Maumee Valley HVAC Get Started Guide 

Welcome

Maumee Valley Heating & Air Conditioning has been fixing furnaces and air conditioning units in the Toledo area since 1965, when Fred Slates started the company out of his truck and a garage off Telegraph Road. In 1995, his daughter Patti and her husband Chris took over the family business. Patti and her son Spiros own and operate the company today, carrying on what Fred started. 

Some of our technicians have been with us over 40 years, working alongside us to grow this family business. Over the last 60 years, we’ve had thousands of conversations with homeowners like you who want to know who will be coming into their home to service their HVAC system, and what to expect. We will cover how scheduling works, what the technician will be doing at your home, pricing, and more. Jump to the section you are interested in, or just give us a call! We are here to serve you. 

— Pat, Spiros, & The Maumee Valley Family

What to Expect from Us

Who shows up at your door? Every technician who comes to your home works for Maumee Valley directly — we don’t subcontract. Our technicians are either already licensed journeymen and NATE-certified, or working toward licensure while training with us. Our technicians have tenure ranging from under a year to 40 years on staff. When a truck pulls into your driveway, it’s someone we hired and trained.

How scheduling and arrival work. Appointments are booked in two-hour windows. About 20 to 30 minutes before the technician arrives, someone calls to let you know he’s on the way.

What happens when the technician is there? He introduces himself first, then gets to whatever the visit is for. If he finds something that needs fixing, he tells you what it is and what it costs before doing any paid work. 

If you need us again. New installations carry a 2-year workmanship warranty on top of the manufacturer’s warranty. Repairs carry 30 days of labor coverage and a year on parts. 

Your Service Journey

Stage 1 — Your First Call

Have three things ready when you call: a description of what’s going on (you don’t need to diagnose it yourself), the type and age of your equipment if you know it, your address, phone number, and email.

When you call during business hours, we will get you on the schedule right there on the phone. Some people call just to ask a question first — that’s fine, you’re not committing to anything. If you call after hours wanting an appointment, we will call back as soon as possible, typically same day for emergency calls and the following morning for non-emergency calls.

If you know where your equipment’s warranty paperwork is, it helps to have it out before the visit. It’s not required — our technicians can usually track down warranty status on site — but it saves a step.

A question we often get: what’s the difference between a diagnostic /travel fee and a free estimate?

If something’s broken and you need us to find out why, that’s a diagnostic visit: $130 for a residential call, $195 for commercial. That fee applies whether you are in a maintenance plan with us or not, if the visit is to troubleshoot an issue. It covers our trained technician, truck stocked with diagnostic tools and parts, fuel, and insurance.

If you’re not troubleshooting something broken, but thinking about replacing equipment instead, the estimate is free. No diagnostic fee applies to a replacement estimate.

Stage 2 — Scheduling

If you are scheduling routine maintenance or tune-up, we could be booking 1 to 2 weeks out. 

Any equipment issues that need more immediate attention will be scheduled as soon as possible. Emergencies get priority over routine work, and we work with each customer to get someone out as soon as we can. 

Typically, appointments run in two-hour windows, with a call 20 to 30 minutes ahead of arrival.

Can I reschedule if something comes up?

Yes, we appreciate it if you let us know as soon as possible if you need to reschedule. This is especially helpful during our busy times. We will work with you to get you back on the schedule at a time that works better for you.

Stage 3 – The Service Visit

Our technician will introduce himself, ask any clarifying questions about the nature of your issue, then get to work. On a diagnostic call, he runs standard tests, diagnoses the issue, and tells you what it is and what the repair will cost before moving forward. If you approve the work and the part is already on his truck, he will get you up and running on the spot. Payment is due at the time of service. If the part isn’t on the truck, he’ll work to procure the part for you same day if possible. If not locally available, the technician or office will coordinate a return visit.

Two things that help the visit go smoothly: clear the area around the unit before he arrives, and have an adult home for the length of the visit.

Will I get a price before anything starts?

Yes — the technician quotes the repair and gets your approval before moving forward.

What if I need parts — is that extra?

Depending on the age of your unit and the warranty coverage, parts may be covered under warranty and our technician will do his best to verify that. Most manufacturers offer a 10 year warranty on parts. Maumee Valley Heating & Air Conditioning offers a 2-year workmanship warranty on new installs. If parts are not covered under a warranty, you will be made aware of the cost prior to the work being completed. 

Stage 4 — Replacement or New Installation

Somewhere between 15 and 20 years old, a repair-or-replace conversation makes sense. We’ll speak about the options with you, so you can make an informed decision on the best course of action. As a general rule, if your unit is over 15 years old, we may recommend replacement. That said, it’s your call, not ours.

What does it cost?

• A new central air conditioner, installed: $6,000–$12,000. The range comes down to the size of your home, efficiency rating, and desired features of the new unit.
• A new furnace, installed: $5,000–$10,000.
• A mini-split, installed: Starts at $5,000.

That price includes removing and disposing of your existing equipment, permits, labor, materials, new equipment itself, and installation. It does not include upgraded accessories such as a Wi-Fi thermostat, a humidifier, an air purifier, those are added separately if interested.

How long does installation take?

Most residential installations can be completed in one day. There may be times when large or multi-system installations may take 2 or more days. Commercial installations depend on the scope of the work being performed. In all situations, we will advise you of how long we expect the installation to take.

Financing. Maumee Valley offers a variety of financing options. Please talk to our Comfort Consultant or call our office and we’ll walk you through which one fits your needs.

Commercial and specialty work

Maumee Valley services commercial buildings, including rooftop units. If you’re buying a property and want the HVAC system inspected first, that’s available too – the inspection fee varies by the type of equipment. We also do exhaust fan and ventilation installation. 

Stage 5 — After the Job

New installations carry a 2-year workmanship warranty from Maumee Valley, plus the manufacturer’s parts warranty which is 10 years on new equipment.

Repairs carry 30 days of labor coverage and a year on parts.

If you have any questions or concerns after we’ve been to your home, please call us to schedule an appointment.

Honest Pricing

The diagnostic/travel fee. If you’re calling because something’s broken and you need it looked at, that’s a diagnostic visit: $130 for a residential call, $195 for commercial. That fee applies whether you are in a maintenance plan with us or not, if the visit is to troubleshoot an issue. It covers our trained technician, truck stocked with diagnostic tools, fuel and insurance.

If a repair is needed, the diagnostic fee is separate from the cost of the repair. You’ll know both numbers before any work starts.

When there’s no fee at all. If you are considering replacement of your equipment, the replacement estimate is free. No diagnostic charge applies.

What determines the price range of repairs and new equipment? The size and efficiency rating of the equipment matter more than anything else. A larger home or a higher-efficiency unit costs more to install. After hours or weekend service also carries an additional charge. 

Price ranges, for reference:

Job	Installed price range
Central air conditioner	$6,000–$12,000
Furnace	$5,000–$10,000
Mini-split (single zone)	$5,000–$10,000
Residential AC or furnace tune-up	$125 flat rate (per unit)
Commercial AC or furnace tune-up	$195 flat rate (per unit)

Membership. Maumee Valley also offers a maintenance membership that we call Peak Performance which starts at $200 a year for bi-annual tune-ups, priority scheduling, a 10% discount on parts, and no overtime charge on after-hours or weekend calls.

Why Choose Maumee Valley

Our family has been servicing families just like yours for over 60 years with their HVAC needs. We have four generations now working at Maumee Valley Heating & Air Conditioning, alongside our longstanding and loyal team members. We are committed to delivering the quality and service your family deserves. A few attributes we believe separate an average HVAC company from outstanding are listed here, keep these in mind as you are shopping for the right company to service your needs.

Make sure they’re licensed and insured. Check with the Better Business Bureau to evaluate company ratings.

Are they local? Selecting a local company with employees means you will have continued service from a company invested in the community. It is not uncommon to see larger retailers utilizing sub contracted crews to install heating and cooling equipment. This can make it difficult if you run into any issues or need service down the road.

Be careful with a diagnostic fee that looks unusually low. A price well under the standard rate is sometimes a hook, the company may try to make it up on the repair instead. Not all equipment performs the same, ensure you are comparing apples to apples and looking at a system appropriately sized for your home.

We hold ourselves to a high bar. Licensed and insured employees rather than subcontractors, some of them with the company for decades. We’ve been doing this in the Toledo area since 1965, and we’ve carried an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau since 1987.

New installations come with three benefits. The 2-year workmanship warranty covers the install itself. The 10-year manufacturers warranty on parts. On top of that, you are getting us – Maumee Valley Heating & Air Conditioning, a company invested in our employees and the community. We’ve been here 60+ years and four generations and we are committed to continuing that legacy.

Comfort you can count on, from our family to yours.

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Your Next Step

Call (419) 531-7855

Monday-Thursday: 8am – 5pm
Fridays 8am – 4pm

Before you call, it is helpful to have:

• The type and age of your equipment, if you know it
• A description of what is happening with your equipment
• Your address, phone number, and email

If you call during business hours and want to get on the schedule, we will schedule you right there on the call. If you call after hours, expect a callback as soon as possible – same day in most cases for emergency calls or first thing the next morning for non-emergency calls.