American Residential Services / ARS Rescue Rooter
reviews and complaints

Our air conditioner suddenly went out - a brand new system installed 5 years ago by ARS.. Still well under parts warranty and has been inspected each year by ARS tecnicians. The ARS technician that came today to quote/repair was clearly drunk, was spitting tobacco, and barely keeping his mask on. Told us that repairs would probably not last so we need to replace our entire Lennox system. Immediately after ARS salesman came to give us a quote for a new system- who was very surprised because our system is still young and has been maintained every year. ARS technicians can't be trusted to inspect and maintain their work. We can't believe we spent over $9k for the system and even hundreds more for yearly maintenance just for it to break down so quickly.

Called this Company out to do a maintenance drain cleaning and root scraping, same thing we have done every spring for 12 years. We tried this company who sent out an inexperienced technician out, Kuran, who then proceeded to punch a hole in our outside drain access the size of a mans fist. It was not there as we were the ones who opened the drain first. Called the company immediately who turned it over to their Senior Service plumber, [Senior Service plumber's name], who told us they would only fix it if we used their services to fix the entire length of the line, but give us $1200 off the $7700 they quoted to fix the whole line. Since we didnt want the whole line replaced they are refusing to fix it. A Pre-existing Condition contract was signed, naively, thinking Pre meant conditions that were there before (Pre) they got there. Customer service representative [Customer service representative's name] said well thats actually used for problems we might cause after the inspection. Very long story short, they are not here for the customer, they show up, have you sign a waiver, break things, then hide behind the waiver.

Absolute disappointment. After having ARS quote us for a service, a technician came out and told us we had to contact our HOA in order to have the water shut off, so we had to reschedule. The second time we had an appointment scheduled from [specific date]. At 12:45 we call to reschedule for a later time frame since I had an appointment and they were late/never showed. So the new time frame was from 3-5. At 3:30 the technician (d-bag [technician's name]) came out and I asked him to wait for 10 minutes so I could get my daughter from school. His reply in a snarky voice "is it really going to be 10 minutes or 40? because I want to get in and get the job done, I have other things I need to do." I end up telling him that they were already late and that he can wait 10 minutes. When the technician gets in I show him the way to the tank and my kids followed him (he must have not known they followed because my kids heard d-bag [technician's name] say "god I hate that woman.") That was it for me. I called and complained about the lack of customer service/incompetence and that I wanted a new technician. A new technician comes out and STILL could not replace our tank. I decided to call [alternative service provider] and they sent DRF the next day, saved us $800, and had the job completed in an hour without having to shut the water off in our complex. After all of the hassle, we were still charged from ARS and had to get that resolved. I also posted this review on [review platform] and it never showed up.

My AC went out in July. I have a service plan with ARS and scheduled service with an 8am to noon window. The guy shows up over an hour and a half late, and is there for 5 minutes. Tells me he can't do anything because the coil is iced up and the system needs to be off for at least a day to thaw. That could have been easily solved over the phone with a little troubleshooting, but they didn't even try. Got to get those service call fees, after all. That was only the first issue. Once the system thawed, they came out again (on time this time, which was nice) and told me I needed a new blower motor. So I got one, which cost me about $1300, and then the tech told me that would not actually solve the problem. Due to a clogged evaporator coil, the system would inevitably seize up again. He recommended I replace the entire AC unit and immediately sent an "installer" who was actually a salesman to talk me into it. Fortunately I asked the salesman how old my current unit was (something the tech hadn't bothered to check). It was six years old. Average lifespan for a residential AC unit is 15-20 years. But the tech decided that a $2000 coil replacement wasn't worth it for such an "old" unit and instead I should drop 8-10k on a whole new unit. And if I hadn't asked how old it was, they clearly weren't planning to tell me. What a blatant scam. Now I'm waiting on them to come out yet again and replace the coil, which was all I needed in the first place. It'll be interesting to see what they try to charge for it.

First, I'd like to say when it sounds too good to be true, it normally is. My technician was extremely courteous from beginning to end. I was approached by a sales associate when I was shopping in their store about a daily special they were having of a $9.00 A/C tune-up provided by ARS / Rescue Rooter. I asked $9.00 for them to come out, clean out my AC line, check the refrigerant, etc. Yes, ma'am! Sure. Why not. I have a maintenance service with another local (Amazing) company! Wanted to save money and see what ARS / Rescue Rooter had to say. Boy, was I in for a surprise! First, my AC is not giving off any cool air. Then it was low on refrigerant, down 2.5 pounds. I must have a slow leak somewhere. My motor is running at 0 when he connected it to the meter. Yet, it's still running? I just kept listening and taking note, asking questions. We continue upstairs to where my handler is. He takes note I have a cat. When he opens my air handler he sees it has normal aging of the coils. Immediately tells me my unit is no good. My UV light is not working because of this. I said, No, the UV light has been disconnected due to me having been scammed by a previous repair person. He points at the dust build-up and notices how I use one cup of vinegar in my AC drain once every 14 days now with my allergies and asthma. He began to tell me my house is terribly infected because of this. No good. It's just no good, ma'am! I have had my AC leak twice before. ARS / Rescue Rooter had 4 different AC companies work on it. Two, now 3 in the past year alone. Funny, none of the other companies told me I needed a complete new system. That I'm leaking refrigerant. My motor doesn't work. Ummm, if the motor doesn't work, wouldn't my AC NOT be turning on? I asked, he said it was the slow roorooorooo noise I hear. Sucker is not written on my face or forehead. ARS / Rescue Rooter has been taught well. Before my father passed away he did this type of work. I used to help him. I remember the basics. I also know I never received that $9.00 tune-up either. Shame on you ARS / Rescue Rooter! I'm a female. I really do see a difference in how we are treated. Let's not assume because we may not act like we know what's going on that we don't. Discrimination of any kind is not appropriate. I wonder what you're doing to people who really don't know right and wrong. I live in a two-story home. My AC rarely goes below 76. We like it cold. Even in the summer. Does that sound like I need a new unit?

The words of concern that this company provides when calling in is not genuine. I have had nothing but issues with this company. Phone calls get me no where. Called on Saturday afternoon for service on my AC. Their pre-recorded message says they provide Emergency 24/7 service by quickly responding and providing excellent service. It is now Monday evening and I still have not had service. I was told on Saturday that they would call 30-40 minutes before they arrived. When I hadn't heard anything by 9:30 p.m. I called and requested that the technician come on Sunday. I was given three time frames to choose from. I chose 8-12. At 12:15 on Sunday I called asking when I could expect the technician since they hadn't arrived yet. I was informed that I had talked to a phone service and they didn't have the ability to schedule times for service. I then asked when I could expect someone. I was put on hold as the person said she was going to try to contact the on-call technician. When she got back to me she told me that an HVAC supervisor would be calling me soon. I waited 3 more hours. No phone call. I called back again only to be told that she didn't know why I was told a supervisor would call me since no managers where in the office. I again asked when I could expect a technician and was told that she didn't see a work order for me. I asked why I wasn't told that when I had called 3 and 5 hours prior. I was put on hold so she could try to contact the on-call technician. When she returned I was told that the technician was on a call and had a couple before me, but he would call when he was finished with the call he was on. Again NO call. The company did call the next morning. Unfortunately, I didn't hear the phone. I returned their call within a half hour of their call. I was told I was I was listed as "on stand by". At 3:53 p.m. I call the Customer Relations at the Corporate office to report my experience. She apologized and said she would contact the local office and find out what was happening and to get an appointment set for me. It is now 6:55 p.m. and AGAIN NOTHING. I swore I would never use this company again since this is the type of experiences I have had repeatedly with this company, but I have had two other companies out and their want to or could fix it. Since ARS put in the unit 7 years ago and have been out to service the AC each year, I gave them one more chance. I get nothing but the run around.