AtlasCare

My high efficiency water heater stopped working with error codes showing on the May long weekend. My regular HVAC service company wasn't available so I went with Atlas based on reviews and having seen their trucks around the neighbourhood. The service rep came out, didn't have the proper tools did a couple of basic diagnostics (cleaned the flame sensor and checked the igniter) and then said the problem was either the controller board or the gas valve and that either wouldn't be worth replacing so he would have a sales person call me to quote a new water heater. The sales rep did call telling me that a new water heater would be $6,500-$7,000 plus installation. Fortunately, I am knowledgeable enough to know the diagnostic was inadequate and called another service company. Their diagnostic charge was half the price of Atlas and they spent 3 hours diagnosing the problem. Ultimately they determined the problem was a blocked air intake (within the water heater itself, not the intake pipe) and were able to blow it out and the water heater was fixed. I imagine many others would have given up and paid for a new heater based on the service techs assessment. Instead I paid $95 for another company to actually fix the problem and to add insult to injury Atlas still charged my $169 for the service call (which they initially wanted $219 for until I pushed back on the price). I don't mind paying for qualified service... but I have a real problem paying when the "professional" doesn't do basic problem diagnosis and doesn't have the tools or knowledge for the job.