No Runaround
Straight Answers to the Questions We Hear All Day
Costs, equipment, maintenance, scheduling — answered the way we'd answer them face to face at the shop. Don't see yours? Call and ask a person.
Family-run since 1913 · factory-authorized Bryant dealer · NATE & EPA certified
Est. 1913
Family-run, three generations
77 Reviews
4.7 stars on Google
NATE Certified
North American Technician Excellence
EPA Certified
Plus Lead & Asbestos certified
Bryant Dealer
Factory-authorized
Buying
Choosing What to Buy
How much does a new furnace cost installed?
It depends on the size of your home, the efficiency level you choose, and what your ductwork needs — which is why we quote from an in-home visit, not a phone guess. Your Comfort Advisor lays out good, better, and best Bryant options with real installed numbers, and Wells Fargo financing can spread the investment into payments. The number we quote is the number you pay.
Why do you only carry Bryant?
Because we're a factory-authorized Bryant dealer, and that authorization means factory training, factory parts, and factory backing behind every installation. One brand done deeply beats five brands done shallow — we know this equipment inside out, and we can stand behind it for the long haul.
Furnace, heat pump, or mini-split — how do I choose?
The furnace is the backbone — around here it has to carry the house as the primary source of heat, and we won't sell it any other way. A heat pump pairs with the furnace to save money in the milder months. A mini-split solves one stubborn room. Most homes want the furnace done right first; your Comfort Advisor will map the rest honestly.
Are whole-home air purifiers worth it over plug-in units?
A plug-in unit cleans the room it sits in; a whole-home purifier mounts in your ductwork and treats every room on every cycle, using the system you already own. For allergies, dust, and winter stuffiness in a house that stays sealed half the year, that whole-house coverage is the difference. We install Bryant air-quality equipment as a factory-authorized dealer — and because we diagnose before we recommend, if your problem is really a filter choice or a settings change, that's what you'll hear.
Do you offer financing?
Yes — through Wells Fargo, with a straightforward online application and terms we'll explain in plain language before you sign anything. Promotional windows rotate through the year, so ask what's currently running or check the promotions page.
Installation
Getting It Installed
What happens after I schedule an appointment?
A real person calls you back to set the visit. Then you meet with a Comfort Advisor who measures the house and walks your options, you review the numbers and pick what fits, and we schedule your installation with our own crew. Four steps, no runaround.
Who actually does the installation?
Our own crew — the people on our payroll, trained on the equipment we sell, driving vans with our name on the side. No brokered-out subcontractors, no strangers. The crew that installs your system is the same shop that answers the phone when you need service in year nine.
Do I need permits for a new furnace or AC?
Usually yes — and it rides along with every installation. We file with whichever office covers your address, city or township, and we meet the inspector so you never chase forms. The paperwork is done before the system fires up.
How long does an installation take?
Most furnace or AC replacements finish in a day. Jobs with ductwork modifications, new line sets, or dual-fuel controls can run longer — and your proposal will say so up front. Either way we protect the work area, and we leave the house cleaner than we found it. We get a lot of compliments on that part.
Service
Keeping It Running
My furnace died and it's below zero — how fast can you come?
Call us — (715) 536-2262. Twenty-four-hour service is available, and a real person will tell you honestly when a technician can be there. Fast, reliable response is most of the reason this company still exists after a century — we take it personally.
Do you service equipment you didn't install?
Gladly — most makes and models, furnaces, boilers, and air conditioners alike. A good repair on someone else's installation is how many of our longest customer relationships started.
How often should my system be maintained?
Once a year per system — furnace or boiler in the fall, air conditioning in the spring. Maintenance keeps efficiency where you paid for it, catches small failures while they're cheap, and protects most manufacturer warranties. Spring and summer calendars have the most room, so booking early gets first pick of dates.
Why is my house so dry in winter — and can you fix it?
Wisconsin winters dry a sealed house to the point of static shocks, nosebleeds, and hardwood gaps — the furnace runs constantly and the air holds almost no moisture. The fix is a furnace-mounted whole-home humidifier: it feeds moisture into the air automatically, set to a healthy target and forgotten. Summer swings the other way, with muggy air the AC can't fully wring out — a whole-home dehumidifier handles that end. We size and install both.
How do I know which air quality fix my house actually needs?
Indoor air complaints rarely announce their cause. Waking up congested, dust that returns a day after cleaning, a house that smells stale by February — each could be filtration, humidity, or ventilation, and guessing wrong buys equipment that doesn't solve it. That's why our air quality work starts with an honest assessment of the symptoms and the house itself, then a plain-language recommendation that matches. When the answer is a settings change instead of new equipment, we'll say so.
Should I repair my old furnace or replace it?
Honest rule of thumb: furnaces in our climate live twelve to fifteen years. If yours is in that range and the repair quote is a meaningful fraction of replacement, replacement usually wins — especially counting the efficiency gains. We'll give you both numbers side by side and let you make the call. No pressure, no scare tactics.
Visiting
Reaching the Shop
Can I visit your office?
Sure — 1204 N Center Ave in Merrill, Mon–Fri 8:30am–5pm and Saturdays 9am–2pm, with additional hours available by appointment. We keep our heating and cooling equipment on hand to look at, and there's always someone here who can talk through a project. For full system quotes the Comfort Advisor visit at your home is where the real numbers come from.
Are you the same company as Firefly Lodge?
Same family, same building, same phone number — different specialties. Merrill Sheet Metal Works handles heating, cooling, and air quality — the company was founded on the sheet metal trade in 1913, which is where the name comes from. Firefly Lodge is the family's hearth side: fireplaces, stoves, inserts, and chimney care. Whichever door you knock on, the standard is identical.
What areas do you serve?
Roughly an hour's circle around Merrill: Lincoln, Marathon, Taylor, Langlade, Clark, Price, and Shawano counties — including Wausau and Medford. Near the edge of the map? Call anyway; for the right project we stretch.
How do I get on the schedule?
Tap Schedule Appointment anywhere on this site and answer three quick steps — what you need, what the visit should cover, and how to reach you. A real person calls back to set the time. Or skip the form entirely and call (715) 536-2262; a human answers weekdays 8:30 to 5.
The Biggest Question Deserves a Real Visit
A Comfort Advisor answers what would this actually cost — with numbers measured from your own house.