Encore Air, LLC Heating & Air Conditioning

Used Encore Air to install a new system. I had a warranty issue and the unit stopped working. I tried calling 5 times and their answering service kept taking messages, but I never received a call back from anyone at the company. Maybe they are just too busy to handle service calls. I would think twice before calling them unless you have a lot time before you actually need anything.

Last July, Encore was great and installed my new air conditioning systems on time and on budget. However, within the last week we have unable to place a service call or talk with anyone. We get their answering service that say they are relaying our messages but never hear back. It appears that Encore is having significant problems or out of business. Hopefully someone at Encore will respond to this review.

You will easily reach the owner in order to schedule them to install a new unit so they can charge you, but 5 months later when I want them to come and check a loud noise coming from the outside unit....NOPE! I've called 5 times, emailed and nothing. If you think you're reaching them when someone picks up, think again. It's an outsourced answering service. They only relay your call but in my case NO ONE RETURNS MY CALLS. I have been trying for a month now. Obviously, I'll go elsewhere to get this handled. But just be watchful of these guys. In the beginning: attentive and seemed to care. Good pricing. But after install...completely disappeared. Alas, you get what you pay for.

Our complete unit was difficult to install third floor attic for the air handler and in August. The installation crew was knowledgeable and professional. We had a few hardware problems due to restricted space so the install took longer than anyone wanted it to. Best service best price. For any Air conditioning requirements I would call these guys first and always.

Thanks JA

My wife and I are very pleased with our decision to choose encore air for our work. Our system went down on New Years Eve and we were having guests over. Nick was able to get our system working within 45 minutes. The fan motor went out. I am very happy with the company and the pricing. Definitely will refer to my friends.

We needed new equipment and got 4 estimates. It wasnt the lowest one but definitely not the highest. The system is now installed a couple of months and I couldn't believe our electric bill is half of what it was. Literally over 200 less. Super happy. The installers did a great job and couldn't be happier with the overall experience..Def a 5 star job!

To whom this may concern, I had an appointment today 6/8 from 9-11 to have one of your tech come out and do a tune up on my A/C unit as we go into the summer months. No one has shown up and I have called 3 time and spoke to you answering service and expressed my dismay for the tech not showing up, lack of communication and call back. I have called at 11:15, 12 and 1:15 and STILL no call back. I took off today to be here to greet the tech and my 38 week pregnant wife was home as well. If you can't make it call the person back!!! I would have understood. I made the appointment for first thing in the morning to avoid the tech being held up and they still did not show. To me this is the worst kind of customer service, what this tells me is that your time is more valuable than my families and that you don't value your customer and have the courtesy to call them back. If you wish to contact me please send me a private message and I will be happy to speak with a manager or owner. I have already contacted another company and they are coming out to service my A/C unit.

In one word “RUN”
As with every other situation you should do your homework first. Check things out through the Better Business Bureau and Pinellas County Clerk of Courts, criminal records. Also look at the states DPBR website. After viewing those two sites, if you don’t run, you’re crazy.
My experience started May 11th 2018, that is when I contacted James McClow via email on his website, the next morning I signed the contract and later that day his employee and employees wife showed up to do the install. No company vehicles showed up to my house, certainly non like are shown on the company website. Just the installers personal truck.
There were numerous issues with the air conditioning system it had to be remedied on the following Tuesday. After the install was done, the AC system in my attic was resting on my ceiling rafters and it vibrated so loudly we could not sleep in the house. When the installer was done installing all the parts together he just filled the system with Freon without doing the proper system flush or required evacuation that is required by industry standards. It took 3 dats for him to return to solve those issues.

June 15th I contacted James McClow once again to find out when he was going to have the city of St Pete do the inspection. Come to find out he never pulled the required building permits to do the installation. When he finally pulled the permits, and the inspection was done, it failed.
He said the city inspectors are incompetent and don’t know what’s going on.
Several weeks later his employee finally returned and did the needed repairs to make the system pass.

Now in the middle of August 2018 I am having issues with the system not working correctly and he is nowhere to be found and will not return my text messages or phone calls.

His website looks really nice talking about running a family business and showing nice company vehicles. Non of those vehicles never showed up to my property instead his installer came in a beat up old truck and James drove an old Suzuki car. No company signs or logos to be seen.
I could go into a great deal more detail about the things I deal with from his employee and James, but I do not see the point. Take the time and look contractors up online, so many of them are unlicensed and uninsured. At the time my installation was done, according to the Better Business Bureau website, he was unlicensed. Also take the time to look at The state board for other license and insurance questions for James McClow and other companies. Do your homework first!!!!

Like I said in the beginning, save yourself a great deal of grief and RUN away from this guy and his company. There are so many other companies that are licensed and insured and do good work. Choose one of those Instead. Do your home work, look the company and company owner up on line FIRST!!!! Google is a wonderful resource for finding all this information. Use it.

I purchased a used air conditioned 3 ton unit from Encore Air from the owner James McClow, in 10/2017 (contract states this). Six months later the compressor frozed up. I reached out to Mr. McClow, he did come out and added more freon to my unit. Three months later the compressor frozed up again. It only right to reach out to Mr. McClow, again. This time received no response back.

I had no choice but to call another a/c company. this is when I discovered, the unit he sold me is NOT a 3 ton. It's a 2.5 ton and it's a 2014, not an 2017. Now, its 2019, I've added freon to this unit six times since 2017. I've made several attempts to reach out Mr. McClow, asking him to replace the 2.5 ton for the three ton that the contract was written up and I've paid him for. Once again no response. I just learned today (8/21/19). The outside unit is leaking oil and paid to add more freon AGAIN, replaced the capicitor and my a/c company now said I'm going to have replace the unit outside. I will be reporting this to Better Business Bureau.

My Central AC went out and I needed to replace. After an exaustive search I came upon James at Encore Air and really glad I did. They installed my AC next day at a reasonable price and with no hassles. I found anAC company that I can trust and will now use them exclusively as well as recommend them to all my friends. Thx James great job from you and your team!!!