There’s nothing worse than having your air conditioner break down on the hottest day of the year. Well, there is one thing that’s worse, and that’s having an HVAC contractor give you a repair quote that’s misleading or false.
Unfortunately, there are HVAC companies that don’t operate in the most ethical ways. That’s why it’s important to know the signs of common HVAC scams. At Hagerstown Heating & Cooling, we pride ourselves on our honesty. In fact, it’s our motto: Honesty At Its Best. Let’s go over 4 red flags that mean you’re dealing with an unscrupulous company.
1. The Ol’ Bait and Switch
Some HVAC companies try to generate more revenue by making amazing offers that sound too good to be true, usually because they are. An example is a phone call or flyer offering an incredibly low price on an AC check-up. However, once they’re in your home, they find something “wrong” with your AC that has to be fixed before they can perform the “discount” check-up.
Bait and switch tactics can happen even when you’ve called for a legitimate repair need. They might try to talk you into some other service you might need that could’ve prevented the repair in the first place. It’s always a good idea to get a second opinion if you think the company isn’t being truthful, especially when the repair is costly.
2. Refrigerant “Top Offs” and “Recharging”
There’s only one way your AC should ever be low on refrigerant and that’s when there’s a leak.
The “top off” scam is a dishonest company’s way of charging for refrigerant you potentially don’t even need. If your AC is low on refrigerant, the leak is the primary problem and needs to be fixed. Be wary if the only solution they offer is to top off the refrigerant. Signs of refrigerant leaks in an AC include ice on the evaporator coils, a hissing or bubbling sound, and the inability to cool your home to the desired temperature.
3. Providing Only One (Expensive) Option for Repairs
If a technician gives you only one estimate for a repair, and that option is outlandish in its cost, that’s a warning sign. An honest contractor should give you more than one option for repairs. These are sometimes broken down into good, better, and best options and should be accompanied by an explanation of what each entails.
4. Selling More AC Than Your Home Needs
Bigger isn’t better when it comes to AC installations. Some contractors will try and push the biggest unit they have regardless of your home’s square footage. The reason behind this tactic is that larger ACs are more expensive, both to purchase and install, so the company can charge more for the job.
However, if the AC is improperly sized, it’ll cost more to run in the long term. Plus, it’ll cost you more for check-ups and services, something the unscrupulous HVAC contractor is hoping you’ll be calling them for soon.
When it comes to AC repairs in Hagerstown, MD, you deserve honesty, integrity, and reliable services that get the job done. That’s why you can always trust us for honest estimates, upfront pricing, and a thorough explanation of why the repair is needed from our Super Techs.
At Hagerstown Heating & Cooling, we want to protect customers from Google and other contractors. Honesty at Its Best.