Frost on a window at dawn
Furnace
Heating system installation and replacement. Heating repair and maintenance.
Residential HVAC · Waukesha, Wisconsin
The owner picks up.
The owner shows up.
Furnace, central air, ductwork and water heaters. Based in Waukesha, serving the Milwaukee metro area.
Services
What I install, replace, repair and maintain.
Residential HVAC, five lines of work. If yours is not here, call and ask.
A condenser beside white siding
Central air
Central air conditioning installation and replacement. Central air repair and maintenance.
New duct between attic rafters
Ductwork and vents
Ductwork and vents: install, replace, and remove old units.
A steamed bathroom mirror
Water heaters
Water heater replacement.
A round thermostat on a pale wall
Maintenance
HVAC system maintenance.
The process
How a call goes.
Four steps, in order. The quotes are from customers on Thumbtack and from my own profile there.
You call or text.
Call or text (262) 324-6300 and say what the system is doing: no heat, no cooling, a new noise, a bill that jumped.
I come out and walk through it.
I like to meet with a customer before starting any work to walk through the process and explain all of the options available to them.
Tim Devlin, Thumbtack profileYou hear the price before any work starts.
He was up front about the cost to visit; up front what possible costs to fix; and then the final price was extremely reasonable.
Anthony S., Thumbtack, 2019The work, then the cleanup.
He was very professional and friendly, and cleaned up everything after he was done.
Jenni S., Thumbtack, 2017
Price
A fair price, walked through before any work starts.
Giving customers a high quality product and service at a fair price. Looking at the completed project and feeling proud about putting my name on it.
Tim Devlin, Thumbtack profile
He did a great job for a very reasonable price. He is quite knowledgeable about his profession, and I would definitely recommend him.
Dave S., Thumbtack, 2017
His prices were very reasonable and he was able to answer all of my questions about the job.
Jenni S., Thumbtack, 2017
- Estimates
- Free
- Accepts
- Cash, check, credit card, PayPal, Zelle
Advice
Repair or replace?
Here is how I would think about it. These are general rules of thumb, not a diagnosis; every furnace and every house is different.
Usually worth repairing
- The unit is well inside its expected life. A gas furnace typically lasts 15 to 20 years.
- The fix is one part: an igniter, a capacitor, a blower motor, a circuit board.
- The repair estimate is small next to the cost of a new system.
- The rest of the system is sound: no rust, no water, steady heat, normal bills.
Usually time to replace
- The furnace is past the 15 to 20 year range.
- Repeat repairs: a second or third service call within a couple of seasons.
- A repair estimate near half the cost of replacement. That is the common rule of thumb.
- Uneven heat from room to room, or short cycling, that a repair has not fixed.
- Rising gas or electric bills with no other cause.
- A cracked heat exchanger. Most technicians treat that as a replacement, because of the carbon monoxide risk.
We have many options at different price points. Just ask, we might be able to beat competitors pricing.
Tim Devlin, Thumbtack profileRebates
Lower bills.
Focus on Energy is Wisconsin's statewide energy rebate program. Rebates on qualifying equipment are claimed through a registered Trade Ally, and Express Heating and Cooling LLC is one, listed under Residential HVAC.
Two general points. New equipment usually uses less energy than the unit it replaces, which is where the lower bills come from. And rebates typically apply only to equipment that meets the program's efficiency requirements, so ask about the rebate before the model is chosen.
- Listed
- Focus on Energy Trade Ally · Residential HVAC
Tim Devlin, Thumbtack profileAlso love the calls the following month about how much lower the gas and electric bills are.
Reviews
The service log.
On Thumbtack: 4.9 on 19 reviews, Top Pro 2017 and 2018, 24 hires. Each entry is in the reviewer's own words, oldest first. The last two are Alignable recommendations.
Our heat went out yesterday (Saturday), Tim responded and arrived within 30 minutes. He diagnosed the problem, left to buy the part (new circuit board) and installed it all in about an hour! He explained the problem and solution! He charged a fair price and never tried to gauge us for coming out on the weekend. Based on our experience with him, we highly recommend him.
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Tim was able to fit me in his schedule within a few days. He replaced my furnace and ac. He did a great job for a very reasonable price. He is quite knowledgeable about his profession, and I would definitely recommend him.
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I hired Tim to install central air in our home. His prices were very reasonable and he was able to answer all of my questions about the job. He was very professional and friendly, and cleaned up everything after he was done. I am extremely happy with the job he did and would recommend him to anyone!
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Tim did a great job on our central air replacement. He was on time, on budget and was done with the work in a few hours. He noticed some other maintenance related items during the install gave us feedback on how to better maintain the whole system.
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Our AC decided to stop working over what became a warm weekend, and I submitted a few requests on Thumbtack. The first response was by Express Heating & Cooling, and the owner quickly agreed to a Monday morning visit. He quickly diagnosed the problem, fixed it immediately, and then provided us some pointers on how to perform some maintenance outside routine visits. What made this experience the best? He was up front about the cost to visit; up front what possible costs to fix; and then the final price was extremely reasonable. We will definitely use Express again... Very pleased.
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Tim is professional, timely and does quality work He was ahead of schedule
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Tim has installed multiple HVAC units at my personal residence … Tim always does a great job! Highly Recommend!!!!!
Seasonal checklist
Before the first cold night.
Two short lists, one for each season. Nothing on them needs tools. If something on the list fails, that is the moment to call.
Fall, before heating season
- Change the filter.
- Set the thermostat to heat and make sure the furnace starts.
- Open the supply registers and move furniture off the returns.
- Listen on the first run for new noises: a rattle, a squeal, a bang at startup.
- Test the carbon monoxide alarm and put in fresh batteries.
- Book the tune up before the first cold night, not during it.
Spring, before cooling season
- Change the filter.
- Set the thermostat to cool and make sure the outdoor unit starts.
- Clear leaves, grass and anything stored around the outdoor unit. Take the cover off.
- Check that the vents are open in the rooms you use most.
- Listen for a rattle or a grind from the outdoor fan.
- Book the tune up before the first hot week.
A tune up once a year is the common recommendation. What one usually covers is in the questions below.
Questions
Common questions.
Where do you work?
I am based in Waukesha, Wisconsin, and work across the Milwaukee metro area, on the residential side: furnaces, central air, ductwork and water heaters. If you are not sure whether your town is inside that area, call or text (262) 324-6300 and ask. Estimates are free.
Do you charge for an estimate?
No. Estimates are free. I like to meet before starting any work to walk through the process and explain the options, so you hear what the job involves and what it costs before anything is ordered or installed. Call or text (262) 324-6300 to set one up.
How can I pay?
Cash, check, credit card, PayPal and Zelle are all accepted. Pick whichever is easiest for you. It helps to settle the method and the timing when the estimate is discussed, so nothing about the bill is a surprise on the day the work is done.
Can I get a Focus on Energy rebate through you?
Focus on Energy is Wisconsin's statewide energy rebate program. Rebates on qualifying equipment are claimed through a registered Trade Ally, and Express Heating and Cooling LLC is one, listed under Residential HVAC. Rebates typically apply only to equipment that meets the program's efficiency requirements, so ask about it before the model is chosen.
How often should a furnace be serviced?
Once a year is the common recommendation, ideally in the fall before the heating season starts. A tune up usually covers cleaning the burners, checking the heat exchanger, testing the safety controls, and checking the electrical connections and the airflow. The filter is separate: check it monthly and change it when it looks dirty.
The heat just quit. What do I check first?
Three things before you call. The thermostat: set to heat and a few degrees above the room temperature, with fresh batteries if it takes them. The filter: a clogged one can shut a furnace down. The power: the breaker and the switch on or near the furnace. If a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, leave the house and call 911 first.
Service area
Based in Waukesha, serving the Milwaukee metro area.
Free estimates. Call or text with what the system is doing, or send an email.
expressheating.tim@gmail.com