January 22, 2007
Home Service Plus - Thank you!
In May 2000, I bought my first home. In, say July 2000, I had my first major home appliance breakdown. I don't really remember what it was about the washing machine that filed, but the process of taking it apart, finding the problem, buying a part, installing it, and then HOPING it would work was not a process I wanted to repeat.
Enter Minnegasco/CenterPoint Energy Home Service Plus (TM)!
The service, really, is like appliance insurance, but there is no deductible. We pay a modest "premium" ever month with our energy bill and know that when something goes wrong with a covred appliance, the folks in the Home Service Plus (TM) trucks will show up and make everything all better. This has happened several times over the last few years and we've always been impressed with the speedy service and the courteous employees.
Today was no exception. I woke this morning to find ths house quite cold. Not bitterly cold, mind you, but cold enough that I immediately went to check on the kids to make sure they were bundled up in their beds and blankets before I checked on the furnace.
Outside, the temperature was hovering around 20 degrees fahrenheit, (almost tropical for this time of year, really) and the temperature inside was slowly dropping below 60 degrees. The basement was chilly. The concrete slab was cold to the touch of my unslippered feet and the furnace wasn't making a sound. No clicking of the igniter, not a whisper from the fan. Not good.
After dressing and finding the number, I called the Home Service Plus number on my latest energy bill (not something I generally do at 7:00AM). Yvette answered and, rather cheerfully for that time of day, asked how she could help. I explained the situation, noting that most of the family was snuggled warm in their beds, but Yvette set right to work. She sounded disappointed that she was not able to give me a more specific window of time when the repairman would make it to the house.
"Sometime between now and four o'clock," she said,"Will someone be there to let the repairman in? They should be able to call about twenty minutes ahead of their arrival."
I mentioned this to Heidi who was still mostly alseep. "OK. But Caroline has school today..." she reminded me. Yvette scheduled the repair call and I left for work, wondering when Heidi might start seeing her breath inside the house.
The repairman showed up at the house much earlier than expected and took the better part of an hour repairing the furnace, cleaning a flame sensor, replacing the ignitor, cleaning air intakes, and kindly reminding us to remember to change the furnace filter every thirty days.
Total cost, including parts and labor: $195.00. Total charge to us for the visit? $0.00.
I know I'm paying for the service every month, but many months go by when I don't think about it. And of course there are times I wonder why I pay for the service... then I remember days like today.
Thanks again for the excellent and prompt service, Home Service Plus!
Posted by MEK at January 22, 2007 09:42 PM