Heating, Cooling & Electrical Experts You Can Trust

I called Ballard to service a heat pump showing an error code. The technician diagnosed it as a failed TXV valve after observing frosting on the unit. He didn’t appear to perform standard diagnostic checks—such as measuring pressure—despite visible oil streaks on the coil (a common symptom of a refrigerant leak). The Ballard tech "highly suggested" my 13-year-old system wasn’t worth repairing and setup a design consultation so I could make an "informed decision".

I contacted a competitor for a second opinion. Their technician took extra time to document and share measurements and observations collected during the service call so I could double-check the diagnosis. The service cost 55% of Ballard’s, despite being more thorough. During the successful repair, I received photos showing large bubbles coming from the coil—clear evidence of a leak. The competitor’s per-pound pricing for R410a refrigerant—needed in both repairs and often a significant expense—was also less than half of Ballard’s quote.

The premium service pricing and lack of diagnostic rigor left me with the impression that Ballard prioritizes replacement sales over maximizing the life of installed systems even when customers, like me, express interest in extending the life of older systems through repair.

Eder and Max were very efficient and knowledgeable.