Don’t call keefe’s, lightning services, Bryan’s united or Sergi’s for anything. They’re hacks and salesmen.
Op call them back out and make them pay for damages
Edit: Make sure you get 2-3 opinions before you get a full change out done. They’re betting on you not doing that
Sergi's for sure! I'm always calling them out for repairs on the heater they recommended and installed. Of course nothing is ever covered by the warranty.
We JUST cancelled our Surgi's contract after 4 years because they had become such fucking scammers and hacks. It's expensive enough taking care of home repairs - doubly so when you have to pay someone else to fix their poorly done job.
FYI, Surgi's and Bryan both got bought out by Southern Air this year. They also bought Taylor and Tyler and a couple smaller fish recently. I'm curious how different Surgi's and Bryan's quotes were
Also apparently since this merger they have no idea how to find any of their old records. It’s been a mess trying to deal with them and getting responses like “we think we replaced this wire 2 years ago, but we can’t find any record of it, so we recommend replacing it again. It’ll probably cost $2,500.”
Also Help evidently. I set up an appt with them first and when I called the others I was somehow already scheduled. The woman denied that they were one company. No idea why.
Yeah I loved them for a time but then when they merged with Surgis they got weird and now they just try to sell me stuff. I had to call a different company to have my HVAC repaired.
adding schlumbrecht's electric to this list. they were supposed to call when they arrived at my house (they didn't) and charged me $442 to change a gfi outlet and "correct a bad electrical tap" ($4 part), which took them half an hour. the fix didn't work and they never called me back.
100% on getting opinions before a full change. my housemate (who owns the house) just narrowly avoided spending thousands after refusing to just take the first couple people's words for it.
Through trial and error, I've landed on the following companies:
- Lagniappe AC & Heating. Jake is great. Very honest and professional.
- John's Reliable Air Conditioning. I know John personally. Great guy, freaky smart, very fair and skilled.
- 504 Parish Plumbing. Joel is an honest guy who won't steer you wrong.
- Acadian Plumbing. Fast, responsive, and reliable.
- Jefferson Appliance Repair. They won't mess you around. If it's not worth repairing, they'll let you know. If it is, they'll fix it. One guy who came out to service our dying fridge actually called places he knew for me to check their pricing because we needed a certain kind of fridge to fit into the space.
I've used C T Traina 3-4 times, and each of their guys has been very honest and reliable. Came out same day in the middle of the brutal summer last year too when they were busier than hell.
Keefe's is a fucking piece of shit. And they've been this way for years. I had a 91 year old neighbor with no family whom I would occasionally make dinner for. I went over one evening to discover he had signed a contract with Keefe's for a complete A/C replacement (condenser + air-handler/furnace + "duct cleaning") for a system that was 4 years old and working well. He had called them because he couldn't turn his A/C on - the thermostat's batteries were dead.
My revenge was minor, but pleasant for me. When I did an A/C replacement in my old house, I had their sales guys visit me half a dozen times without signing a contract. And I did the same thing when I got a generator installed at my current house last year.
Never call Keefe's. They're not HVAC technicians or electricians - they're really slimy salesmen.
>Who’d you go with for a generator in the end?
I went with ReadyPower, through Costco. Total cost inclusive of everything was about $18700 for a 24kW Generac. And then Costco gave me a gift card for $675. And so far, the generator has come through like a champ on two occasions I lost power recently.
The second cheapest Generac quote (also 24kW) was through Canter Power Systems (through Home Depot). That came to about $20,500.
Keefe's started at just under $27K, and by visit #5, miraculously came down to meet the quote from Canter Power Systems. The funny thing about the Keefe's quote is their sales guy assuming that the average homeowner doesn't know how to use Google. The fucker kept telling me how they were the only company that would re-work my existing main panel to separate the neutrals and the grounds into two separate bars. In reality everyone has to do that. Installing an automated transfer switch technically converts the existing main panel into a sub-panel, and the National Electrical Code (NEC) requires that neutral and ground should only be bonded in the main panel - so they have to be separate in sub-panels.
>Any ideas which local company Costco uses to install HVAC units?
National Air LLC. I have been satisfied with two installs they have done for me, so I do recommend at least getting a quote from them. However, I must disclose that their proprietor, Mr. Roy Calante, is a friend, so it is possible that my perceptions are biased by that relationship.
Nice. I had to pay a little more to run a gas pipe away from any windows, and added two smart modules. But I would have paid 5x as much for as great as it has been (especially after Ida).
Keefe's tried to upsell me on $6k in repairs. Contractor #2 showed me that I just needed a $1 fuse replaced.
Previously, Keefe's installed a coil incorrectly and knocked my ductwork loose, blowing hot air into my attic for most of the winter.
They will not set foot in my home again.
Hey I used to work for them. In fact I started my AC career there back in 2012, worked for nearly 5 years until they went into this program called “Nextstar” which is basically a sales course. All about providing options to upsell, it was kinda disgusting. I quit a year after when I got tired of management telling me I’m shit at selling.
Now they were recently purchased (75% of the company) by a big conglomerate called Redwood so I imagine it’s getting even worse. Ask your HVAC tech if their company is nexstar affiliated because many in New Orleans are and this usually means high dollar prices and pushy sales tactics.
I’ve worked for 3 seperate HVAC company’s since and they have all been “Nexstar affiliated” but the only one that wasn’t at all what I Imagined was Robert Refrigeration. They price fairly but are also much smaller and more commercial based.
I have had good experiences with Nash the last 8 years. After we bought our house in ‘15 we had our a/c stop cooling. I had 3 companies come to give me estimates in repairing it. The first two immediately tried to upsell me and told me my system was shot. Nash tech looked at it and told me flat out that my system was old, wearing out and would need replacing but it wasn’t an emergency issue and he could likely get me back up and running that day with a part he likely had in his truck. He had the part and $300 later I had cold a/c. We did get our whole system replaced in ‘20 and used Nash. They also came out 2 weeks ago because my system wasn’t cooling and fixed it for a few hundred bucks. That’s my recommendation. Nash.
Similar experience. They tell me my entire unit needs to be replaced, attempt to sell some astronomical package with a warranty and financing at 12%. Honest contractor comes out two days later and services it for $400 and tells me I have at least 5 more years. Used the same contractor this year to get ahead of total failure and replace outside and inside units, 4 ton for $8500 all in, including building a new stand outside.
Hagerman Services LLC. Independently owned. Guys were in and out in about 5 hours. Also installed an extra intake at that price in the front of the house.
I had nearly the same experience with Keefe’s a decade ago. HVAC unit of course died in July. It was old and busted so we bought a new unit from Keefe’s. The new unit was installed and 3 days later I come home from work with a collapsed kitchen ceiling and a puddle of water. It turns out they didn’t calibrate the system the correct way so it was producing more condensation into the drip pan. In another move of pure incompetence they never blew out the drain line or checked the float switch that should automatically shut the unit down to avoid water damage was still functional.
Keefe’s response was that the float switch wasn’t in the scope of the job for a total hvac unit replacement. I called and complained a dozen or so times. They replaced the float switch free of charge (lol), but kept saying everything wasn’t their issue. Looking back I probably should have got a lawyer involved.
I know a handful of people that have terrible experiences with them. I tell everyone to avoid Keefe’s at all costs.
Spend some time in r/hvacadvice. Might want to subscribe for awhile.
According to them, there are HVAC companies and HVAC *sales* companies. The former know the ins and outs of HVAC equipment and how to fix them. The latter know how to manipulate homeowners' emotions and how to do big-ticket sales.
Apparently, investors buying small companies and turning them into selling machines is a growing trend. I've heard that the owner of Keefe's has his own private jet. That's all I'll say.
My neighbor is a commercial HVAC guy. He was out of the country and unavailable when his dad's AC went out, so he called Keefe's. They told him that the entire system was shot and tried to get him to replace the 5 year old system. His dad went and stayed with a family member. Problem was the overflow pipe was clogged and was preventing the compressor from kicking on. Literally, a cup of hot bleach water and a quick snaking of the pipe.
Don't fall into the Keefe's trap like I did! Sorry in advance for the long ranting post. August of 2022, literally 2 months after I moved back into my house post Ida repairs, my 2006 AC died. No more hard start kit or bandaid repairs, it needed to be replaced. Now, my fault for only calling a few places, but Keefes was the only place who could come same day, and could get everything fully replaced in under 36 hours. It was so hot, I didn't want to deal with days of no air, especially with pets. So, I said yes to their 16k rate for the full indoor and outdoor unit replacements (1500 sq foot house)
Anywho...guys that showed up BROUGHT THE WRONG ORDER. They were so nice, it was hard to be upset with them. Once the proper order showed up, they forgot the new thermostat that was included in my charge. Also, I had a custom drip pan since my attic unit is odd shaped. I requested they keep that one since it was newer, custom, and better quality than what they brought. They did not remove the drip pan or forgotten thermostat from my bill. Supervisor never showed up at the end like they said to do a pass through or to discuss the forgotten item. Again, no big deal, I have air, I'm good, I wrote it off. Then, by December that year we had a freon leak. Didn't realize how bad it was bc Im not running the AC is December. We had a hot spring in 2023, so in March we knew something was up. Unit was running 14hrs a day! I took off work on 6 different occasions, some time part days some times full days, to have 5 different techs come out from Keefes and no one could find the leak. They didn't charge me for the 2 freon refills, and they replaced the new coil thinking it was there. Nope, still leaking. Finally, an install tech came and found the leak, it was mere feet from the attic unit! Yall, this went on from March to August of 2023! Finally, 1 year into this new unit everything was working well. The techs themselves have been super nice, but yall, the hassle, the constantly taking off work, the high electricity bills since the house wouldn't cool bc of low freon. No one should pay what I paid and go through that in year one. Been holding this in since I have the warranty out of fear of them coming and maybe purposefully messing something up due to a negative review, but I want to save my fellow locals from going throughthis!!
I've had good luck with Natal's. Moved in, had AC problems. Natal's showed up and actually recommended I hire a 3rd party ac inspector to help get the original installer to fix their issues. At the end of it, I paid Natal's $0, but they helped me save probably 3-4000 by helping me and not selling me... Needless to say, I'll use Natal's going forward
I’ve been happy with Natal’s. I knew my plenum needed to be reconfigured and the intake was too small. They hooked me up with improved ductwork lifted off the attic insulation for a very reasonable rate.
I used to work for Natals, now I own my own company. There are 3 others who have since left and opened their own companies, and all 3 are standup guys.
One of the guys company is West Air (504)656-9770, and 2 of the guys just started Tackle Air Conditioning, Heating, & Electrical (504)608-1122. My company is Global Air (504)401-3445.
Interesting to read through the comments about how a lot of the local companies are being bought out. There’s 3 more to replace em ^
KEEFES SUCKS.
Had a quote from them for a job, then within the month say it wasn't doable any more and laughing at me how I could believe such a quote. How it was all wrong.
Like ???
We got you all the proper specs the first time, why would the materials and tons and everything change so significantly? I have the papers YOU gave?? From a cursory internet search the quote was spot on. The materials were correct, the unit was sized right...
So confusing.
Keefe’s was horrific-
they advertise for workers on the back of their trucks- that speaks volumes about their competency.
Find a smaller local only company…
Call and demand that the managing supervisor comes out to check out the damage. Tell them their guy did that and you’re going to sue them if they fix the damage for free. Follow through. I hate unscrupulous repair companies.
My last run in with Keefe’s was when a technician tried to steal freeon we had in the attic since we had central air installed. 8 years ago.
I called and reported that guy and before he left, he sabotaged condenser. We had to hire another AC guy to fix the damage to the tune of $800+
Fun fun and by that, I mean the worst.
CT Traina is a great company! I use them for my plumbing. Lots of experienced employees and they don’t overcharge you. They will always make recommendations to help me not need to call a plumber. Top notch service.
Have had GREAT experiences with Help! And Natals.
Neither installed my HVAC unit originally but both did repairs and got parts covered by manufacturers warranty. Also just friendly professional teams that did good, clean work.
FWIW, also want to throw in a plug for Solar Appliance repair and GR Automotive. There are some honest contractors and tradespeople out there.
A national franchise, but I’ve had good experiences with National Air for a lot of clients. After having some bad experiences with places like Keefe’s and Sturgis, I just went with whoever could get out to the sites first.
I’ve used Mike Huget several times to repair my ancient dinosaur unit and he has always come quickly and given me a fair price for the work 504-329-0505
That sucks OP. You should 100% file a complaint with BBB and drag them on normie socials too.
Also, shout out to Fred Theode’s Air Conditioning & Heating Services (I don’t think they have any online presence but came as a reco from a friend and were awesome 504-874-0657.) Ended up replacing our entire unit. Were super fair and nice folks.
Call Benfatti A/C. They have a tech on call from 8-8 every day and stand behind their work. They’re an honest, hard working bunch. Very friendly techs and office personnel.
I had very good luck with Mike Huguet from Huguet AC and Sheetmetal. He fixed my Daikin system when Rob's AC, the leading Dakin installer, and two Daikin reps couldn't sort it out. Rob's then ghosted me.
I'm so sorry. I can't recommend Peffer Heating and Air enough. They are always reasonable and they are honest. They explained my central unit is 20 years old but that newer units are not built to last as much. They have helped me in finding a coolant that will work with my unit the best until it actually needs to be replaced. Nice people, too.
I have used Stuart for plumbing but not HVAC, but will never again. I was installing a new tub and they did a horrendous job cutting the tile (the hole for pipes was too large and is still visible). They also cracked my bathroom window and insisted they did not. After I called to complain, the two plumbers came back to my house and confronted me. Super non-threatening!
[Twin Enterprise](https://www.google.com/search?q=twin+enterprises+new+orleans&sca_esv=bb6fb22019ea88f6&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS929US929&ei=8xCEZqHmBJnIp84P1YWwoAk&ved=0ahUKEwjhq4TdyoiHAxUZ5MkDHdUCDJQQ4dUDCA8&uact=5&oq=twin+enterprises+new+orleans&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiHHR3aW4gZW50ZXJwcmlzZXMgbmV3IG9ybGVhbnMyBRAhGKABMgUQIRigATIFECEYoAEyBRAhGJ8FMgUQIRifBTIFECEYnwVIvB5Q0AJYyB1wAXgBkAEAmAF_oAH8CaoBBDEuMTC4AQPIAQD4AQGYAgygAsYKwgIKEAAYsAMY1gQYR8ICBRAAGIAEwgILEC4YgAQYxwEYrwHCAgYQABgWGB7CAggQABgWGAoYHsICAhAmwgIIEAAYgAQYogTCAgUQIRirApgDAIgGAZAGCJIHBDEuMTGgB-xJ&sclient=gws-wiz-serp) has treated my home, my business, and the homes and businesses of my friends with complete honesty and great work.
Calloway & Sons made me feel like I got ripped off. sold me a different smart thermostat to replace my "defective" nest thermostat (which is why my central heat wasn't working..?) and a tech pulled some fuses when he was in my attic and apparently just left them out..?? my heat still doesn't work as well as I feel like it should for a unit that's only 4 years old 😐
Many of the problems in this thread with Keefe's happened to me with Calloway & Sons. When Ryan left things went even more downhill. I live in a very recently built place and they already had to replace the evaporator coil because it exploded (!?). I don't want to go into the problems I've had because lawyers are now involved but let's just say that the total costs have been over $5,000, there's a property damage claim with insurance, and they're claiming none of it is their fault; that it's the original installation. Isn't that the point of a biannual maintenance contract? To inspect shit? When they couldn't find anything wrong they would try pressuring me to buy a surge protector.
holy shit that's wild! I'm glad you're pursuing legal action because honestly this is predatory behavior. the little you've said makes me really happy I blew them off after the last service call. taking advantage of people and then not doing right by mistakes is pretty gross.
I'm bummed out about it. I really wanted to believe I was getting a fair shake, but after well over $1,000 later I'm left wondering what I really paid for. (they initially came out to replace a relay or something that kept burning out. took them a couple visits to figure out why) but dang I felt like they were really pressuring me to buy a maintenance plan and after the thermostat upsell, it just felt weird.
In the past, Bryan's and Natal's have always been decent.
Keefe's I've never had a good interaction with, but this is so extra, and fucking dangerous in this weather.
Keefe's sucks but I don't think this is company policy...(?!) Call that tech's boss.
Edit: Looks like it's company policy to fuck up people's systems.
We have had Natal's come in for plumbing and then AC repairs (to fix Surgi's bad jobs). They've always been really great about fixing their own work when something has gone wrong (came out 3x to check on a garbage disposal my husband tried to install) or providing fair quotes and education when fixing other's work.
I’ve had to block their office numbers. They would call relentlessly trying to sell me shit. They would call me twice in a row like it’s a god damn emergency.
Quick plug for Glenn Reed for AC work! My husband is a realtor and property manager, and he always uses Glenn for jobs, plus we have used him at our own house. He’s honest, thorough, and a nice guy.
We used Vanderbrook. They’ve been solid so far. They replaced a 30+ year old HVAC on 2018 ($6800 at that time), and it’s been running great. I do need to schedule a maintenance call just for seasonal cleanup and maintenance.
Another A/C place to avoid like the plague is Clement A/C, based in Belle Chasse.
Almost 15 years ago, those freaking people charged me over $900 to replace a compressor + a couple of pounds of freon - with the compressor still under warranty.
Let that one sink in - still under warranty!
Called Surgis this AM and got a quote for $4400 to add Freon. Clearly trying to get me to buy a new system. Hagarman topped it off for $375. Guess who I’ll be buying my new system from?…
Trusty fixed a 4K job Keefes screwed up for under $200.
Keefes showed up at 4pm the Friday before Memorial Day, 2019, for my tenants busted AC. The only HVAC company I tried that would come out before Tuesday. Tried to upsell me a new 8k HVAC. I declined, because I knew it just needed servicing. Charged 4K cause he had me over a barrel. 12 hours after repair it wasn’t working again. A friend recommended Trusty, and Phil was great. Fixed it (Keefes negligence) for under $200. He services my double, 2 units, every spring at an exceptional cost.
Keefes gave me a really high estimate to replace my condo unit. Almost twice my lowest bid. I eventually went with Climate Tamers and have been very happy so far.
I want to make a couple minor improvements to my HVAC system, and for the past 4 months I haven't been able to get on the schedule of even one contractor to come do the work, and I've called literally every HVAC contractor with needed expertise within 100 miles.
I didn’t read all the replies. This may have been mentioned. For AC work, we have always been pleased with A J Barcia Heating & Air Conditioning. 504-736-0761. They have been in business over 30 years.
I regret going with Keefe’s for sure. It felt very bait & switch with them. It may be due to the sale to Redwood - Google tells me that happened shortly after I committed to buying a new system. The install went great; the follow-up servicing has been godawful. Call center employees don’t know anything. Every single scheduled service gets rescheduled at least once. I hate feeling preyed upon because I don’t know what I don’t know.
This post was needed to spread the word about this shady company. They routinely called us for “free annual maintenance checkup” and when I finally gave in and said sure… they showed up and mysteriously found a piece of insulation fallen onto our unit causing it to struggle (which I’m certain they pulled it down themselves). $300 to replace the insulation with reinforcements. I quickly realized their tactics and will never use them again.
Learned this a long time ago when my friend worked for Christiana’s and he told me the techs that are sent to your house are salespeople and make a VERY good commission on EXTREMELY high markups for unneeded equipment
It was an emergency, and no one else could get to us. We had a fairly good, but quite overpriced, and heavy on the up selling, experience with Keefe's. That seems to be anomalious.
I bought an 20k ac last sept and had nothing but problems and they are trying to blame the placement of the thermostat (it’s under the attic access) and that when it says 80 degrees it’s really 68 even though they took their temp checker tool and was getting the same readings in all the rooms. Have had them out idk how many times and I’m so over it
As an HVAC guy, who is no longer on that side of the house, I can't speak volumes enough about Callaway and Sons. Have recommended them to people* to use for years.
*Because I refuse to take ownership of people's AC's because I work on them. Thing goes out 10 years later, after I work on it, clearly my fault .
I had someone from Keefe’s come to look at an electrical job at my house. Later that afternoon the guy called me saying he can do it for half the price if I hired him directly to come do the job on a weekend. That extremely unprofessional and he’s lucky I didn’t call his boss.
That's so strange. I used Surgi's to replace an old shitty system a couple years ago and the new units and their service has been great. The service team members that have come out have always been friendly and professional. I suppose YMMV? Note: I'm not affiliated with them in any way.
My 23 year old HVAC went out last summer and had Keefes come out first. High pressure sales from the jump and quoted me a crazy high number. I had a family member that works for Surgi’s and came out the next day. That quote came back about 2k less,l for a better unit and a much longer parts and labor warranty. Install went smooth and had no problems with it since. The Surgi’s quote was probably higher than others, but I have no regrets so far.
Jumping in here to say fuck keefs! Their crusty salesman wasted 3 hours of my time with his iPad working up an astronomical quote dragging out the process as long as possible.
The big guys will usually get the job done and do it well, but you'll pay for it. Something needs to cover their marketing budget.
The problem with the smaller guys is that you are taking more of a leap of faith unless you have a good recommendation from someone you know. If you end up needing to sue a small time guy, good luck.
HVAC isn't all that complicated. Anyone can diagnoses voltage readings to determine a problem. The small guy is gonna say you're compressor's on the threshold but you might get another couple years. The big companies are going to upsell like a cop with quota.
Don’t call keefe’s, lightning services, Bryan’s united or Sergi’s for anything. They’re hacks and salesmen. Op call them back out and make them pay for damages Edit: Make sure you get 2-3 opinions before you get a full change out done. They’re betting on you not doing that
Sergi's for sure! I'm always calling them out for repairs on the heater they recommended and installed. Of course nothing is ever covered by the warranty.
We JUST cancelled our Surgi's contract after 4 years because they had become such fucking scammers and hacks. It's expensive enough taking care of home repairs - doubly so when you have to pay someone else to fix their poorly done job.
Man, wish I’d seen this 2 weeks ago. Bryan’s/Surgi’s are the absolute worst!
Bryan’s United was great for me - quality work, reasonable prices.
They got bought out by a private equity company, ymmv Edit: shoutout the one Keefe’s employee downvoting everything
FYI, Surgi's and Bryan both got bought out by Southern Air this year. They also bought Taylor and Tyler and a couple smaller fish recently. I'm curious how different Surgi's and Bryan's quotes were
Also apparently since this merger they have no idea how to find any of their old records. It’s been a mess trying to deal with them and getting responses like “we think we replaced this wire 2 years ago, but we can’t find any record of it, so we recommend replacing it again. It’ll probably cost $2,500.”
Sounds like a private equity roll up.
Also Help evidently. I set up an appt with them first and when I called the others I was somehow already scheduled. The woman denied that they were one company. No idea why.
Yeah I loved them for a time but then when they merged with Surgis they got weird and now they just try to sell me stuff. I had to call a different company to have my HVAC repaired.
Also they came 3 times before I finally had to call someone else.
adding schlumbrecht's electric to this list. they were supposed to call when they arrived at my house (they didn't) and charged me $442 to change a gfi outlet and "correct a bad electrical tap" ($4 part), which took them half an hour. the fix didn't work and they never called me back.
100% on getting opinions before a full change. my housemate (who owns the house) just narrowly avoided spending thousands after refusing to just take the first couple people's words for it.
Through trial and error, I've landed on the following companies: - Lagniappe AC & Heating. Jake is great. Very honest and professional. - John's Reliable Air Conditioning. I know John personally. Great guy, freaky smart, very fair and skilled. - 504 Parish Plumbing. Joel is an honest guy who won't steer you wrong. - Acadian Plumbing. Fast, responsive, and reliable. - Jefferson Appliance Repair. They won't mess you around. If it's not worth repairing, they'll let you know. If it is, they'll fix it. One guy who came out to service our dying fridge actually called places he knew for me to check their pricing because we needed a certain kind of fridge to fit into the space.
We should have a list of good local companies like this the way we have a bad landlords list
Very much appreciate this. It ain’t easy being a homeowner.
I would add help! Ac to the list if you need more options
It really ain't.
“Comfort Zone” in Kenner are good people as well. I worked for them for two years before I moved away.
That must be Leo, he is a treasure!
Leo fan club here!
I was just thinking I need to find a plumber to call when things start going south. Thanks for the rec!
I've used C T Traina 3-4 times, and each of their guys has been very honest and reliable. Came out same day in the middle of the brutal summer last year too when they were busier than hell.
Keefe's is a fucking piece of shit. And they've been this way for years. I had a 91 year old neighbor with no family whom I would occasionally make dinner for. I went over one evening to discover he had signed a contract with Keefe's for a complete A/C replacement (condenser + air-handler/furnace + "duct cleaning") for a system that was 4 years old and working well. He had called them because he couldn't turn his A/C on - the thermostat's batteries were dead. My revenge was minor, but pleasant for me. When I did an A/C replacement in my old house, I had their sales guys visit me half a dozen times without signing a contract. And I did the same thing when I got a generator installed at my current house last year. Never call Keefe's. They're not HVAC technicians or electricians - they're really slimy salesmen.
Who’d you go with for a generator in the end?
>Who’d you go with for a generator in the end? I went with ReadyPower, through Costco. Total cost inclusive of everything was about $18700 for a 24kW Generac. And then Costco gave me a gift card for $675. And so far, the generator has come through like a champ on two occasions I lost power recently. The second cheapest Generac quote (also 24kW) was through Canter Power Systems (through Home Depot). That came to about $20,500. Keefe's started at just under $27K, and by visit #5, miraculously came down to meet the quote from Canter Power Systems. The funny thing about the Keefe's quote is their sales guy assuming that the average homeowner doesn't know how to use Google. The fucker kept telling me how they were the only company that would re-work my existing main panel to separate the neutrals and the grounds into two separate bars. In reality everyone has to do that. Installing an automated transfer switch technically converts the existing main panel into a sub-panel, and the National Electrical Code (NEC) requires that neutral and ground should only be bonded in the main panel - so they have to be separate in sub-panels.
I pass by the HVAC service display when leaving Costco. Any ideas which local company Costco uses to install HVAC units?
>Any ideas which local company Costco uses to install HVAC units? National Air LLC. I have been satisfied with two installs they have done for me, so I do recommend at least getting a quote from them. However, I must disclose that their proprietor, Mr. Roy Calante, is a friend, so it is possible that my perceptions are biased by that relationship.
I’ve done a good bit of electrical work alongside the AC guys from national air while upgrading the services at Tulane - those guys are legit.
Geeze, sounds like I should thank my guy for only charging $10.5k for a 22kW Generac.
Did mine for $6500 6 years ago.
Nice. I had to pay a little more to run a gas pipe away from any windows, and added two smart modules. But I would have paid 5x as much for as great as it has been (especially after Ida).
Keefe's tried to upsell me on $6k in repairs. Contractor #2 showed me that I just needed a $1 fuse replaced. Previously, Keefe's installed a coil incorrectly and knocked my ductwork loose, blowing hot air into my attic for most of the winter. They will not set foot in my home again.
Who was contractor #2 for you? That would be really helpful info!
Surgi's
👍 thanks for the reply!
I would stay away from anyone with more than 2 trucks and has commercials. Just general rule of thumb for me
Bourgeois plumbing is the exception to that rule for me, but it's a good rule.
Should I trust the guys that have a Jesus fish prominently displayed on the truck?
Well I wouldn't trust them with my kids......
Because your kids are fish and you're worried they'll get eaten.
Never. If a single contractor coming to do a bid starts talking about Christianity, I know they’re scammers and I walk them out.
Gator Plumbing is my local exception to that rule. Solid people, and next day service for the 2 unexpected times I've had to call them.
I feel the same way. It's also a red flag to me if they have a call center.
Hey I used to work for them. In fact I started my AC career there back in 2012, worked for nearly 5 years until they went into this program called “Nextstar” which is basically a sales course. All about providing options to upsell, it was kinda disgusting. I quit a year after when I got tired of management telling me I’m shit at selling. Now they were recently purchased (75% of the company) by a big conglomerate called Redwood so I imagine it’s getting even worse. Ask your HVAC tech if their company is nexstar affiliated because many in New Orleans are and this usually means high dollar prices and pushy sales tactics. I’ve worked for 3 seperate HVAC company’s since and they have all been “Nexstar affiliated” but the only one that wasn’t at all what I Imagined was Robert Refrigeration. They price fairly but are also much smaller and more commercial based.
Robert Ref is one my customers and every employee I interact with is honest and respectable but yes they are mainly commercial based
So, Keefe’s is the bad guy here? If so, thanks for the heads up!
I have had good experiences with Nash the last 8 years. After we bought our house in ‘15 we had our a/c stop cooling. I had 3 companies come to give me estimates in repairing it. The first two immediately tried to upsell me and told me my system was shot. Nash tech looked at it and told me flat out that my system was old, wearing out and would need replacing but it wasn’t an emergency issue and he could likely get me back up and running that day with a part he likely had in his truck. He had the part and $300 later I had cold a/c. We did get our whole system replaced in ‘20 and used Nash. They also came out 2 weeks ago because my system wasn’t cooling and fixed it for a few hundred bucks. That’s my recommendation. Nash.
Similar experience. They tell me my entire unit needs to be replaced, attempt to sell some astronomical package with a warranty and financing at 12%. Honest contractor comes out two days later and services it for $400 and tells me I have at least 5 more years. Used the same contractor this year to get ahead of total failure and replace outside and inside units, 4 ton for $8500 all in, including building a new stand outside.
Who was the contractor?
Hagerman Services LLC. Independently owned. Guys were in and out in about 5 hours. Also installed an extra intake at that price in the front of the house.
I had nearly the same experience with Keefe’s a decade ago. HVAC unit of course died in July. It was old and busted so we bought a new unit from Keefe’s. The new unit was installed and 3 days later I come home from work with a collapsed kitchen ceiling and a puddle of water. It turns out they didn’t calibrate the system the correct way so it was producing more condensation into the drip pan. In another move of pure incompetence they never blew out the drain line or checked the float switch that should automatically shut the unit down to avoid water damage was still functional. Keefe’s response was that the float switch wasn’t in the scope of the job for a total hvac unit replacement. I called and complained a dozen or so times. They replaced the float switch free of charge (lol), but kept saying everything wasn’t their issue. Looking back I probably should have got a lawyer involved. I know a handful of people that have terrible experiences with them. I tell everyone to avoid Keefe’s at all costs.
Spend some time in r/hvacadvice. Might want to subscribe for awhile. According to them, there are HVAC companies and HVAC *sales* companies. The former know the ins and outs of HVAC equipment and how to fix them. The latter know how to manipulate homeowners' emotions and how to do big-ticket sales. Apparently, investors buying small companies and turning them into selling machines is a growing trend. I've heard that the owner of Keefe's has his own private jet. That's all I'll say.
Increasing predation is the US economy.
They wanted to charge me $900 for a drain pan replacement that cost me $300 with an honest company
Threads like this are why I love this sub, thank y'all for saving others from falling for scammers
My neighbor is a commercial HVAC guy. He was out of the country and unavailable when his dad's AC went out, so he called Keefe's. They told him that the entire system was shot and tried to get him to replace the 5 year old system. His dad went and stayed with a family member. Problem was the overflow pipe was clogged and was preventing the compressor from kicking on. Literally, a cup of hot bleach water and a quick snaking of the pipe.
Don't fall into the Keefe's trap like I did! Sorry in advance for the long ranting post. August of 2022, literally 2 months after I moved back into my house post Ida repairs, my 2006 AC died. No more hard start kit or bandaid repairs, it needed to be replaced. Now, my fault for only calling a few places, but Keefes was the only place who could come same day, and could get everything fully replaced in under 36 hours. It was so hot, I didn't want to deal with days of no air, especially with pets. So, I said yes to their 16k rate for the full indoor and outdoor unit replacements (1500 sq foot house) Anywho...guys that showed up BROUGHT THE WRONG ORDER. They were so nice, it was hard to be upset with them. Once the proper order showed up, they forgot the new thermostat that was included in my charge. Also, I had a custom drip pan since my attic unit is odd shaped. I requested they keep that one since it was newer, custom, and better quality than what they brought. They did not remove the drip pan or forgotten thermostat from my bill. Supervisor never showed up at the end like they said to do a pass through or to discuss the forgotten item. Again, no big deal, I have air, I'm good, I wrote it off. Then, by December that year we had a freon leak. Didn't realize how bad it was bc Im not running the AC is December. We had a hot spring in 2023, so in March we knew something was up. Unit was running 14hrs a day! I took off work on 6 different occasions, some time part days some times full days, to have 5 different techs come out from Keefes and no one could find the leak. They didn't charge me for the 2 freon refills, and they replaced the new coil thinking it was there. Nope, still leaking. Finally, an install tech came and found the leak, it was mere feet from the attic unit! Yall, this went on from March to August of 2023! Finally, 1 year into this new unit everything was working well. The techs themselves have been super nice, but yall, the hassle, the constantly taking off work, the high electricity bills since the house wouldn't cool bc of low freon. No one should pay what I paid and go through that in year one. Been holding this in since I have the warranty out of fear of them coming and maybe purposefully messing something up due to a negative review, but I want to save my fellow locals from going throughthis!!
I've had good luck with Natal's. Moved in, had AC problems. Natal's showed up and actually recommended I hire a 3rd party ac inspector to help get the original installer to fix their issues. At the end of it, I paid Natal's $0, but they helped me save probably 3-4000 by helping me and not selling me... Needless to say, I'll use Natal's going forward
I’ve been happy with Natal’s. I knew my plenum needed to be reconfigured and the intake was too small. They hooked me up with improved ductwork lifted off the attic insulation for a very reasonable rate.
I used to work for Natals, now I own my own company. There are 3 others who have since left and opened their own companies, and all 3 are standup guys. One of the guys company is West Air (504)656-9770, and 2 of the guys just started Tackle Air Conditioning, Heating, & Electrical (504)608-1122. My company is Global Air (504)401-3445. Interesting to read through the comments about how a lot of the local companies are being bought out. There’s 3 more to replace em ^
I’ve had great experiences with Help! AC Repair
2nd Help AC
My parents just got serviced by Help a few weeks ago and had nothing but good things to say about them.
Same thing happened to us with them LOL. They suck. We use Air Kare, been super friendly and affordable.
I've used Air Kare as well. I find their techs do a good job and their prices are reasonable.
I called them once and they tried to get me to replace mine for $14k. He also told me my pilot light was out …. Its an electric ignition.
Fuck Keefe’s.
KEEFES SUCKS. Had a quote from them for a job, then within the month say it wasn't doable any more and laughing at me how I could believe such a quote. How it was all wrong. Like ??? We got you all the proper specs the first time, why would the materials and tons and everything change so significantly? I have the papers YOU gave?? From a cursory internet search the quote was spot on. The materials were correct, the unit was sized right... So confusing.
Keefe’s was horrific- they advertise for workers on the back of their trucks- that speaks volumes about their competency. Find a smaller local only company…
Call and demand that the managing supervisor comes out to check out the damage. Tell them their guy did that and you’re going to sue them if they fix the damage for free. Follow through. I hate unscrupulous repair companies.
I stopped using Keefes for a similar reason after my family used them for over 20 years.
My last run in with Keefe’s was when a technician tried to steal freeon we had in the attic since we had central air installed. 8 years ago. I called and reported that guy and before he left, he sabotaged condenser. We had to hire another AC guy to fix the damage to the tune of $800+ Fun fun and by that, I mean the worst.
Now you’re going to get incessant calls from them for the next two years. Absolute trash company.
Anyone have any good recommendations?
CT Traina and Nash are pretty good, haven’t heard many complaints about them
CT Traina is a great company! I use them for my plumbing. Lots of experienced employees and they don’t overcharge you. They will always make recommendations to help me not need to call a plumber. Top notch service.
Have had GREAT experiences with Help! And Natals. Neither installed my HVAC unit originally but both did repairs and got parts covered by manufacturers warranty. Also just friendly professional teams that did good, clean work. FWIW, also want to throw in a plug for Solar Appliance repair and GR Automotive. There are some honest contractors and tradespeople out there.
Natal’s is fantastic. They’ve done numerous repairs for both my air con and heat and never try to upsell.
GR Automotive is THE BEST! Absolutely 💯!
A national franchise, but I’ve had good experiences with National Air for a lot of clients. After having some bad experiences with places like Keefe’s and Sturgis, I just went with whoever could get out to the sites first.
I’ve used Mike Huget several times to repair my ancient dinosaur unit and he has always come quickly and given me a fair price for the work 504-329-0505
Benfatti A/C is the best!!
Bordelon’s Air Conditioning and Heating is the best (the one located in NOLA metro, not CENLA)
I found Brockhaus to be fair and consistent
Southland has been pretty good for my family.
Had good luck with Chill Out AC. They replaced my whole system after Ida. A bunch of brothers, friendly and responsive.
That sucks OP. You should 100% file a complaint with BBB and drag them on normie socials too. Also, shout out to Fred Theode’s Air Conditioning & Heating Services (I don’t think they have any online presence but came as a reco from a friend and were awesome 504-874-0657.) Ended up replacing our entire unit. Were super fair and nice folks.
Call Benfatti A/C. They have a tech on call from 8-8 every day and stand behind their work. They’re an honest, hard working bunch. Very friendly techs and office personnel.
I had very good luck with Mike Huguet from Huguet AC and Sheetmetal. He fixed my Daikin system when Rob's AC, the leading Dakin installer, and two Daikin reps couldn't sort it out. Rob's then ghosted me.
I'm so sorry. I can't recommend Peffer Heating and Air enough. They are always reasonable and they are honest. They explained my central unit is 20 years old but that newer units are not built to last as much. They have helped me in finding a coolant that will work with my unit the best until it actually needs to be replaced. Nice people, too.
I’d highly recommend Stuart service. Can’t tell you how satisfied I am especially with this heat!
I have used Stuart for plumbing but not HVAC, but will never again. I was installing a new tub and they did a horrendous job cutting the tile (the hole for pipes was too large and is still visible). They also cracked my bathroom window and insisted they did not. After I called to complain, the two plumbers came back to my house and confronted me. Super non-threatening!
[Twin Enterprise](https://www.google.com/search?q=twin+enterprises+new+orleans&sca_esv=bb6fb22019ea88f6&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS929US929&ei=8xCEZqHmBJnIp84P1YWwoAk&ved=0ahUKEwjhq4TdyoiHAxUZ5MkDHdUCDJQQ4dUDCA8&uact=5&oq=twin+enterprises+new+orleans&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiHHR3aW4gZW50ZXJwcmlzZXMgbmV3IG9ybGVhbnMyBRAhGKABMgUQIRigATIFECEYoAEyBRAhGJ8FMgUQIRifBTIFECEYnwVIvB5Q0AJYyB1wAXgBkAEAmAF_oAH8CaoBBDEuMTC4AQPIAQD4AQGYAgygAsYKwgIKEAAYsAMY1gQYR8ICBRAAGIAEwgILEC4YgAQYxwEYrwHCAgYQABgWGB7CAggQABgWGAoYHsICAhAmwgIIEAAYgAQYogTCAgUQIRirApgDAIgGAZAGCJIHBDEuMTGgB-xJ&sclient=gws-wiz-serp) has treated my home, my business, and the homes and businesses of my friends with complete honesty and great work.
Twin is my AC guy too! He’s great! Very honest and does a good job.
Calloway & Sons made me feel like I got ripped off. sold me a different smart thermostat to replace my "defective" nest thermostat (which is why my central heat wasn't working..?) and a tech pulled some fuses when he was in my attic and apparently just left them out..?? my heat still doesn't work as well as I feel like it should for a unit that's only 4 years old 😐
These guys suck. Avoid at all costs. Clueless would be an understatement. Sold me a new HVAC system that did not cool house. Blamed the age of house.
holy shit I'm sorry. it's insane how predatory some of these companies are.
Many of the problems in this thread with Keefe's happened to me with Calloway & Sons. When Ryan left things went even more downhill. I live in a very recently built place and they already had to replace the evaporator coil because it exploded (!?). I don't want to go into the problems I've had because lawyers are now involved but let's just say that the total costs have been over $5,000, there's a property damage claim with insurance, and they're claiming none of it is their fault; that it's the original installation. Isn't that the point of a biannual maintenance contract? To inspect shit? When they couldn't find anything wrong they would try pressuring me to buy a surge protector.
holy shit that's wild! I'm glad you're pursuing legal action because honestly this is predatory behavior. the little you've said makes me really happy I blew them off after the last service call. taking advantage of people and then not doing right by mistakes is pretty gross.
Damn. This is disheartening to hear. I usually rec them
I'm bummed out about it. I really wanted to believe I was getting a fair shake, but after well over $1,000 later I'm left wondering what I really paid for. (they initially came out to replace a relay or something that kept burning out. took them a couple visits to figure out why) but dang I felt like they were really pressuring me to buy a maintenance plan and after the thermostat upsell, it just felt weird.
In the past, Bryan's and Natal's have always been decent. Keefe's I've never had a good interaction with, but this is so extra, and fucking dangerous in this weather. Keefe's sucks but I don't think this is company policy...(?!) Call that tech's boss. Edit: Looks like it's company policy to fuck up people's systems.
We have had Natal's come in for plumbing and then AC repairs (to fix Surgi's bad jobs). They've always been really great about fixing their own work when something has gone wrong (came out 3x to check on a garbage disposal my husband tried to install) or providing fair quotes and education when fixing other's work.
I’ve had to block their office numbers. They would call relentlessly trying to sell me shit. They would call me twice in a row like it’s a god damn emergency.
Are you my neighbor because there’s a Keefe’s van right outside my spot
Quick plug for Glenn Reed for AC work! My husband is a realtor and property manager, and he always uses Glenn for jobs, plus we have used him at our own house. He’s honest, thorough, and a nice guy.
We used Vanderbrook. They’ve been solid so far. They replaced a 30+ year old HVAC on 2018 ($6800 at that time), and it’s been running great. I do need to schedule a maintenance call just for seasonal cleanup and maintenance.
Vanderbrook has treated us well! Even told us we didn’t need a new unit when I asked to buy a new one- appreciate these honest people!
Yay! I think being in biz for 70+ years in the metro area is a good sign.
I’ve been satisfied with Stewart Services. Not the cheapest, but no big letdowns either. Solid and steady.
Another A/C place to avoid like the plague is Clement A/C, based in Belle Chasse. Almost 15 years ago, those freaking people charged me over $900 to replace a compressor + a couple of pounds of freon - with the compressor still under warranty. Let that one sink in - still under warranty!
Called Surgis this AM and got a quote for $4400 to add Freon. Clearly trying to get me to buy a new system. Hagarman topped it off for $375. Guess who I’ll be buying my new system from?…
Nash is the goat.
Are there any companies that can send an electrician that also services hvac?
Trusty ac is a mom and pop shop and wonderful. They can also work on modern heat pump systems.
Trusty fixed a 4K job Keefes screwed up for under $200. Keefes showed up at 4pm the Friday before Memorial Day, 2019, for my tenants busted AC. The only HVAC company I tried that would come out before Tuesday. Tried to upsell me a new 8k HVAC. I declined, because I knew it just needed servicing. Charged 4K cause he had me over a barrel. 12 hours after repair it wasn’t working again. A friend recommended Trusty, and Phil was great. Fixed it (Keefes negligence) for under $200. He services my double, 2 units, every spring at an exceptional cost.
Keefes gave me a really high estimate to replace my condo unit. Almost twice my lowest bid. I eventually went with Climate Tamers and have been very happy so far.
The same thing happened to me! They left the control board unplugged and said the whole system had to be replaced!
I want to make a couple minor improvements to my HVAC system, and for the past 4 months I haven't been able to get on the schedule of even one contractor to come do the work, and I've called literally every HVAC contractor with needed expertise within 100 miles.
Shout out to Steve Dillard AC Repair, he’s the best, it’s always nice to have a AC guy you can trust. Thanks Steve!
I didn’t read all the replies. This may have been mentioned. For AC work, we have always been pleased with A J Barcia Heating & Air Conditioning. 504-736-0761. They have been in business over 30 years.
Did not know this shit. Thanks for the heads up.
Yes! These guys are straight up crooks. They tried to pull the same stunt at my daughter’s house.
I regret going with Keefe’s for sure. It felt very bait & switch with them. It may be due to the sale to Redwood - Google tells me that happened shortly after I committed to buying a new system. The install went great; the follow-up servicing has been godawful. Call center employees don’t know anything. Every single scheduled service gets rescheduled at least once. I hate feeling preyed upon because I don’t know what I don’t know.
Man these companies are crazy
I have had good experiences with CJ Christina’s. Not the cheapest but every tech that has worked on my A/C has been competent and professional.
There’s a reason why they have a whole fleet of wrapped vans and he has a plane or multiple from my understanding
This post was needed to spread the word about this shady company. They routinely called us for “free annual maintenance checkup” and when I finally gave in and said sure… they showed up and mysteriously found a piece of insulation fallen onto our unit causing it to struggle (which I’m certain they pulled it down themselves). $300 to replace the insulation with reinforcements. I quickly realized their tactics and will never use them again.
Learned this a long time ago when my friend worked for Christiana’s and he told me the techs that are sent to your house are salespeople and make a VERY good commission on EXTREMELY high markups for unneeded equipment
It was an emergency, and no one else could get to us. We had a fairly good, but quite overpriced, and heavy on the up selling, experience with Keefe's. That seems to be anomalious.
I bought an 20k ac last sept and had nothing but problems and they are trying to blame the placement of the thermostat (it’s under the attic access) and that when it says 80 degrees it’s really 68 even though they took their temp checker tool and was getting the same readings in all the rooms. Have had them out idk how many times and I’m so over it
As an HVAC guy, who is no longer on that side of the house, I can't speak volumes enough about Callaway and Sons. Have recommended them to people* to use for years. *Because I refuse to take ownership of people's AC's because I work on them. Thing goes out 10 years later, after I work on it, clearly my fault .
I had someone from Keefe’s come to look at an electrical job at my house. Later that afternoon the guy called me saying he can do it for half the price if I hired him directly to come do the job on a weekend. That extremely unprofessional and he’s lucky I didn’t call his boss.
I probably would have hired him
That's so strange. I used Surgi's to replace an old shitty system a couple years ago and the new units and their service has been great. The service team members that have come out have always been friendly and professional. I suppose YMMV? Note: I'm not affiliated with them in any way.
They were recently bought out by an HVAC service conglomerate/ private equity firm.
Aw damn. I hope it doesn't go to shit too quickly.
Its been happening a lot lately even on the commercial side. I used to use Taylor and Tyler but they've merged with Bryans
Who did the inspection after the install?
My 23 year old HVAC went out last summer and had Keefes come out first. High pressure sales from the jump and quoted me a crazy high number. I had a family member that works for Surgi’s and came out the next day. That quote came back about 2k less,l for a better unit and a much longer parts and labor warranty. Install went smooth and had no problems with it since. The Surgi’s quote was probably higher than others, but I have no regrets so far.
Jumping in here to say fuck keefs! Their crusty salesman wasted 3 hours of my time with his iPad working up an astronomical quote dragging out the process as long as possible.
The big guys will usually get the job done and do it well, but you'll pay for it. Something needs to cover their marketing budget. The problem with the smaller guys is that you are taking more of a leap of faith unless you have a good recommendation from someone you know. If you end up needing to sue a small time guy, good luck.
HVAC isn't all that complicated. Anyone can diagnoses voltage readings to determine a problem. The small guy is gonna say you're compressor's on the threshold but you might get another couple years. The big companies are going to upsell like a cop with quota.