The Baltimore Sun’s readers have voted on what’s the best in the region, from wedding venues and roofers to pediatricians and hair salons. This year’s winners include people and businesses recognized for outstanding service and customer satisfaction over the last year.
The poll includes more than 700 winners in nearly 200 categories in six areas — Activities & Arts, Home & Garden, Food & Drink, Lifestyles & Shopping, Personal services and People & Media. More than 75,000 ballots were cast cultivating a list of your favorite museums, pizza joints, boutiques, TV anchors, radio hosts and more.
Best HVAC: SM Mechanical
7110 Golden Ring Rd # 116, Essex. 443-559-5314. smmechanicalhvac.com.
When SM Mechanical owner Sean Mallonee opened the Essex-based plumbing, HVAC, electrical and home performance business in 2009, he worked solo. Now, he has a team of close to 20 employees — and HVAC repairs and installations make up the bulk of their work.
“That’s the most amount of work that we do, and we feel that’s where we really excel,” Mallonee, 44, said. “We’ve done a really good job at growing our customer bases and keeping them happy.”
Mallonee grew up in Middle River and has been doing plumbing and HVAC work since he was 13 years old and got a job working at the same company as his grandfather, which he continued through the summers as a student at Calvert Hall College High School and the University of Miami. Starting his own business felt like a “natural fit,” he said.
At SM Mechanical, summer is the busiest season for HVAC work, he said, because “people are just far more uncomfortable when they have no air conditioning” than if they’re without heat in the winter, when they can bundle up or get by with space heaters.
HVAC installations can typically be done within a week or two, but the wait can be longer in the summer depending on variables like weather, Mallonee said. Service calls can be handled as quickly as the same day.
The business focuses primarily on residential work in Baltimore, Baltimore County, Annapolis, Bel Air and Columbia.
“We’re always going to be empathetic. We’re always going to treat the customer’s home like it’s our own,” he said. “Not only with the install and not only with the work, but also in how we approach what the work’s going to be, what we’re going to do. I feel like that’s where we shine.”
“The best part of the job is making customers happy,” he added.
— Abigail Gruskin
Cleaning service: Polished Honorable mentions:
Polished by AmandaThe Clean CastleThe Cleaning Authority
Electrician: Tim Kyle Electric, Heating & Cooling Honorable mentions:
Maryland ElectricMattingly ElectricTop Notch Electrical
Fence installation: Pyle Fence Co. Honorable mentions:
Long FencePhelps Fence Co.Olympic Fence & Guardrail
Flooring & carpeting: Jim Boyd’s Flooring America Honorable mentions:
Top Notch Flooring AmericaBel Air CarpetTraynor’s Floors & Carpets
Furniture store: Jarrettsville Furniture Honorable mentions:
Belle PatriCharm City FurnitureThe Painted Mill
Garden center: Valley View Farms Honorable mentions:
The Mill of Bel AirLehnhoff’s SupplyPoor Boy’s Garden Center
Handyman: Clarksville Construction Services Honorable mentions:
Smithouse Design + BuildPJ FitzpatrickScherr Handyman Services
Hardware store: The Home Depot Honorable mentions:
Clarks Ace HardwareFalkenhan’s HardwareCostello’s Ace Hardware
Home security installation: Clarksville Construction Services Honorable mentions:
Elite Home EntertainmentSchott & Son Locksmith
Home staging: Kate Wunder Interiors Honorable mentions:
Studio A StagingBelle PatriD’Fine Design & Build
Homebuilder: TP Contractors Honorable mention:
Bob Ward Trademark Homes
HVAC repair: SM Mechanical Honorable mentions:
Clarksville Heating & AirTim Kyle Electric, Heating & CoolingA.J. Michaels
Interior design: Kate Wunder Interiors Honorable mentions:
Anna Graham interiorsSmithouse Design + BuildBelle Patri
Landscaper: Vin’s Total Care Landscaping Honorable mentions:
Akehurst Landscape ServiceLehnhoff’s LandscapingChesapeake Landscapes
Lighting: Wilson Lighting & Interiors Honorable mentions:
Visual Comfort & Co.The Home DepotElite Home Entertainment
Moving company: M.R. Crabb Moving and Storage Honorable mentions:
Charm City MoversTop Notch Moving & StorageShands Moving & Delivery
Painter: Goode Design Painting and Wallcovering Honorable mentions:
Hands On PaintersSlater PaintingScherr Handyman Services
Plumbing: Clarksville Plumbing Honorable mentions:
Saffer Plumbing, Heating & ElectricalLen The Plumber Heating & AirO’Neill Plumbing & Heating
Real estate agent: Holmes Glorioso Home Group of eXp Realty Honorable mentions:
Caroline Meredith, CompassNext Step RealtyKim Parsons, American Premier Realty
Remodeling: Chesapeake Premier Remodeling Honorable mentions:
Cornerstone RemodelingClarksville Construction ServicesSmithouse Design + Build
Roofer: Westview Roofing Co. Honorable mentions:
Tar Heel Construction GroupClarksville Construction ServicesEC Roofing & Home Services Direct
Rug cleaner: Glyndon Lord Baltimore Cleaners Honorable mention:
Aref’s Oriental Rugs
Solar installation: Maryland Solar Solutions Honorable mention:
Top Notch Electrical
Upholstery and furniture refinishing: Belle Patri Honorable mentions:
The Cavanagh HouseFox Custom UpholsteringJim Adajian
Editor’s note: Winners and honorable mentions were determined by popular vote. Readers were invited to nominate and vote online from April to June. The ballot and results are generated solely by readers’ votes. The Baltimore Sun does not take responsibility for the services offered or advertised by those listed.