorough they were.

Unknown to us, a part which was included in the contract could not be installed due to the bend in our chimney.  We were notified and a rebate was mailed to us within a few days.  Your honesty is to be commended.  It has been a pleasure doing business with you.

Sincerely,

Karen Beers
Auburn, NY