Testimonials for Halco

Don and his wife got started with Halco after hearing a HeatSmart Tompkins ad about heat pumps on the radio. They were interested in learning about more efficient ways to heat their home, so they filled out an application and were put in touch with Halco. From insulation and air sealing to a new heat pump systems and basement waterproofing, Halco helped this couple completely renovate their home! They have been extremely happy with Halco and our team from start to finish!
Don B. of Erin, NY
Tuesday, November 23rd
I am super excited about the crawlspace. Joe suggested I email Hal Smith too. I hadn’t sat down to do it yet, so he’s getting copied on this. We can’t believe Joe and crew did it in only three days. I haven’t gone down there yet...just peeked through the access window, but I bought a worklight string like Joe had to light up the place, so I’m ready.  Now I can run a network cable down there that I’ve been holding off on doing. You can’t imagine how this answers a wish I’ve had for thirty years to make the space desirable to enter...clean, bright,  dry, and odor-free. I noticed after the first day of work that the house didn’t smell musty. The new ductwork has made a noticeable improvement in the airflow to the family room, even before a new furnace. Of course I still eagerly await the new equipment next week. I’d love to be in the newsletter and you and anyone from Halco are welcome to a tour. We’re thinking of having a crawlspace-warming for friends and neighbors! Too bad the access can’t be any bigger. Take care of the back. See you soon I hope! Norm
Norman A. of Ithaca, NY
Wednesday, January 4th
William S. of Fayetteville, NY discusses his geothermal system installed by Halco. William’s system is fairly complex as it needs to accommodate a nearly 200-year-old home. The system is comprised of 4 heat pumps: one for the adjoining apartment, one for the bottom floor of his home, one for the top floor, and a fourth for the hot water system. As a Climate Scientist, William has been considering going green for 20 years for two main reasons: (a) he is keenly aware of the importance of getting off fossil fuels and reducing his carbon footprint, and (b) he realizes the potential cost savings. William is very passionate about this subject and is a member of the steering committee for HeatSmart CNY. HeatSmart CNY is a campaign designed to make it easier and more affordable to install clean heating and cooling solutions as well as energy efficiency upgrades. After a careful evaluation process, Halco is thrilled to be a selected installer for this program! Learn more at HeatSmartCNY.org
William S. of Fayetteville, NY
Monday, November 12th
Tria from Painted Post, NY and her family were spending a lot of money to heat their home during the winter. During the summer, the back rooms in their house were extremely hot and uncomfortable. To make matters worse, there was also mold growing in the crawl space that posed some health concerns to the family.  After researching, Tria found Halco and decided to give us a call because we were the only company in the area able to address and offer solutions for all the problems she was experiencing in her home.  In this video, she talks about the experience she had with our company and the results after the project was completed.  "I am most excited about the house being healthier. Also the energy efficiency is going to be better," says Tria.
Tria T. of Painted Post, NY
Wednesday, January 18th
David T. from Horseheads, NY always wanted to make his home energy neutral by installing a solar system capable of supplying all the energy consumed by the household.  When the time came, after evaluating several companies, David chose Halco to install the system. He said, "I like the idea that Halco is a local company. I like the idea that Halco is a relatively large company of skilled employees so I know that my system could be maintained." David was impressed with the company from the first meeting with the home energy advisor, who according to him was as knowledgeable as he was enthusiastic about renewable energy. His entire experience with the company was extremely positive. "In the beginning Halco took care of all the initial paperwork. It was just very nice. To deal with all the New York State paperwork would be a challenge, so that was all covered," he adds. The entire installation process was fast and very clean. The company shipping the solar panels made a mistake and they were one panel short. "I don't know how they pulled off the magic, but that one panel showed up within a few days," says David. "I was really impressed that all those details were accomplished in a very short time." David was also very pleased with the fact that the crews left his home clean and in order, seeding the grass on the spots where they had to dig to run wires and leaving the yard and garage swept and free of debris. David is even happier with his 40-panel system, each with 315 kW, which now supplies all the energy his family needs.
David T. of Horseheads, NY
Thursday, June 18th
The owners of this 1880’s farmhouse originally contacted Halco because they were interested in a heat pump option to replace their old oil furnace. While assessing the home, we found an extremely wet and drafty basement. After waterproofing the basement, the happy homeowners reached out to move forward on the geothermal heat pump portion of their project. We installed a 5-ton GeoStar Sycamore ground source system connected to a horizontal loop. The homeowners are blown away with how clean and efficient the new system is. And even more, they now had air conditioning for the first time ever! In the end, these homeowners eliminated a 2,000 gallon a year oil bill and about 50,000 lbs. of CO2 per year!
Cathy D. of Spencer, NY
Monday, July 13th
Hello, Halco. We just wanted to let you know we've received outstanding service from your office staff and field representatives. We've had consistent, excellent customer service from Corey and Brandon as our primary contacts. In addition, we are very grateful for Josh, Zach, Steve, Nick and Jose who installed our heat pump system last week. They were courteous, knowledgeable, respectful, and very competent in their work. We feel like we are in good hands with Halco from top to bottom. Thanks so much for upgrading our insulation this winter and installing our heat pump system. We love the results and are looking forward to our energy savings!
Beth M. of Bath, NY
Thursday, March 25th
Purity Ice Cream Company, Inc. was established in 1936 in Ithaca, New York and it's been a local institution since then, serving delicious ice cream and baked goods.  Bruce, owner of the establishment since 1998, is a firm believer in renewable energy and decided to upgrade to Solar Energy while renovating the facilities. Halco was the company he chose for the job, and he is very happy with the results. "Upstate New York is not known for super sunny days but despite that we get a lot of good power production out of these panels,” says Bruce, who is also considering the addition of a few more panels in the near future.
Bruce of Ithaca, NY
Thursday, November 12th
Ithaca, NY customers, Charles and Susan, started working with Halco around ten years ago when they had plans to build a home that would utilize geothermal heating and cooling.  Well, they ended purchasing a home instead, and that home was using 2,000 gallons of propane a year! They contacted Hal, CEO and owner of Halco, who helped the couple design and retrofit a geothermal system for the home. Right away, the new system took the customers from around $8,000/year in heating costs to less than $2,000/year.  After replacing their old propane boiler with geothermal, Charles and Susan added solar to help offset their electricity usage. A few years later they added some more solar, bought an electric car, and now they are very close to net-zero, meaning they are producing just about as much energy as they are using! Recently, the pair hit 100 MWh of electricity produced with their Halco installed solar arrays.  To put this number in perspective, 100 MWh is enough to offset 12.3 homes' electricity use for one year, 7,957 gallons of gasoline consumed, and 77,308 pounds of coal burned! Of this milestone Charles said, “It feels big, it feels like we really did something. Maybe it's just a little step and we're only one house and we're only one family, but we're doing what we can, we're doing the best that we can."  Charles often recommends Halco, stating, “I highly recommend working with Hal Smith because he is an honorable man and he gets the stuff done. He makes sure that it works!" 
Charles W. of Ithaca, NY
Tuesday, August 13th
Two years before deciding to upgrade to solar energy, Candace F. had the furnace in her Trumansburg, NY home replaced by Halco and was very pleased with their services. When it came the time to have the home retrofitted for solar energy and install the panels, she called Halco again for an estimate. Based on the estimate and her previous experience with the company she decided to trust Halco for the job, and was not disappointed. Halco’s crews were very responsible, finished the job in a timely manner and cleaned everything up before leaving. "They finished the whole job in one day. They didn’t leave a nail or a piece of cardboard behind,” Candace said,.“You would never know they were here. The most exciting part about it would probably be watching the meter on a sunny day, when we can see that we are really making power and putting it back on the grid."
Candace F. of Trumansburg, NY
Thursday, May 14th
Fred B., from Freeville, NY wanted to upgrade the heating and cooling system in his beautiful 190 year old house and move away from fossil fuels.  Halco installed the geothermal system, upgraded the duct work and improved insulation so that the old house could conserve as much energy and be as comfortable as a newly constructed, energy efficient home.  Fred is very happy with the results stating, "I would recommend myself to use them again, and I would recommend to people that ask me. Halco would be an excellent choice", says Fred.
Fred B. of Freeville, NY
Friday, September 8th
Happy Halco customer, Dick Matthews, switched from the hard work of heating his home with wood to a new LG air source heat pump system. This new, whole house system both heats and cools his home and is very easy to use. Dick is extremely pleased with the new ductless system stating, "If I had one thing to say about Halco it would be that the company is competent."  
Dick M. of Naples, NY
Tuesday, April 13th
Hal,   I wanted to drop a quick note of appreciation for the crew that handled the recent mechanical install of our LG heat pump system. I have to say that I was initially skeptical that such a large company could maintain such a client-centered approach, but your people pulled it off. From my first meeting with Matt Dennis, where I explained that we were just looking for a ballpark cost and some design ideas for our 200-year old farmhouse (so many small rooms...), I could see that HALCO was going to be easy to work with. He took his time, walked through the house, discussed some options and his thoughts, and didn't try to sell us anything. I knew we were at least a few years out from buying anything, so he was just establishing a relationship.   Then the NYSERDA rules changed, and suddenly "a few years" became "a few months". Matt came out again and did a full study of the house, including a blower door test. He went back and designed a system for us, and about two months later (delayed for a refi on our house), Dan and Rob showed up to install. Even though our crazy-complicated install (kind of a complex attic) took two days longer than expected, they took the time to do everything right and asked for my input as they went.   I grew up in an HVAC business household. Both my father and grandfather owned companies and have run service calls their entire lives, so I know just enough to be dangerous. Plus, I grew up in Florida 20 years ago, so I know nothing of the current state of the art in a cold climate. Nonetheless, everybody was willing to answer my questions and listen to my suggestions about where we might run ductwork, place the air handler, run linesets and electrical, and everything else. As a result, I have a system and an install where there's nothing that forces me to say "I would've done that differently".   And I imagine that thanks also go to you for building a culture that encourages getting it right. The fact that all of these guys are trusted enough to work it out in the field and make sure the customer is satisfied and the system is right is a testament to that culture. Thank you. I will definitely call HALCO in the future when the need arises.  
Dean M. of Groton, NY
Monday, July 19th
James first contacted Halco 6 years ago on a recommendation from his friend and neighbor. He was spending over $6,000 a year on fuel oil to heat his home and was looking for a better solution. James ultimately took his friend's advice and chose to work with Halco. Now, six years later, he has two solar systems, geothermal heating and cooling, and an electric water heater and says, “I’ve never been sorry. It’s a good company, reliable, and I have nothing but good to say about it!”
James C. of Cortland, NY
Wednesday, August 3rd
Kitty had been concerned about climate change for a while and was researching ways she could help combat the issue on an individual level. After connecting with HeatSmart CNY, Kitty choose to work with Halco to install her new air source heat pump system!
Kitty B. of Tully, NY
Tuesday, July 13th
Hope the summer is treating you well. I wanted you to know that last night at dinner my wife, said “I have to admit you were right about the insulation.  It’s really made the house much more comfortable.”  As you might imagine, I was incredibly pleased.  The insulation has made a huge difference this summer.  Temperature swings in the house are very minor unless we open the windows.  Looking forward to the winter benefits.   All best, Scott
Scott S. of Corning, NY
Tuesday, July 7th
Testimonial Photo by Jerry V.
Mr. Smith: I would like to make you aware of an exceptional employee that you have in Nick Thompson. We are selling our home at [address removed] in Ithaca. It sold right away but during a home inspection a small plumbing leak was noticed. It was very important for us to fix it as soon as possible in order to continue with the sale of the home. We were able to contact Halco and actually get a person to talk to at nearly 9:00p.m., that individual was able to contact Nick Thompson and schedule an inspection with us the very next day. Nick was very professional and he pushed to make sure the work was scheduled right away due to our urgent situation. He was very responsive at all times. He even made sure we got the letter we needed for the buyers of our home specifically stating how the repair was done and that it was done by licensed workers etc… Anything Nick said would happen, he made sure it did. I was very impressed. I run a Soil and Water Conservation District and have worked with many folks over the last 20 years and you just simply don’t find people like Nick. Thank you very much for all of your company’s assistance.  
Jerry V. of Ithaca, NY
Friday, October 20th
Hello,   I'm writing as a follow-up to work done on our boiler last week by Chris, one of your HVAC guys (with an assistant). He replaced an inducer motor, a pressure tank, an auto-feed valve, and a backflow preventer.   First I want to say how pleased I was by the service I got from everyone at Halco, starting with Steve (the guy who made the initial visit to diagnose the multiple problems with the system), on to Jamie, who I spoke with on the phone several times about setting up the follow-up repair visit, ordering parts, etc., to Chris and his assistant (whose name I never got). Everyone was super helpful, responsive, and clear in communications. I appreciated that Halco covered the cost of overnight shipping on the inducer monitor from out of state, and the loan of two space heaters over the two days we were without heat before the repair work could be done. Chris and partner got here around 4 PM on the day that the inducer motor was received, and they worked until almost 10 PM to restore our heat and hot water. It was great to finally be able to shower and run the dishwasher after they were done!   Again, thanks to all for outstanding service. I will continue recommending Halco to anyone who asks!
Russ C. of Ithaca, NY
Tuesday, March 23rd
Dear all Halco family: Greg, Theresa, Jamie, Brittany, Seth, Rodney, Dave, Jim & partner that put my furnace in. Thank you all for all your caring and help and professionalism. I love the furnace and thermostat. I could not have stayed in my home if it wasn't for all of you. Please thank too the men that worked so hard insulating, this will help so much too. I hope I haven't forgotten anyone. It is honestly a dream come true. I am truly blessed over this. Please thank NYS Gas and Electric and the state program, Empower! God Bless all of you always. 
Janie O. of Wayland, NY
Wednesday, August 12th
I just want to let you know how pleased I am with all the work that has been done on my house. Even after the nice, new hot water tank was installed today, your installer happened to notice a slope in the ramp by the side door. He fixed it by putting the brace piece back in place and attaching a couple nails to hold it there and then he told me about it and showed me where the problem was and what he did. That was an amazing, thoughtful thing for him to do, above and beyond his job scope. I am happy to be able to rest easy knowing my hot water tank is replaced before any major damage happened with that. It's so much larger and looks good. He left everything in nice neat condition, even better than he found it. The basement windows look very good and they were installed with such efficiency. The installers were gentlemen and worked well together. Those old windows are gone and the new ones will probably last the lifetime of the house. I highly recommend them for any jobs HALCO may have in the future. The new heat converter unit on my furnace seems to be working just great, even though I don't really understand how it works. Those 3 gentlemen worked a long day to get it installed and working well. I know that unit and the additional insulation in my house will also save me some money and improve the efficiency of my propane and electric services. They did not have one problem with things being in the way and everything was done with our safety in mind. I am truly blessed. Everyone I have been in contact with through HALCO, either in person or by phone, has been very courteous, polite and considerate, and well experienced in their area of expertise. Please thank everyone for me again. I may not remember all their names, but I will never forget them, or you, and the hard work everyone did. Sincerely, 
Judy B. of Branchport, NY
Thursday, March 31st
Mr. Hal Smith, I met you and Elijah Whiting on 7/20/15 at Tony Del Plato's place in Interlaken. I, as part of Solar Seneca, interviewed solar contractors whom we might recommend.  From there, Halco was recommended, and later I ordered a system from Halco for myself. Your staff, Kevin Pilcher, Bill Coon, both Josh's, are very good at what they do. But, that installation crew: Jake, Ken, Jeff. They are your stars. First class craftsmen & personable to boot. I'm particularly praising Jake; he kept me informed at all times. Also, he is an artist. My meters and panels are laid out in geometric perfection. Should have had everything installed in my living room so I could show it off. If anyone tried to hire Jake away, you should do whatever it takes to keep him. Yours, 
Donald R. of Interlaken, NY
Sunday, July 10th
Dear Hal, Just a word of appreciation for the installation of a heat pump in my house in February. This is a great system - very easy to use - even for someone as old as I happen to be.  Your people showed up on schedule, were efficient and left my place cleaner than when they arrived! They even gave me a short lesson on how to use my new heat pump system.  I am especially appreciative for all the effort and time that Troy Duerr put in to see that the job was designed properly and installed correctly. He returned a week after the installation was complete to make sure I was satisfied! When I built this house 35 years ago, wood heat was a great choice. At nearly 90, it is not so great! So, you can get some idea of how much I am enjoying my new heating system.  Thanks again. I will recommend your company every chance I get.
Dick M. of Naples, NY
Wednesday, March 17th
You have successfully serviced my heating and plumbing needs for several years. I did not think of you as providing electrical service and found you quite by accident for this service. Late on Friday, 7/10, I called to schedule an electrical appointment at my recently purchased lake camp in Cayuga, NY. Your receptionist and Brandon were, as always, most professional and helpful. Today David Zaborowski and his apprentice Spencer Dino spent several hours at my vacation home. They were personable, professional, considerate of my time and money and took care of my problems. In short they were the kind of folks I've come to expect from Halco and I enjoyed having them work in my home. Kudos to David and Spencer and to you for providing an environment which attracts such quality people.
Frank P. of Groton, NY
Tuesday, July 14th
Just wanted to thank you & your technician Steve Hudson for the great service you provided today!! I had in mind a solution for our lack of hot water and Steve proposed a different solution which was less costly and, because he had the parts on his truck, was installed successfully & quickly. Steve was friendly, knowledgeable, and there was no high pressure sales pitches. We enjoyed doing business with your company - thanks again!
Ted M. of Honeoye, NY
Tuesday, May 31st
Hi Hal, Hope all is well with you!  I just wanted to let you know that we have been so pleased with the work of one of your employees, Peter Faas.. He's been working on our routine furnace checks for several years and has done an especially fine job with our gas fireplace, which is not easy to work with.  He represents your company in a professional way and does a great job. We are loyal Halco customers and a lot of that is because of Peter.  I recommend Halco to friends often!  Thanks! Barb
Barb R. of Canandaigua, NY
Thursday, November 3rd
Just wanted to share my recent experience with Halco's installation of a replacement A/C unit.   I've been a Halco service customer for a number of years, quite satisfied with the quality of work. This was the major reason why I asked Halco to provide a quote for a replacement A/C. Dan Fuhrmann was able to win my business by listening to what I was looking for and providing a detailed evaluation of the home's heating/cooling profile. I was given a number of options, but above all I felt my thoughts were heard and understood as I moved toward making a final decision. I did not feel pressured to make a decision, and received validation even when my decision was for a moderately priced system.   I would want to mention that I've had excellent customer service from the people in your office, both during past service calls and during this current A/C installation. I wish I could remember their names! However I can state that during each telephone call, I have experienced the service person first listening to the reason I called, then taking the time to figure out a course of action or a solution to a concern. I have felt valued as a 'person' who is a customer. I would give an example with the fact that I had let office staff know that I would be available if an earlier install date became open, and in fact received a call for a date a week earlier than originally planned (just in time before the 90 + days in late July!).   Which brings me to the installation of the new A/C unit. Rex and his partner Robert arrived on time to begin the work. They listened to the questions I had about the installation and explained how the work would be done. They proceeded with the install in a skilled and professional manner, and appeared to take time and care with the work, not treating the installation as if it was 'just another job' to rush through. They even took the time to explain how the new equipment on the furnace would look different, in case I might see the difference later and be concerned. Lastly, they did a great job cleaning up their work, both inside and out. Again, in my experience, other businesses ignore such basic tasks, whereas this seemed to be another example of how Halco employees look at all aspects of their work as parts of the larger picture of providing quality products and service.   I apologize for the length of this message, however I wanted to express that with Halco (whether Sales, Office or Installation employees), I have experienced a level of customer service that sadly seems lacking in many businesses. Needless to say, I'm satisfied with my new air conditioning system! At the time of writing this, the outside temp is 90 degrees with 72% humidity! That's figures to a heat index of 108!! However inside house is a comfy 72 degrees/ 45% humidity!!    Thanks Halco!!
Gary S. of Fayette, NY
Friday, July 19th
Your customer service is phenomenal. In the last 12 hours I have spoken to Kerry and Sierra, not sure of the spelling of names, and both of them went away beyond to try to help me with my problem. Customer service like that will keep my loyalty to your company. Thank you
Theresa S. of Waterloo, NY
Thursday, October 4th
I can't thank you and your staff enough for their incredibly timely response to our boiler situation. Ed was dispatched on Monday to determine why our boiler wasn't heating our water. He and his helper did a fantastic job of determining the issue, taking extensive pictures and describing to us what the issues were and forwarding all his documentation in order to justify a boiler replacement. He called us Monday evening to say that all documentation had been submitted to Navian for approval. Then to get your call this morning that a crew would be out this morning to replace the boiler was miraculous. The two gentlemen who replaced our boiler were outstanding representatives of your firm. They were highly professional, very pleasant to talk to and cleaned up any and all debris from the replacement. Our level of trust with your firm is best exemplified by the fact that D****** had a doctor's appointment that we simply could not change, we told your crew what time we had to leave, showed them how to secure the house and we left. We came home to a clean boiler room and garage. Please pass on our thanks to your crew for such a great job. Thanks again for your continued professionalism and outstanding customer service.
Jim M. of Macedon, NY
Wednesday, May 23rd
Dear Mr. Smith,I am writing to thank you, Halco, and especially Matt Dennis and Matt Slimskey for your exceptional customer service.Matt Dennis and Matt Slimskey oversaw the sale and installation of my LG Hydro Kit heat pump heating and cooling system. They and their teams exceeded my expectations in all regards.I first met Matt Dennis at a virtual HeatSmart CNY meeting. I was interested in installing an air-to-water heat pump, which is regrettably not yet widely available in the U.S. market. Matt D. consulted with me about ATW heat pumps and other options. He researched ATW heat pumps and advised on more readily available, and serviceable, alternatives. Matt regularly accepted my calls after business hours and “geeked out” with me about what heat pump heating and cooling system would work best for my new construction project. To this day, Matt has remained in close contact and offered support even though my bill to Halco has been fully paid.Matt Slimskey oversaw the team that installed my heating and cooling system. I was out of the country during most of the installation but various other subcontractors whom I trust spoke very admirably about Matt and his team even without my prompting. As I’m sure you know, this is rare for subcontractors to do. During the few times that I managed to be on site, Matt’s team treated me like a valued customer, explaining the system in a clear and patient way.What also stands out clearly in my mind is when my General Contractor—whom Matt S. had been attempting to contact for weeks, without success—contacted me on a Friday at noon and asked that Halco “turn on the heat” the following Monday (less than 3 full days later!) in order to pass inspection. I was appalled by this request, but Matt and his team adapted and somehow managed to have the heating and cooling system functional by the GC’s due date. That was less than 24 business hours away from the time service was requested. Talk about exceeding expectations.Throughout all of this high-maintenance drama of customer service, Matt Dennis and Matt Slimskey have remained steadfastly good-humored, helpful, and friendly. I admit that I had been nervous about working with a “big name” heating and cooling company on this project. I typically prefer to work with the smallest business possible. But Halco proved me wrong. Your team has taken remarkably good care of me—a single woman navigating house building for the first time. I am indebted to Matt Dennis, Matt Slimskey, their teams, and you, for helping me through this process.I have recommended, and will continue to recommend, Halco to my friends with the strongest endorsement. Thank you, Hal, and please pass my gratitude along to Matt Dennis, Matt Slimskey, and their teams.
Catherine H. of Syracuse, NY
Tuesday, May 16th
Dear Hal, My name is Makan ****** and I have been a customer of Halco since last summer. During this time, your company has installed for us a water heater, a furnace (together with a new supply boot and air filter), a new coil case for our AC system, basement spray-foam insulation, multiple energy assessments, and a complete basement floor system. And this is an incomplete list because I want to keep the email brief! In every case, the service provided by Halco was of the highest caliber. But beyond that, every member of the Halco team that we have had the pleasure of working with has been truly respectful and considerate. The latest case was Larry Anstee, who did an outstanding job of finishing our basement. I would in particular like to express my deep gratitude for the help and support of Jamie Kluk. The story of how I came to know of Halco involves some serious health issues that my two children struggled with soon after we moved into our new house in late 2015. And through our process of troubleshooting and decision making with regards to the house, Jamie was there for us not just as a representative of Halco but also as a friend. Every single one of his emails and messages to me ends with "Call or email anytime”!  I am truly grateful to him. I will finish by thanking the Halco team again for their high-quality work, and I would like to thank you for putting together such an outstanding group of people. I wish you all the best. Sincere regards, Makan
Makan F. of Fayetteville, NY
Saturday, June 3rd
Total testimonials : 1267
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