Fairfax County General :
Fairfax Underground
Welcome to Fairfax Underground, a project site designed to improve communication among residents of Fairfax County, VA. Feel free to post anything Northern Virginia residents would find interesting.
Welcome to Fairfax Underground, a project site designed to improve communication among residents of Fairfax County, VA. Feel free to post anything Northern Virginia residents would find interesting.
ARS heating and airconditioning company
Posted by:
cooling consumer
()
Date: July 06, 2016 05:28PM
I think they lied and tried to cheat me but I cant prove it. Anybody else have a bad experience with this company?
Re: ARS heating and airconditioning company
Posted by:
Arlington native
()
Date: July 06, 2016 08:37PM
I've followed a lot of misdiagnosed hvac units over the years. Some were actually sabotaged to sell a new unit. I've made $100 repairs for units that were condemned to the tune of $10k for a new one and they ran for years afterwards. Make your case and I'll see if I can add any insight. Be specific with what they were called out for, and what they did and wrote on the service ticket. As for ARS as a company, I have no information one way ir another.
Re: ARS heating and airconditioning company
Posted by:
I know a guy...
()
Date: July 07, 2016 01:09AM
A good friend of mine was moved up here from Fort Worth Texas to get ARS off the ground in this region 6 years ago. Apparently the manager for this region is a scum bag who routinely ordered technicians to sabotage units to sell more and oversell customers for products/services they didn't need. My buddy ended up leaving g the company over it because he couldn't stand to do it anymore
Re: ARS heating and airconditioning company
Posted by:
ARS SUX
()
Date: July 07, 2016 03:54AM
Not sure about the comment about getting ARS off the ground 6 years ago, they have been around for MANY years, like 15+ as I recall. I know they did a lot of HVAC design and install in many new houses in the area as well as a lot of service work.
ARS work and quality is CRAP. Many of their techs are green and careless. I have a friend that has is own HVAC company and we laugh all the time at the STUPID ARS problems he has to sort out. He recently showed me a 3 Amp blade fuse that an ARS person wrapped wire around because the fuse kept blowing. ARS had been to the house many times. It took my friend only a few minutes to find the fuse wrapped with wire because thermostats were blowing, then a few more minutes to find the problem where mice had damaged the insulation to the wiring exiting the house to the outdoor condensing unit.
The home own even questioned if my buddy knew what he was doing because he found the problem so quickly when ARS had been to the house about 5 times for the same problem. My buddy has about 25 years in the business, he has probably seen almost everything over the years.
I personally have seen many crappy ARS installs and even had to go behind ARS to resolve things their idiots could not repair. Unbelievable these guys are still in business after all of these years. I hear they higher almost anyone and do not really train the staff, they just let the new highers out on their own and then just fire the ones that really cause headaches and customer complaints.
So sad that someone does not seem to care at ARS or many of the service businesses these days.
ARS work and quality is CRAP. Many of their techs are green and careless. I have a friend that has is own HVAC company and we laugh all the time at the STUPID ARS problems he has to sort out. He recently showed me a 3 Amp blade fuse that an ARS person wrapped wire around because the fuse kept blowing. ARS had been to the house many times. It took my friend only a few minutes to find the fuse wrapped with wire because thermostats were blowing, then a few more minutes to find the problem where mice had damaged the insulation to the wiring exiting the house to the outdoor condensing unit.
The home own even questioned if my buddy knew what he was doing because he found the problem so quickly when ARS had been to the house about 5 times for the same problem. My buddy has about 25 years in the business, he has probably seen almost everything over the years.
I personally have seen many crappy ARS installs and even had to go behind ARS to resolve things their idiots could not repair. Unbelievable these guys are still in business after all of these years. I hear they higher almost anyone and do not really train the staff, they just let the new highers out on their own and then just fire the ones that really cause headaches and customer complaints.
So sad that someone does not seem to care at ARS or many of the service businesses these days.
Re: ARS heating and airconditioning company
Posted by:
A consumer2
()
Date: July 07, 2016 04:44AM
The service manager in Manassas is a clueless, inbred from West Virginia.
Re: ARS heating and airconditioning company
Posted by:
Greybeard
()
Date: July 07, 2016 10:01PM
ARS bought out Keenan back in the late 90s. Mike Keenan ran a good shop; ARS turned that around in a hurry. Yes, that was 20 years ago. But I sure haven't heard anyone say anything positive about them in the meantime.
Re: ARS heating and airconditioning company
Posted by:
Bent nail
()
Date: July 08, 2016 06:14PM
cooling consumer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I think they lied and tried to cheat me but I cant
> prove it. Anybody else have a bad experience with
> this company?
About 5 years ago they told me I needed a complete system replacement for over 10k$.
I called a honest company who replaced a couple parts for 600 bucks and the system has worked flawlessly since then. A-R-S stands for Always Replace System.
-------------------------------------------------------
> I think they lied and tried to cheat me but I cant
> prove it. Anybody else have a bad experience with
> this company?
About 5 years ago they told me I needed a complete system replacement for over 10k$.
I called a honest company who replaced a couple parts for 600 bucks and the system has worked flawlessly since then. A-R-S stands for Always Replace System.
Re: ARS heating and airconditioning company
Posted by:
love a-c
()
Date: July 14, 2016 05:19AM
Greybeard Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ARS bought out Keenan back in the late 90s. Mike
> Keenan ran a good shop; ARS turned that around in
> a hurry. Yes, that was 20 years ago. But I sure
> haven't heard anyone say anything positive about
> them in the meantime.
ARS also bought out Mcarthy services a few years ago but kept the name since they had destroyed the ARS reputation. Now Mcarthy is a screwjob outfit as well.
-------------------------------------------------------
> ARS bought out Keenan back in the late 90s. Mike
> Keenan ran a good shop; ARS turned that around in
> a hurry. Yes, that was 20 years ago. But I sure
> haven't heard anyone say anything positive about
> them in the meantime.
ARS also bought out Mcarthy services a few years ago but kept the name since they had destroyed the ARS reputation. Now Mcarthy is a screwjob outfit as well.
Re: ARS heating and airconditioning company
Posted by:
socold
()
Date: July 14, 2016 05:46AM
love a-c Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Greybeard Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > ARS bought out Keenan back in the late 90s.
> Mike
> > Keenan ran a good shop; ARS turned that around
> in
> > a hurry. Yes, that was 20 years ago. But I sure
> > haven't heard anyone say anything positive
> about
> > them in the meantime.
>
>
> ARS also bought out Mcarthy services a few years
> ago but kept the name since they had destroyed the
> ARS reputation. Now Mcarthy is a screwjob outfit
> as well.
Thanks for the heads-up I was literally about to call McCarthy. Now I know.
Also stay away from Michael and Sons, same thing only caring about sales. Tried to sell my elderly parents a 10k system when all it needed was a new capacitor (sp?). $500 later from a family friend in HVAC, it was all cool again. They prey on old and naieve people- the same ones who agree to everything Jiffy Lube says " yes you need a new $100 air filter, and abc snake oil to change or else your car will explode now!" When they just came in for a simple oil change..
Getting the washington consumer checkbook ordered now....
-------------------------------------------------------
> Greybeard Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > ARS bought out Keenan back in the late 90s.
> Mike
> > Keenan ran a good shop; ARS turned that around
> in
> > a hurry. Yes, that was 20 years ago. But I sure
> > haven't heard anyone say anything positive
> about
> > them in the meantime.
>
>
> ARS also bought out Mcarthy services a few years
> ago but kept the name since they had destroyed the
> ARS reputation. Now Mcarthy is a screwjob outfit
> as well.
Thanks for the heads-up I was literally about to call McCarthy. Now I know.
Also stay away from Michael and Sons, same thing only caring about sales. Tried to sell my elderly parents a 10k system when all it needed was a new capacitor (sp?). $500 later from a family friend in HVAC, it was all cool again. They prey on old and naieve people- the same ones who agree to everything Jiffy Lube says " yes you need a new $100 air filter, and abc snake oil to change or else your car will explode now!" When they just came in for a simple oil change..
Getting the washington consumer checkbook ordered now....
Re: ARS heating and airconditioning company
Posted by:
EE
()
Date: July 14, 2016 06:47AM
Thank God for the Internet and Youtube. I'm getting my 608 cert and when I finally have to replace the old R22 condenser, evaporator and furnace, I'm getting the R410A components, manifold and parts online and doing it myself. It's not that hard, just look at who does it for a living, especially if you're doing it out of season when it's not hot as hell and you can take your time.
Re: ARS heating and airconditioning company
Posted by:
bills paid
()
Date: July 16, 2016 05:25AM
Greybeard Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ARS bought out Keenan back in the late 90s. Mike
> Keenan ran a good shop; ARS turned that around in
> a hurry. Yes, that was 20 years ago. But I sure
> haven't heard anyone say anything positive about
> them in the meantime.
I worked for Keenan in the early 90s and I would not say they were completely honest. They spent a lot of time training the techs on how to play mind games with the customers to convince them that they needed to replace all their equipment. Compared to ARS though they were a pretty good outfit. Mike Keenan was paid 7 million dollars for his little company and you cant blame him for taking that check and taking the rest of his life off.
The guys who work for ARS are the bottom of the barrel techs who simply cant get a job anywhere decent.
-------------------------------------------------------
> ARS bought out Keenan back in the late 90s. Mike
> Keenan ran a good shop; ARS turned that around in
> a hurry. Yes, that was 20 years ago. But I sure
> haven't heard anyone say anything positive about
> them in the meantime.
I worked for Keenan in the early 90s and I would not say they were completely honest. They spent a lot of time training the techs on how to play mind games with the customers to convince them that they needed to replace all their equipment. Compared to ARS though they were a pretty good outfit. Mike Keenan was paid 7 million dollars for his little company and you cant blame him for taking that check and taking the rest of his life off.
The guys who work for ARS are the bottom of the barrel techs who simply cant get a job anywhere decent.
Re: ARS heating and airconditioning company
Posted by:
cooling consumer
()
Date: July 17, 2016 07:17AM
My personal experience with ARS was very negative.
Re: ARS heating and airconditioning company
Posted by:
Acronym finder
()
Date: July 17, 2016 01:22PM
ARS stands for "Ass Rape Specialists". They really are very good at what they do.
Re: ARS heating and airconditioning company
Posted by:
Cool Breeze
()
Date: July 17, 2016 03:20PM
ARS stands for "Always Replace System"
Re: ARS heating and airconditioning company
Posted by:
Lorton Homeowner
()
Date: July 17, 2016 08:39PM
Acronym finder Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ARS stands for "Ass Rape Specialists". They really
> are very good at what they do.
Very true.
-------------------------------------------------------
> ARS stands for "Ass Rape Specialists". They really
> are very good at what they do.
Very true.
Re: ARS heating and airconditioning company
Posted by:
chantilly resident
()
Date: July 17, 2016 08:59PM
I have been noticing that three of my neighbors that had ARS install new AC units in the last 3 years for their houses have all had numerous trouble calls in the last 1.5 years including several in the last two months. I must assume they are either selling crap AC equipment, they are incompetent or corrupt based on all the service calls.
It just seems like it must be more than bad luck.
It just seems like it must be more than bad luck.
Re: ARS heating and airconditioning company
Posted by:
former ars tech
()
Date: November 03, 2016 02:17PM
I was laid off from ARS because I refused to cheat and lie to the clients.
Re: ARS heating and airconditioning company
Posted by:
townhouse Ted
()
Date: March 28, 2017 08:26PM
Acronym finder Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ARS stands for "Ass Rape Specialists". They really
> are very good at what they do.
LOL! I agree 100%!
-------------------------------------------------------
> ARS stands for "Ass Rape Specialists". They really
> are very good at what they do.
LOL! I agree 100%!
Re: ARS heating and airconditioning company
Posted by:
Best HVAC
()
Date: March 28, 2017 08:35PM
McCarthy teamed up with select heating and they changed the name to DM Select.
They are in Burke.
They are in Burke.
Re: ARS heating and airconditioning company
Posted by:
High praise
()
Date: March 28, 2017 08:36PM
DM select is 5 star consumer rating.
It's them or mcDanials in lorton.
It's them or mcDanials in lorton.
Re: ARS heating and airconditioning company
Posted by:
FairfaxGirl
()
Date: March 28, 2017 08:48PM
We had a bad experience--our ac went out & the guy they sent clearly had no clue. He charged us 150 to clean the condenser, which did nothing. Finally we got a different guy out & he fixed it but it was extra days of no act plus probably a complete waste of 150.
Re: ARS heating and airconditioning company
Posted by:
Homeowner Joe
()
Date: March 29, 2017 08:14AM
I used to use Keenan in the early 90's for my residence in Fairfax Station, and my rental homes. Never had any real problems with them. ARS is a different story....
Since the early 2000's I have used Dwyer Plumbing in all my homes and I can't say enough good things about them. Customer service on the phone is top notch, technicians arrive on time and are always courteous and professional, and they are reasonably priced. Not the cheapest, but for my peace of mind, definitely worth every penny.
Since the early 2000's I have used Dwyer Plumbing in all my homes and I can't say enough good things about them. Customer service on the phone is top notch, technicians arrive on time and are always courteous and professional, and they are reasonably priced. Not the cheapest, but for my peace of mind, definitely worth every penny.
Re: ARS heating and airconditioning company
Posted by:
Dixon Cider
()
Date: May 18, 2017 04:58AM
I like MR stride.
Re: ARS heating and airconditioning company
Posted by:
cockadoodledoo
()
Date: May 18, 2017 08:32AM
That's the company that runs the ads with the retarded redneck singing the "Call ARS and Rescue Rooters" jingle, right?
I want to hear him say "They took our jobs!", SouthPark-style.
I want to hear him say "They took our jobs!", SouthPark-style.
Re: ARS heating and airconditioning company
Posted by:
hvacfool
()
Date: May 19, 2017 02:13PM
McCarthy is owned by ARS. The guy that runs that oeration is a stand up guy, Give it time and they will chew him up and spit him out. It,s all numbers with them.