Essex County Craftsmen Inc

Essex County Craftsmen has been doing HVAC work out of Salem for decades — the Better Business Bureau lists a 1974 start and 1986 incorporation, putting the company at roughly 52 years in business. It isn't BBB-accredited, but the Bureau still grades it A+, and its Massachusetts HVAC license (501-SM-B) is active. Brad, described by a Carrier dealer page as the company's owner, still turns up by name in customer accounts of actual service calls. That hands-on presence is what shows up when people describe a job. Earlier this year, one homeowner singled out a technician named Brad for taking the time to actually diagnose what was wrong rather than selling parts that weren't needed, and for fixing problems a previous HVAC company had caused while keeping the repair bill down. Customers who've stuck around for 20 years describe that same steadiness holding up over time, including responsiveness outside normal business hours. A separate directory summarizing the company's wider reputation calls out duct cleaning and furnace installation specifically as the jobs people come away most impressed by. The one clear complaint worth asking about directly: a customer reported a newly installed condenser sitting on backfill with a noticeable drainage problem, tilted toward the house at a steep pitch. It's a single account with no visible response attached, but specific enough — pad prep and grading around an outdoor unit — that it's worth confirming before any new install. Google's own tally is thinner than the rest of the picture, 4.5 stars from 50 ratings, and only one review has landed there in the last six months, so the freshest read on current work is limited even though the longer history runs deep. This is a fit for routine heating and air conditioning repair, furnace work, and duct cleaning in the Salem area from a shop with enough history to have a real track record. Before signing off on new equipment, ask specifically about the pad and drainage plan for any outdoor unit, and find out which technician will be doing the work — the reviews that stand out are about specific people, not just the company name.