October, 2013. My wife and I decided to get a new furnace before the winter heating season. After some online research, I selected Trane. Of the two dealers in our area, I chose Kelly Plumbing & Heating of Novato. Well over a year ago I asked for an estimate, and received one promptly from Jim Kelly, the owner of the firm. I told him I would think about it, and he left the matter there. No pushy follow-ups. Several weeks ago I again contacted Mr. Kelly. He came to the house, assessed our situation, and recommended that some ducts be replaced, in addition to installing the furnace. His price quotation appeared reasonable for the materials and labor provided, so I accepted.

Two installers arrived promptly and began to work. They worked methodically, and except for a short lunch break worked from about 9 a.m. to after 6 p.m. Their work was very neat and professional. They were personable and answered all my questions authoritatively. I was highly pleased with the results of their work. The duct inspector (see below) told me that this team got his ice-cream award for the highest-scoring duct work in the area.

Mr. Kelly had informed me in advance that California law requires an independent inspection of the duct system when any furnace or air conditioner is replaced, told me what the price would be, and said that any problems would have to be addressed. He scheduled an inspection for the afternoon. The inspector connected his equipment, and promptly found a problem - a big leak somewhere in the system. When he connected his smoke generator, a good-sized leak was found in the crawlspace under the house. A major problem was discovered in the attic. The installers repaired both leaks and the system then passed the test. The cost of the repairs was, I believe, quite reasonable, especially considering that one worker was under the house and one was in the attic, access to which is a small hatch in the ceiling.

The furnace is operating as expected. The new thermostat is easier to program than the old one (that was only three years old). We are no longer heating the air of the Bay area. I am confident that our gas bill will go down, and that our comfort level this winter will go up. Based on this experience, I highly recommend Kelly Plumbing & Heating.