Emergency
Service Call
We show up ASAP
No heat on a freezing night. AC dead in a heat wave. Water heater leaking across the floor. When it can’t wait until morning, call A-1. The emergency call is a $285 minimum for the first hour — and that hour starts with our travel to you. If we find a minor fix that needs no parts and fits in what’s left of the hour, it’s included. Anything bigger gets a flat-rate price first, so you know your exact bill before we go further.
- Nights, weekends & holidays
- Residential furnaces & central HVAC
- Flat-rate quote before extra work — no surprise bill
- Local Grand Rapids company since 1994
Calling is fastest for an emergency. If we miss you, we call right back — leave your address and what’s happening with the system.
the first hour
Pay the $285 emergency minimum now. You’ll be taken to Square to complete payment, then returned to our thank-you page. See the price
How it works: $285 is the minimum for an emergency call and covers the first hour, travel included. We don’t run an open-ended hourly meter after that — if the repair needs more time or parts, we quote one flat-rate price and you approve the exact total before we continue.
* This emergency service call rate sheet refers to residential HVAC work only. Commercial HVAC, rooftop units, or other outside HVAC equipment are billed at a $285 minimum service call for the first hour and $285 an hour after the first hour, plus parts.
** We stock many parts right on the service truck. If your repair needs a part that isn’t on the truck and it can’t wait until regular business hours, we can have our supplier open up after hours. The Emergency Warehouse Opening Charge is a flat $250 fee — plus the price of the part — to have them open, go get the part, and return with it after hours so the repair can be finished the same visit.
Is it an emergency — or can it wait?
Tap what’s happening at your house. We’ll tell you straight whether to call now or save money with a regular $180 service call.
No heat at all Potential emergency
Furnace or boiler won’t fire, blows cold air, or keeps shutting off. In a West Michigan winter this is the #1 emergency — and the one we prioritize first. If the house is dropping and it’s below freezing outside, call now.
Gas smell / CO alarm Get out first
Carbon monoxide worries, a gas smell, or a system another company red-tagged. Get everyone out and call 911 or your gas utility from outside first. Once you’re safe, call us — we check it properly and give you a straight answer.
Water heater leaking Potential emergency
Water heater out, leaking, or making popping and rumbling noises. Shut its water valve on the cold line at the top of the unit (turn clockwise) and call. We diagnose it on the spot — and if it’s a replacement, the visit fee applies toward the job as quoted.
Burning / electrical smell Call now
Burning smell, grinding, banging, or a system that short-cycles every few minutes. Shut it down and call — running a failing system can turn a repair into a replacement.
No AC in extreme heat Potential emergency
AC runs but blows warm, freezes up, or won’t start at all during a heat wave. If anyone in the home is vulnerable to heat, treat it as urgent and say so when you call.
Heats / cools, but noisy or uneven May wait
Some rooms hot while others are cold, or a system that’s noisy but still heating and cooling. Often it’s airflow — a clogged filter or blocked vent. Check the filter and vents; if it keeps up, book a regular $180 service call.
Thermostat acting up May wait
Thermostat blank, not responding, or the system runs when it shouldn’t. Check the batteries, the Heat/Cool setting, and the set temperature. If the thermostat checks out but the system still does the wrong thing, it’s time for a service call.
Tune-up / check-up / second opinion Not an emergency
Routine maintenance, a second opinion, or a system that’s running fine but due for a check. Book a regular $180 service call — you’ll save the emergency difference.
What we actually do when we come out
An emergency call isn’t a $285 glance at your furnace. Here’s the full visit, in order.
You call, we talk
Tell us what’s happening and when it started. We’ll ask a few quick questions, give you any safe steps to take right now, and head out. No phone tree, no call center.
Safety check first
Before anything else: gas, carbon monoxide, electrical, and water damage risks. If something is unsafe, we make it safe and explain exactly what we found.
Real diagnosis
We test the system properly — ignition, airflow, controls, safeties, venting — until we can point to the failed part or cause, not a guess. Then we explain it in plain English.
Flat-rate price, then repair
If the fix fits in the first hour and needs no parts, it’s already covered by the $285. If it needs more time or parts, you get one flat-rate price for the whole repair and approve the exact total before we continue — no open-ended hourly bill at the end. When we’re done, we test the full cycle and walk you through what was done.
Included in the $285 minimum
While you wait for us
- 1Check the thermostatHeat/Cool setting, temperature, and fresh batteries if it has them
- 2Check the filter & breakerA clogged filter and a tripped breaker cause more “emergencies” than anything else
- 3Leaking water heater? Shut its water valveValve is on the cold line at the top of the unit — turn it clockwise
- 4Clear a path to the equipmentFurnace, water heater, and electrical panel — and put pets in another room
- 5Don’t keep restarting a failing furnaceIf it locks out repeatedly, leave it off and tell us — that detail helps the diagnosis
The price, in writing
We publish it because most companies won’t. Emergency is a $285 minimum for the first hour, travel included. After that first hour we don’t keep a meter running — any repair that needs more time or parts is quoted at one flat-rate price, so you know exactly what your bill will be before you say yes.
Emergency Service Call
Nights, weekends, holidays — or any time the problem can’t safely wait for the next business day.
- Travel time to the job Included in hour
- Diagnosis & safety check Included
- Minor no-parts repair in remaining time Included
- More time or parts needed Flat-rate quote
- Exact total before extra work Approved by you
Regular Service Call
Scheduled during business hours when the system is still running or the house is at a safe temperature.
- Dispatch & diagnosis Included
- Extra time beyond the 1st hour or parts Quoted flat rate
- Repair approval Always yours
What if it needs more than the first hour?
You don’t get an open-ended hourly bill. Here’s exactly how it breaks down:
You start at $285. Minimum for the first hour, travel included. Anything beyond that is a flat-rate price you approve — that’s your bill, no shock invoice at the end.
How the $285 minimum works: $285 is the minimum charge for an emergency service call. It covers the first hour, and that hour includes our travel time to the job, the diagnosis and safety checks, plus a minor repair that doesn’t require parts if that repair can be done in the remainder of the hour. If a repair needs more time or parts, it is not billed by the hour — we quote it at a flat-rate price before the work continues, so you know exactly what your bill will be. Parts are never installed and extra work is never done without your approval. If a system is beyond repair, we’ll tell you that honestly and quote replacement separately — A-1 does not do rebate or tax-credit paperwork, and our quotes don’t depend on them.
Common questions before you call
What exactly does the $285 cover?
Travel to your home, a full diagnosis of the problem, and a minor no-parts repair if one fits in the rest of the first hour. Anything beyond that gets a flat-rate, all-in price you approve before we start. If you can’t get the part same-visit, you only owe the $285 for the call.
What if the repair needs more time or parts?
We’ll give you a flat, all-in price for the repair — “total price of $X” — before starting work. No hourly run-on. Parts are at an additional charge and come with a manufacturer’s warranty.
Why is an emergency call more than a regular $180 service call?
In return for the $285, we come out at night, on weekends, and on holidays, and we prioritize the call. A regular call is scheduled during business hours — if you can wait, book a $180 call and save. If the house will get too cold or too hot before the next business day, the $285 emergency is worth it.
What if you can’t fix it on the same visit?
That happens with older systems or specialty parts. We’ll explain the options and quote the repair — if a part is needed, the emergency charge for a part after hours may include a flat $250 warehouse opening fee plus the part. In the meantime, we’ll tell you if there are safe temporary measures to keep you going.
Do you service my area?
We’re based in Grand Rapids, MI and serve Kent County and surrounding areas — about a 50-mile radius. If you’re outside that, call anyway — we’ll tell you honestly whether we can make it or refer you to a reputable alternative.
What if I smell gas or my carbon monoxide alarm goes off?
Leave the house immediately, then call 911 or your gas utility from outside. Do not touch switches or try to find the leak yourself. Once you’re safe, call us to check the system and get it fixed.
How do I pay?
Pay online with a credit or debit card via Square — the “Pay $285 Now” button takes you there. We can also take payment over the phone, or in person by check or card once the tech arrives.
House getting colder? Don’t wait it out.
Call A-1 now and talk to a real person. We’ll get you scheduled, talk you through what to check, and get a tech out fast.