AG: Avoid Furnace, Chimney Repair Scams this Winter

The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office is warning residents not to be pressured into costly furnace or chimney repairs that may not be needed.

“Consumers should be wary of companies or contractors that are not based in Pennsylvania; offer free or low-cost chimney cleaning services or furnace inspections, or claims for expensive and immediate repairs; or create a sense of urgency with warnings of a pending house fire or carbon monoxide leak,” the Attorney General’s Office said.

Attorney General Kathleen Kane offers these tips:

• Get a second opinion and several bids. Check to see if your contractor is affiliated with any nationally recognized groups, such as the Chimney Safety Institute of America.
• Check the contractor’s references. Reviews and other information are available from the Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org .
• Avoid agreeing to same-day installation. Request a photo or video as proof of the recommended repairs.
• Don’t accept broken debris as evidence that chimney repairs are needed. Ask to see what is broken or collapsed.
• Learn about products and repairs that are specific to furnaces, fireplaces and chimneys before the repair person arrives.

If you do decide to have work done, remember these guidelines, the Attorney General’s Office says:

• Remember to obtain a copy of any proposal or contract. Contracts should contain specifics concerning payment and start/stop dates, plus a “Notice of Cancellation,” which gives consumers three business days to cancel a contract when the contract is signed in a consumer’s home.
• If the repair work costs more than $500, verify that the contractor is registered with the Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. Use the online registration form or call 1-888-520-6680. The OAG encourages consumers to use registered contractors when deciding to invest in home improvements.