Installer gone, and the system still isn’t right?
Some installers put a system in fast, cut corners and are gone before the problems show up. A long warranty doesn’t help when the company no longer answers the phone. We come out, find what was installed wrong, and give you a plan to fix it. The service call is only $59, credited to the repair if you approve it.
C-20 licensed, CSLB #1154975 · In business since 2017 · 3-year labor warranty on our work · Rated 4.9 on Google and Yelp
Signs of a bad installation
Everything on this list comes from systems we inspected in 2025–2026.
- Water where it shouldn’t be. A drain line that empties into the living space through the attic, or a rusted secondary drain pan that is already holding water above a ceiling.
- Missing safety switches. No float switch to shut the system off before the drain pan overflows.
- Rooms that never get air. Supply ducts mounted straight onto the coil with no plenum box, or ducts supported so badly they restrict airflow.
- Gas line shortcuts. A spliced flexible gas connector, or a sediment trap installed wrong.
- Electrical shortcuts. Unsecured wiring, no service disconnect, equipment drawing more current than it is rated for.
- Refrigerant problems. An uninsulated expansion valve bulb, the wrong compressor start device, or leak sealant pumped into the system.
What we found on recent jobs
Prices are before discounts.
Hercules · $1,000
Rusted secondary drain pan already holding water, supply ducts mounted directly onto the coil with no plenum, no secondary safety switches. We built a supply plenum, shifted the furnace to line it up, extended the bypass duct, replaced the drain pan and added float switches.
2026 · done together with an AC replacement
Kentfield · $3,290
Drain pan secured, P-trap and safety switch added on the drain line, service switch installed, gas sediment trap reinstalled, a hole in the furnace cabinet repaired, plenum box insulated. The job also included a control board replacement and cleaning.
2026 · furnace and AC
Berkeley · heat pump
The pump was drawing at least 11 A over its rating, the condensate drain emptied into the living space through the attic, and the ductwork left the kitchen without proper airflow.
2026 · findings from the diagnostic
Alamo · furnace
No P-trap, gas sediment trap installed wrong, ducts hung in a prohibited way, wiring not secured, no service disconnect, no return plenum. We reconnected the drain line as a temporary repair ($350) and listed the corrections.
2026
Oakland · $13,297
A 2006 multi-split system with a chronic leak. According to the tenant, previous technicians had added leak sealant, and repeated top-offs had thrown off the refrigerant blend. With that age and contamination, repairs no longer made sense. We replaced it with a three-zone Daikin system.
2026 · replacement
Lafayette · AC
Uninsulated expansion valve bulb and an incorrect compressor start device, so liquid refrigerant was returning to the compressor. We recommended a new valve and the correct start device before the compressor failed.
2025 · findings from the diagnostic
How it works
- Service call, $59. The technician inspects the system, takes measurements (refrigerant pressures, superheat and subcooling, amp draw) and photographs what they find.
- Findings. What is wrong, and what each problem can lead to: water damage, a failed compressor, a gas safety issue.
- Action plan with prices. A list of fixes. If fixing the system no longer makes sense, we tell you and give you a free estimate for a new one.
- The work. We fix it with our 3-year labor warranty, and the $59 is credited to the repair.
A warranty with an address
A long warranty only works if the company is still there. We’ve been in business since 2017, with offices in Berkeley, Richmond, Walnut Creek and Danville.
Check the license first
Before you hire anyone, look the license up on cslb.ca.gov. Ours: HI-HVAC LLC dba Fuse Service, CSLB #1154975 (C-20).
What it costs
Service call $59, credited to the repair. Recent corrections: $350 to $3,290. See all prices →
When we’re not the right call
- Half-finished repairs left open. On a recent refrigerator job, the previous company had replaced the compressor and left the system open for an unknown time. We inspected it and gave recommendations, but we can’t take responsibility for someone else’s unfinished repair.
- Asbestos ducts. Removal needs an asbestos-certified contractor. We install the new ductwork after it.
- Air-to-water heat pumps. We don’t work on them.
Questions
Will you work on a system another company installed?
Yes. We inspect and fix systems no matter who installed them. The cases on this page are what we found on other companies’ work.
The installer is out of business. What happens to my warranty?
The installer’s labor warranty ends with the installer. The parts warranty comes from the equipment manufacturer, so it may still apply. Work we do comes with our 3-year labor warranty.
How much does it cost?
The service call is $59, credited to the repair if you approve it. On recent jobs, corrections cost from $350 for a temporary drain line fix to $3,290 in Kentfield, where the job also included a control board replacement.
What do I get after the visit?
The technician photographs what they find. You get the findings, what each problem can lead to, and a list of fixes with prices.
Is it better to fix it or replace the system?
It depends on the system. In Hercules a $1,000 correction fixed the airflow and drain problems. In Oakland the system was 20 years old and had leak sealant in it, so we recommended a replacement.
Do you check the gas side of a furnace too?
Yes. In Pleasant Hill we found a spliced flexible gas connector, which gas codes don’t allow, and in Alamo and Kentfield the gas sediment trap was installed wrong.
Serving the East Bay and Marin County: Alameda, Contra Costa and Marin counties. See the full service area →
Not sure your system was installed right?
We’ll tell you at the visit. Service call is only $59, credited to the repair if you approve it.
