Here's the bottom line:
In 1976, appliance repair is where our business started.
Reliability. Consistency. Time proven...
But....As time has moved on, HVAC has become our specialty.
Our reputation depends on making a cost effective repair to your machine rather than pushing you into a new product. With a $14,000+
appliance parts inventory in stock, most makes and models can be repaired on the spot. Special order parts are usually available in 1-
2 days. We are a member of MSA which is an organization that provides training on appliance repair procedures.
Click here to find out what to expect when calling for service
One of the foremost questions we are asked is, "what brand would you buy?" Since our business is centered on repair and not sales,
this is an unbiased opinion.
Whirlpool has been a rock solid manufacturer for years. Any appliance is going to break down at some point. Whirlpool has made
most of their products in a way that allows repair work to be fast, cost effective and overall practical.
Here is some info that may be helpful:
Follow this link to get a list of the dozens of manufacturers that make Kenmore - you might be surprised!
We repair: washers, dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers, garbage disposers, water heaters, ranges and ovens.
In 1976, appliance repair is where our business started.
Reliability. Consistency. Time proven...
But....As time has moved on, HVAC has become our specialty.
Our reputation depends on making a cost effective repair to your machine rather than pushing you into a new product. With a $14,000+
appliance parts inventory in stock, most makes and models can be repaired on the spot. Special order parts are usually available in 1-
2 days. We are a member of MSA which is an organization that provides training on appliance repair procedures.
Click here to find out what to expect when calling for service
One of the foremost questions we are asked is, "what brand would you buy?" Since our business is centered on repair and not sales,
this is an unbiased opinion.
Whirlpool has been a rock solid manufacturer for years. Any appliance is going to break down at some point. Whirlpool has made
most of their products in a way that allows repair work to be fast, cost effective and overall practical.
Here is some info that may be helpful:
- Whirlpool acquired the Maytag corporation in 2006 and closed most of their manufacturing plants and warehouses. If you buy a
Maytag, it is a Whirlpool machine by design with a Maytag sticker on it. The only difference between the two: the Maytag will
usually cost more for the shiny Maytag sticker (in other words price shop - the machines are the same). - It seems that appliances made by companies that also make cell phones and televisions are not holding up to normal wear
and tear. Customer service from these companies has been poor as well. Click here for Appliance 411 input - The toll free number for GE warranty is 1-800-GE-CARES (432-2737). If you buy a GE appliance, keep this number handy
because you will probably need it. - After you buy a home personal computer, how many years do you expect it to work? Similarly, appliances with electronic
controls and computer boards fail much faster than non-computerized models.
- Whirlpool
- Roper
- Estate
- Kitchen Aid
- Maytag
- Crosley
- Amana
- Admiral
- Norge
- Magic Chef
- Jenn Aire
- Frigidaire
- Gibson
- Kelvinator
- Tappan
- White-Westinghouse
- GE
- Hotpoint
- RCA
Follow this link to get a list of the dozens of manufacturers that make Kenmore - you might be surprised!
We repair: washers, dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers, garbage disposers, water heaters, ranges and ovens.
Look at the other thing we're great at too:
Heating & Cooling - Service, repair and replacement.
In addition to appliances, we also repair window & central air conditioners and furnaces. Why call someone in the appliance
repair business to work on your furnace or air conditioner? Appliances are much more complex than HVAC equipment.
Complicated wiring, computer controls and refrigeration are an everyday occurrence with appliances. With this constant
hands-on experience, it is a simple task to troubleshoot problems with controls and refrigeration systems in a wide array of
HVAC equipment.
Would you like to set up a commercial refrigeration cooler for a restaurant? No problem! Give us a call and we can help you out.
Technicians are EPA certified to handle all refrigerants safely. Refrigerant and gas leak detection equipment is carried on our
service truck to find and solve your problem rather than just making a temporary fix. We are fully equipped to replace the major
components of your air conditioning system if you would like to run more efficiently or your equipment is beyond repair. Duct and
sheet metal work are an everyday occurrence. Having your furnace or air conditioner checked annually will reduce your energy
bill. It will also help avoid costly repairs due to a lack of maintenance. Most failed air conditioner compressors are from a lack of
yearly maintenance.
Heating & Cooling - Service, repair and replacement.
In addition to appliances, we also repair window & central air conditioners and furnaces. Why call someone in the appliance
repair business to work on your furnace or air conditioner? Appliances are much more complex than HVAC equipment.
Complicated wiring, computer controls and refrigeration are an everyday occurrence with appliances. With this constant
hands-on experience, it is a simple task to troubleshoot problems with controls and refrigeration systems in a wide array of
HVAC equipment.
Would you like to set up a commercial refrigeration cooler for a restaurant? No problem! Give us a call and we can help you out.
Technicians are EPA certified to handle all refrigerants safely. Refrigerant and gas leak detection equipment is carried on our
service truck to find and solve your problem rather than just making a temporary fix. We are fully equipped to replace the major
components of your air conditioning system if you would like to run more efficiently or your equipment is beyond repair. Duct and
sheet metal work are an everyday occurrence. Having your furnace or air conditioner checked annually will reduce your energy
bill. It will also help avoid costly repairs due to a lack of maintenance. Most failed air conditioner compressors are from a lack of
yearly maintenance.
We install quality equipment similar to the unit on the left. This unit was replaced to
upgrade an aging system. If you have an older furnace or air conditioner, it may pay for
itself to have it replaced. Call now to schedule an appointment to service and evaluate
the air conditioning system in your home!
We'd also be happy to help you with financing your new equipment!
Pictured is a 95% efficient 2-stage variable speed gas furnace with a R22 evaporator
coil.
The furnace has a lifetime heat exchanger warranty and 10 year parts. It qualifies for
the credit to give the customer up to $1,500 off his income taxes.
upgrade an aging system. If you have an older furnace or air conditioner, it may pay for
itself to have it replaced. Call now to schedule an appointment to service and evaluate
the air conditioning system in your home!
We'd also be happy to help you with financing your new equipment!
Pictured is a 95% efficient 2-stage variable speed gas furnace with a R22 evaporator
coil.
The furnace has a lifetime heat exchanger warranty and 10 year parts. It qualifies for
the credit to give the customer up to $1,500 off his income taxes.
Something else to consider...
What brand is the best when buying a furnace or air conditioner?
The public has been "trained" to think that certain brands are better than others. Trained? Commercials on television and
advertising are powerful sellers. What are the important parts that make up air conditioners or furnaces?
The centerpiece of an air conditioner is the compressor. When we replace old or failed equipment, we break the units down and
scrap them out. If a Lennox, Bryant, Rheem, Carrier, etc. are set side by side, the compressors are usually identical. All air
conditioner manufacturers buy compressors from third parties such as Copeland or Tecumseh and just simply build a copper coil
and case around them. Most air conditioners are the same - just packaged differently. The price tag will range greatly depending
on how much the company has to recover from the costs of mass advertising (which can be $$millions$$).
A furnace is a little different. Manufacturers build their own heat exchangers and usually have unique controls. However, when you
buy a furnace from a company that spends millions in advertising, you will pay $$$ in upfront costs and replacement parts. Not that
long ago, a big name brand furnace in Edwardsville had an electronic control board damaged during a storm. The board was $360
+ sales tax and labor!! This is not unusual at all. A fellow HVAC tech from Collinsville had the same experience with the same
brand. Most control boards on Comfortmaker equipment will only run $100-200 max.
Why pay such a high price for a name?
The first time I took apart a big name furnace (because it failed early), I almost fell over. The igniter was a Champion spark plug
just like what might come from your lawn mower. The flame sensor was a modified Champion plug. It was as if the engineers
went to the shed in their back yard and started pulling spare parts out to build a furnace. The heat exchanger tubes were like muffler
pipes and they commonly cracked. And they mass produced these "Big Brand" furnaces! Not only was it a backward design, it was
very hard to work on! Mass advertising sold (and continues to sell) thousands of these units.
In all reality, the high dollar equipment isn't any better. The most important thing is choosing the right contractor to put it in. There
is a local company that quoted a customer $7,500 to replace their a/c and electric furnace (even after they couldn't track down the
refrigerant leak). It was a job picked up by us and the total bill was about half that. It was only half a day's work and the profit was
still great. If the customer would have agreed, the company would have made $1,625 an hour for the replacement (X4 hours). If you
go with a big name brand piece of equipment, you can expect to pay 1/3 equipment, 1/3 profit and 1/3 excessive profit. Watch out for
companies looking to make an excessive profit. Everyone likes to be paid well for what they do (because running a business is far
more expensive than you would imagine) - but thousands of dollars in excess is ridiculous. Something else -- cheap equipment
will perform as good as expensive equipment when installed properly. Admittedly, there are some that don't seem to hold up as
well long term. I choose not to put in certain brands because of this. Discuss warranties and installation with the person you are
working with - and most importantly - don't get duped by a highly advertised and high priced brand. The 13 SEER and R410a
(Puron) changes have made air conditioner installation much more critical (and lucrative for the installer). It is important to have the
equipment installed right the first time with no shortcuts. Unfortunately, most consumers don't know the difference. The best thing
you can do for yourself is to build a trusting relationship with your contractor to make sure he is going to do the job right - and don't
be afraid to ask a lot of questions. With 410a, a good and clean install = equipment that will last for 20 years. Sloppy work =
equipment that will fail in 10.
Some things to ask the person you work with:
If your tech can't answer questions, close your checkbook and run - run as fast as you can!!
My own $.02 - Mike Gibson
Owner - Gibson's Repair
Here are some of the things we can check for you:
What brand is the best when buying a furnace or air conditioner?
The public has been "trained" to think that certain brands are better than others. Trained? Commercials on television and
advertising are powerful sellers. What are the important parts that make up air conditioners or furnaces?
The centerpiece of an air conditioner is the compressor. When we replace old or failed equipment, we break the units down and
scrap them out. If a Lennox, Bryant, Rheem, Carrier, etc. are set side by side, the compressors are usually identical. All air
conditioner manufacturers buy compressors from third parties such as Copeland or Tecumseh and just simply build a copper coil
and case around them. Most air conditioners are the same - just packaged differently. The price tag will range greatly depending
on how much the company has to recover from the costs of mass advertising (which can be $$millions$$).
A furnace is a little different. Manufacturers build their own heat exchangers and usually have unique controls. However, when you
buy a furnace from a company that spends millions in advertising, you will pay $$$ in upfront costs and replacement parts. Not that
long ago, a big name brand furnace in Edwardsville had an electronic control board damaged during a storm. The board was $360
+ sales tax and labor!! This is not unusual at all. A fellow HVAC tech from Collinsville had the same experience with the same
brand. Most control boards on Comfortmaker equipment will only run $100-200 max.
Why pay such a high price for a name?
The first time I took apart a big name furnace (because it failed early), I almost fell over. The igniter was a Champion spark plug
just like what might come from your lawn mower. The flame sensor was a modified Champion plug. It was as if the engineers
went to the shed in their back yard and started pulling spare parts out to build a furnace. The heat exchanger tubes were like muffler
pipes and they commonly cracked. And they mass produced these "Big Brand" furnaces! Not only was it a backward design, it was
very hard to work on! Mass advertising sold (and continues to sell) thousands of these units.
In all reality, the high dollar equipment isn't any better. The most important thing is choosing the right contractor to put it in. There
is a local company that quoted a customer $7,500 to replace their a/c and electric furnace (even after they couldn't track down the
refrigerant leak). It was a job picked up by us and the total bill was about half that. It was only half a day's work and the profit was
still great. If the customer would have agreed, the company would have made $1,625 an hour for the replacement (X4 hours). If you
go with a big name brand piece of equipment, you can expect to pay 1/3 equipment, 1/3 profit and 1/3 excessive profit. Watch out for
companies looking to make an excessive profit. Everyone likes to be paid well for what they do (because running a business is far
more expensive than you would imagine) - but thousands of dollars in excess is ridiculous. Something else -- cheap equipment
will perform as good as expensive equipment when installed properly. Admittedly, there are some that don't seem to hold up as
well long term. I choose not to put in certain brands because of this. Discuss warranties and installation with the person you are
working with - and most importantly - don't get duped by a highly advertised and high priced brand. The 13 SEER and R410a
(Puron) changes have made air conditioner installation much more critical (and lucrative for the installer). It is important to have the
equipment installed right the first time with no shortcuts. Unfortunately, most consumers don't know the difference. The best thing
you can do for yourself is to build a trusting relationship with your contractor to make sure he is going to do the job right - and don't
be afraid to ask a lot of questions. With 410a, a good and clean install = equipment that will last for 20 years. Sloppy work =
equipment that will fail in 10.
Some things to ask the person you work with:
- do you use a micron gauge?
- do you own a nitrogen tank?
- if you have a nitrogen tank, do you use it? (brazing/purging lines)
- do you flush line-sets if you reuse them with POE oil?
- do you know what hygroscopic means?
- do you know what sub-cooling is?
- what can you tell me about warranties?
If your tech can't answer questions, close your checkbook and run - run as fast as you can!!
My own $.02 - Mike Gibson
Owner - Gibson's Repair
Here are some of the things we can check for you:
- Refrigerant leakage (any type)
- Natural or LP gas leakage
- Humidity levels
- Carbon monoxide levels
- Air flow in velocity or cubic feet/minute
- Temperature (0 to 500+ degrees)
- Amperage draw on any appliance (helps determine electrical efficiency)
- The condition of the electrical winding in your compressor or motor
| Heating, Cooling and Appliance Service Gibson's Repair (618) 656-3733 |
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| 2009/10 heating season special!! |
Did your furnace just get condemned by another service company? In 2008, it was not unusual to find service companies tell people that their unit was "dead" over a $20 part. If you have a system that has been pronounced "dead", call us!! Even if the repair seems extreme or major, call us to talk about it. FREE 2ND OPINION ON "DEAD" FURNACE SERVICE CALLS IN 2009! This offer applies to our normal service radius area. |
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| SEE GREEN - IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE! Click on the picture to the right.... Find out about the tax incentives available if you install high efficiency equipment. This is only available until the end of 2010. Let us help! This is the tax break you've seen many times on TV! Click here to contact us for a consultation! |
