Even though it’s been almost two weeks since I had my new Lennox XC14 air conditioner and SLP98V furnace installed (absolutely still ecstatic about how wonderful the furnace is performing, by the way!), I had to write a review because of the wonderful service I’d received from Cozy World from beginning to end! Apologies that it’s lengthy, but I wanted to be thorough since Boris (owner) had been so himself during my communications with him :)
BACKGROUND: I had received 5 quotes in total from both large and small HVAC companies. The price range was enormous - thousands even for the same Lennox product by different contractors. Cozy World landed near the middle, and although it was tempting to go with the smaller companies (cheaper prices), or the larger companies (they provided all these ‘on-paper’ guarantees), it was the authenticity, honesty, and knowledge of Boris that won me over (not to mention the countless positive reviews of Cozy World on Homestars!).
INTIAL MEETING FOR QUOTE: I was surprised when I first met Boris. He’s not your typical talkative shmoozy salesman - more so a friendly grandfather who has nothing to hide. During our initial conversation, he was very open about the different options, and did not try to sell me something larger or fancier than what I needed: even more reflective of an honest salesman, he encouraged me to go with the more affordable options, considering various factors that very few other contractors had asked me about (e.g., my lifestyle, heating/cooling habits, how many people in the home, etc). When I asked why he was recommending the more affordable ones, his response was along the lines of ‘salesmen want to sell you the more expensive option to get a larger commission; when you’re the owner, you have a different goal, and that’s to have no customers come back to you with complaints!.’ That day, I learned a lot about HVAC systems, felt no pressure from Boris to make a decision any time soon, and was provided a very detailed quote outlining the cost of each individual item.
DECISION PERIOD: Over a 3-week period, while still gathering quotes and comparing prices, I felt comfortable enough calling Boris at any time of day for a second opinion. He heard my concerns, and was quick to pick up on salesman tactics when I told him so-and-so suggested I get this or that. Aware that being a woman can make me more likely a victim to sly sales pitches, Boris patiently explained various mechanical aspects to me (e.g., different motors in the furnaces; coils and their capacities) of different Lennox products so that I could understand where pricing differences come from, and again - with no pressure - left it to me to decide whether I wanted certain features of higher-end models. By April 20th, I made my confident decision to go with Cozy World Inc, and within a few hours Boris and I scheduled to have his team come out within that week.
INSTALLATION DAY: On April 23rd, Kam and his partner were nothing less than gentlemen. They showed up on time (~9am), and their work exceeded my expectations! Not only were they very tidy and efficient, but they laid out cloths to protect my floor, and cleaned up after themselves (I caught Kam’s partner sweeping my floor afterwards :) Kam was so accommodating and moved my thermostat to a more accessible location, and took the time to show me how to use it (the iComfort is beautiful, by the way!). Even though it was already 5pm and he had spent the whole day working, he walked me through the new furnace system, and explained how when I replace the air purifier, I need to turn the furnace off first as to avoid dust getting on the coil. The air conditioner (also very stylish!) was thoughtfully placed on two slabs (instead of just one) so as to have it level with my patio stones. The team even made a little walkway around my new air conditioner with extra patio stones I had laying around!!! The careful attention to detail was definitely appreciated. Last but not least, that day I unexpectedly received a GeneralAire humidifier, which though was costlier due to the larger capacity than the Honeywell I had been quoted for (out of stock), I was not charged anything extra for it. Without a doubt, it was truly a pleasure having Kam and his partner here in my home, and I have nothing but good things to say Cozy World!
POST-INSTALLATION: On the evening of my install, I had made a list of questions for Boris, but upon checking my email, was pleasantly surprised to find 6 emails from him. He had gone ahead and thoughtfully registered everything on my behalf! That includes: a) all my new Lennox units; b) for their extended warranties; c) the $650 OPA rebate; and d) the promotional Lennox rebate. All I needed to do was send a copy of my invoice to the OPA (they need the customer to do this for confirmation of install) and wait for two cheques in the mail :) The process from beginning to end in working with Cozy World has been fantastic, and if I could give them a 100%+ rating, I would. Boris, you can be assured that I will recommend you to any and all of my friends who ask for a reliable, honest, and fair HVAC contractor!!!
P.S. Though every salesman before had told me that you can’t fix the irregularity of temperature of the room above the garage (colder in winter; hotter in summer), the next morning after install, and for the first time in all my 20+ years living here, my partner and I agreed that THE ROOM WAS COMFORTABLE! We no longer have to wake up to a too hot or too cold room, and be shocked by the temperature difference upon opening the door to the hallway. We later discovered that this solution is due to having the fan of the furnace on (even if there’s no heat or a/c being distributed) so that air is consistently and evenly distributed throughout the house. Though I’m an environmental conservationist, I look forward to the first time I use the XC14 air conditioner this summer to see if it will keep that room cool! :)
