10/26/2026
Hold on tight this is a long one. As the VP of Eco-Logical, I train the installers, help design the Omni, and market the product—yet until recently, my own house was still running on a 45-gallon gas water heater. People find that surprising. Well, everybody else in the company house on I was the last one holding out for my old water heater to let go.
Ten years ago, before I was involved with Eco-Logical, we put in a like-for-like gas unit. It failed under warranty at year four. The replacement (same unnamed manufacturer) lasted six more years. Two gas water heaters in a decade isn’t exactly a confidence-inspiring track record.
When it finally let go, I decided it was time for an 80-gallon Eco-Logical Omni—and I wanted the full customer experience, from the emergency call to the finished job.
The night it happened: I was watching the Cowboys get crushed when my daughter said, “Dad, there’s water all over the floor.” Sure enough, the old unit was spewing water from its outer shell and flooding the second floor. Water off, gas off, mess cleaned up, tank drained.
I called Halco Home Services Monday morning. They offered to come out immediately. I wasn’t ready—I needed a couple of days to clear space around the panel (we were converting from gas and had no available 240V circuits) and get my own Omni unit to the house.
They worked around my schedule with no pushback.
The communication was excellent. Text updates about the appointment, who was coming, and when. Friday morning I got a text; the crew showed up right after it.
They were prepared for either custom line sets or the factory pre-charged EcoConnect (plus extension kit). We went with the pre-charged route and it fit perfectly.
On the electrical side, they were sharper than I was. They noticed my gas dryer was on a 110V circuit but there was already a 240V outlet right there. They gave me the option to rework breakers and add a new 240V line—or, for a cost savings, simply steal the dryer circuit. I took the savings. They easily could have steered me toward the more expensive path. They didn’t.
I watched every step to make sure they followed the procedures I’ve trained them on. They did everything by the book and then some—including building a solid, level pad for the outdoor heat pump. They also use a prefab plumbing kit (expansion tank, thermostatic mixing valve, vacuum brake, and all the sweat-fitted piping in one piece) so the field install is clean and efficient. The distributor PBS Supply has these pre-fab kits available for any installer. They just bolt it on.
Bottom line: I knew I was getting the world’s best heat pump water heater. What I wanted to see was how one of our trained partners treats a real customer. I was not disappointed.
Halco Home Services did a fantastic job at a very reasonable price with well-trained people. If you’re in New York State and need a heat pump water heater (or any home service), I highly recommend them.
Utility partners, portfolio managers, or other contractors interested in the Eco-Logical Omni—reach out to Hal Smith at Halco Home Services. He’ll answer your questions and give you a straight recommendation.
Sometimes the best product demo is the one that happens in your own basement. In NY you can get the Te Eco-Logical OMNI from PBS Supply Co.
