Denning Sheet Metal Inc.

My history with Denning Sheet Metal involved having them install a Air Source Heating and Cooling unit, including duct work, in my house 12 and a half years ago. I have had trouble with their business keeping the system running off and on since installation. Two and a half years ago the outside compressor quit working again. After numerous calls to Denning Sheet Metal, I contacted a different business to come out and service my unit. This year during the worst heat wave ever recorded in the Flathead Valley, my air conditioning unit failed again. This time it was the inside unit that only Denning Sheet Metal has serviced. I called them for help and they failed to respond for three weeks. When they did call my son, the owner of Denning Sheet Metal revealed the reason it took them so long to respond was that I had allowed a different company to service the machine 2 and 1/2 years earlier. In this conversation with my son, the owner told him that they would no longer do business with us. Whether it be servicing their Lenox Unit or installing a new Lenox Unit. As an 87 year old, diabetic, sensitive to heat woman, I felt this company used childish judgement leaving my unit not serviced during this historic heat wave.

In March 2015 Mr. Denning met with us at our home and advised that we need a new furnace. He explained that the 21 year old furnace’s heat exchanger had a hole in it and was not replaceable. Although operable, carbon monoxide poison could enter the home. A Denning Sheet Metal technician performed an air quality test and it passed. After this March meeting we spoke several times to remind Mr. Denning that we were doing renovation/construction work and would be ready early – mid September. In fact, he recommended that we wait until all work was done inside the house to avoid harming a newly installed system. In August we stopped by his office with an update to the installation (we offered a down payment to secure the time slot, and as in past conversations he said that he was aware of our install and that no down payment was necessary); understandably he could not specify a certain date but that sometime around mid-September would work. In early September we called and left more messages to the effect that we would definitely be ready September 14. Subsequently the furnace replacement became even more urgent as it stopped working. We did not receive a response so we called again just prior to mid-September. Mr. Denning said that this is their busy season and he would not be able to get to us until late September/early October. We stated that we were disappointed, because now we have no heat and that we gave ample notice that we would be ready mid-September: that’s all we calmly said, no yelling/no emotion, just that we were disappointed. Mr. Denning’s reaction was to falsely accuse that “now he is being yelled at, and I don’t need that” and hang up on me. When I called back to ask what the problem is, Mrs. Denning also hung up on me. My wife then called to say that there must be a misunderstanding, because no yelling or harsh words were said on our part, just that we were disappointed; however, before she could say this, Mrs. Denning hung up on her, too. We have since learned from others that this was not unusual; that Mr. Denning has a reputation for a “hot temper” and has treated others in this unfair, hostile manner – even at a time when we called to make Mr. Denning aware that the furnace had stopped working.
Even more unsettling than Mr. Denning’s unprofessional business manner, we learned that the Lennox single-stage furnace he specified for $3,800.00 is more suited for a landlord/tenant situation than for our full-time living on Big Mountain. We easily found four very competent, professional, and pleasant HVAC contractors to select from, all able to install the proper system for our needs and within two weeks.
For the benefit of our community, we will send a copy of this letter to the Revdex.com. A business should not have either the wife or husband hanging up on customers. When neighbors and friends ask about updating their systems we will be sure to mention our negative experience with Denning Sheet Metal vs our installer. Fortunately, this community has many competent HVAC contractors and does not to be treated in a hostile and unprofessional manner.
In our over 35 years of owning and conducting service firms, we are a good judge of ethical and professional business practices. The way we were treated by Denning Sheet Metal certainly falls far short of this standard.