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Find Swamp cooler installers and replacers in Arlington

Avatar for McCrea Heating & Air Conditioning Services of MD
McCrea Heating & Air Conditioning Services of MD
4.56(
268
)

Angi Approved

In business since 1936

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"I had an absolutely terrible experience with McRae Air Conditioning and Heating. I purchased a home equipped with their HVAC system, and within just five months, the heat stopped working—right in the middle of winter during a snowstorm. My home was freezing at 50°F, so I called for service, which should have been covered under warranty. I scheduled an appointment, and the technician, after being several hours late, went to the wrong address, left a sticker on someone else’s door, and left without even trying to contact me. When I called back, the customer service rep was rude, dismissive, and completely unhelpful. He initially told me the technician was on the way and just 12 miles away—but after another hour of waiting, I called again only to be told that the technician had already “been to my house 2 hours ago” (the wrong one) and left a note. If the rep actually wanted to help, he would have told me this during my first call instead of wasting my time and leaving me sitting in the cold. Not once did the technician call me to confirm the address or check in after knocking on the wrong door. When I expressed my frustration, the rep rudely dismissed my concerns, saying, “Well, I had nothing to do with that,” and then interrupted me with, “Do you still want to rebook or not?” as if I had to stop talking or risk not getting another appointment. This was an emergency call in the middle of winter, and McRae handled it in the most unprofessional, careless, and disappointing way possible. If you’re considering using them for HVAC service, do yourself a favor and go with another company. I’ll update this review after the (hopefully successful) service call and speaking to the manager who was not there at 4 pm on a Wednesday."
3 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by87%of homeowners
Avatar for Presidential Heating & Air Conditioning
Presidential Heating & Air Conditioning
4.74(
410
)

Angi Approved

Super Service Award Winner

In business since 1982

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"DC Area - Presidential Heating. We have a two-zone system to cover basement+first floor and separately the second floor and both failed, unbelievably, within a few days of each other while on a trip. Late morning on a Sunday I googled emergency HVAC and saw all these 2 star companies and then I saw an impossibly high rating for Presidential Heating and that they don't charge extra for weekends. Ayite (fantastic) came out and fixed both systems and they were way more than reasonable. And now we have heat upstairs and downstairs! yaaaaaaaa. Our previous HVAC company got their scruples from the Sopranos while Presidential is a godsend."
23 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by90%of homeowners
Avatar for McCrea Heating & Air Conditioning Services of VA
McCrea Heating & Air Conditioning Services of VA
4.69(
342
)

Angi Approved

In business since 1936

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Fast service! They came within an hour of my call. Spent over 2 hours diagnosing the problem. Spoke with Trane to confirm his findings. Then came back 3 days later with the faulty circuit board which was covered under warranty. Price was less than I expected and the gave a discount because I am a veteran. I highly recommend this company!!!"
13 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by91%of homeowners
Avatar for BlueStar Air Mechanical Inc.
BlueStar Air Mechanical Inc.
4.83(
24
)

Angi Approved

In business since 2012

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"I contacted Bluestar Air Mechanical for a second opinion after an appointment with Air One. I have a Carrier HVAC system, and the Air One technician recommended a complete system replacement, claiming the blower was bad, the furnace control board needed replacing, and that there were other issues. Since replacing the HVAC is a big investment, I wanted to get a second opinion. It was only after comparing the service from Bluestar that I realized Air One may have been pushing for a new system sale or lacked the expertise to properly diagnose and repair the actual problems. Isaac, the technician from Bluestar, spent about an hour thoroughly diagnosing and fixing the issues. He found burnt wiring in the furnace and discovered that the wrong capacitor had been incorrectly installed in the AC. Isaac replaced the burnt wiring in the furnace and the capacitor in the AC. After these repairs, my Carrier system was back up and running—without the need for a costly replacement. Bluestar, and Isaac in particular, demonstrated professionalism, expertise, and honesty. They focused on resolving the actual issues instead of pushing for an unnecessary system replacement. I highly recommend Bluestar for their reliable service and Isaac’s thorough and knowledgeable work."
1 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by95%of homeowners
Avatar for Modern Mechanical
Modern Mechanical
4.50(
40
)

Angi Approved

In business since 2009

Free estimates

Warranties offered

"I have been a customer for a very long time and this scheduled maintenance and dryer vent cleaning was done by Cesar. I have to say he is one very thorough technician and I was very pleased with his inspection and vent cleaning. His service was so different than some of the ones I've had before. I even had one inspector tell me he didn't need to check in my attic which houses one of our two units. Let me tell you about Cesar, he even cleaned up behind my dryer for me. This is something that is rare in customer service. I have my HVAC seasonally maintenanced and never had a inspector be as thorough as him. The pictures he took and explained to me and the one problem he found that no other inspector had found in all this time. I tried to spare him from the attic heat for the repair and have him return on another day in the morning but he didn't mind going back in there to fix the problem for us although it was in the dead heat of the day. I just hope the company sees this review and knows what a good technician they have in Cesar."
10 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by85%of homeowners
Avatar for F.H. Furr Plumbing Heating AC & Electrical
F.H. Furr Plumbing Heating AC & Electrical
4.62(
2,318
)

Angi Approved

In business since 1981

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"The repair work was well done. I had no idea it would take 2 people. The first quote was for a lower price but then they did not have the parts so I said OK to the more expensive option. But then they were not able to do the more expensive option so they went and got the part for the lower price option. But ultimately they charged me for the higher price option. I have called three days in a row and have not been able to resolve the price discrepancy."
31 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by89%of homeowners
Avatar for Appleton Campbell
Appleton Campbell
4.72(
304
)

Angi Approved

In business since 1976

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"At first, I thought it was a burst pipe from the week + freezing temperatures but I needed a garbage disposal replacement. They were very responsive. Codey, the technician, was very polite and professional. I was referred by a neighbor who has used them for years. I am very pleased with their service. Mary Collins"
11 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by92%of homeowners
Avatar for Polar Bear Air Conditioning And Heating Inc
Polar Bear Air Conditioning And Heating Inc
4.46(
222
)

Angi Approved

In business since 2001

Free estimates

Warranties offered

"Joe was clearly very experienced with knowledgeable about old row houses like mine, and he gave me a ton of confidence in his professional opinion. His quote was also very affordable, and we are happy with the work his guys did installing a new central AC system in our home."
19 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by84%of homeowners
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FAQs for swamp cooler installation and replacement projects in Arlington, VA

Swamp coolers are quite energy-efficient, using only 15% to 35% of the electricity that traditional central air conditioning units consume. This can lead to significant savings on your energy bills. However, keep in mind that swamp coolers require water to operate and may not cool your home as effectively in extremely hot or humid conditions. When considering overall efficiency, it is essential to weigh both electricity and water usage, as well as the cooling needs specific to your local climate.

Evaporative coolers only work in dry climates because they cool by moistening the air. If the air is already moist, this will have little to no cooling effect. Central AC is a better choice if you live in a humid climate, such as the Midwest, eastern, or western coastal regions.

To install a swamp cooler on a roof, a local HVAC specialist will first find and cut a spot free of wiring and obstructions. They’ll then install metal bracing, legs, brackets, the ceiling duct register, ductwork, power, and thermostat wires. Once installed, they’ll seal all openings, attach duct connections, and install a thermostat. Before leaving, they’ll run cool water piping to the unit and inspect all the connections.

The cost to repair your swamp cooler ranges from $50 to $600, depending on the issue, whether new parts are needed, and the chosen repair service. Depending on the type of pad your system uses, you will need to change out the pads every one to three years for proper operation. When budgeting for the cost to repair a window unit, expect to pay around $230.

The U.S. Department of Energy states that swamp coolers can cool a single room by five to 15 degrees Fahrenheit. However, this largely depends on the size and installation method of the evaporative cooler. You can only achieve these results in a dry climate, such as the American South, as it’s easier to cool rooms in humid environments with central air.

Swamp cooler water usage varies depending on the size of the unit. Smaller evaporative units may use one gallon per hour, while much larger units could use up to 15 gallons of water per hour. Most homeowners can expect their unit to use between seven and 10 gallons of water per hour of usage.

The Arlington, VA homeowners’ guide to swamp cooler installations and replacements

From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.

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