About Us

Harold R. Whelden Heating & Refrigeration, Inc. offers Nantucket's most advanced and comprehensive range of heating, cooling, dehumidification, ventilation, sheet metal fabrication and insulation services. Our reputation for uncompromising quality and service is the product of thirty years of continuous operation and a dedication to "doing the right thing" every time.

Our heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), sheet metal, and insulation technicians are the most experienced and highly trained tradesmen on Nantucket (for a partial list of certifications held and recent training, please click here). We regularly attend training courses, seminars and industry events to stay current on the latest technology, methods, and environmental and safety issues. Through years of investment in the best and the brightest tools and ideas, we have built and sustained a significant edge over our competitors in terms of capabilities and quality. Our products and services are the best on Nantucket.

Technology

HVAC systems have changed a great deal since our company was founded 35 years ago. The very best boilers, when installed and maintained properly, are 95% efficient. Achieving this level of performance requires a great deal of precision and attention to detail.

We always use the most advanced tools available because information and accuracy lie at the heart of our business. Many of our tools, from the precision digital gauges to the infrared camera and Al[bert Einstein], our robotic plasma cutting table, either produce or consume the precise data needed to design, build and maintain high-performance HVAC systems. Others, like our customer management software, help keep us stay organized and attentive to customer needs.

To learn more about the specialized tools we use in our shop and in the field, please see our blog.

Service

We operate our business according to the Golden Rule and always treat our customers as we would want to be treated. "Do what you say, and say what you mean" isn't a platitude, it's our first rule of customer service. We take great pride in our sterling reputation and work hard to maintain it. When customers work with us, they are often pleasantly surprised and comment on the professionalism and courtesy of our field techs or the fact that we do things how and when we promised to do them. Sadly, these aren't universal values- but they are our values and we act on them every day.

Value

There is more than one way to measure the value of most things, and heating, ventilation, air conditioning, dehumidification and insulation services are no different. While people may find it difficult to agree on how best to value a service, they can probably agree that the easiest way is to compare prices. So what's in a price?

We can only speak to our own work, but there is a lot to consider when comparing seemingly interchangeable bids. First off, education is key. Heating and air conditioning isn't rocket science, but it can get pretty complicated in an environment like Nantucket's. We go out of our way to educate customers and potential customers on how and why our systems work, covering issues like efficiency, running costs, reliability, maintenance, indoor air quality, safety, and performance in extreme weather.

Another area to compare value is how the job will be completed. We clearly communicate a timeline and meet it. We won't promise anything we can't deliver and we never leave a customer hanging. Over the past 35 years, we have learned what a job requires. We respect reality and never over-promise or cut corners to win work.

Lastly, what happens after a job is complete? Another thing that distinguishes us from many contractors is we live on-island. This allows us to respond to service calls and resolve emergencies quickly. Many off-island contractors refuse to make the trip back for a service call that won't even cover the cost of a round-trip flight. On the other hand, every system we install includes a one-year warranty for service labor and the option to add a preventative maintenance agreement. Fortunately for us, we are very rarely called to perform service on our systems in the first year. Luckily for our customers, they seldom need to request service in the next five years, either.