HVAC Fraud Alert! Don’t be a Victim.

It always unnerves me when I hear about a consumer that has been had by a company that has taken advantage of them.  These companies make a bad name for all HVAC companies and contractors in general.  Currently there is a rash of fraud in the HVAC field due to companies taking advantage of trusting, uneducated consumers.  Below are some tips to make sure your next HVAC call doesn’t turn into a nightmare.

1. Never fall for the high pressure sale to install the same day or next day.  This is a total giveaway to a company that does not want to give you time to compare pricing.  Currently there is a large company that makes big money on “next day” installations.  I have seen heaters installed for $4,000 to $6,000 more than the fair market price recently and last summer there was an A/C job that was $14,000 more than the Oehlert Bros. quote!  Never sign the same day of a sales call even in an “emergency”.
2. Find out if the HVAC company with whom you are dealing pays their Service Repair Technicians commissions for new equipment installations.  Current unscrupulous practices include providing a low price for a tune-up and suddenly discovering that your current heater or air conditioner is on its last legs – and yes they can install it tomorrow if you sign today!  Because the Repair Technicians are under pressure to meet quotas, they may resort to less-than-ethical measures to make sure your system is now dead.
3. Always get a second opinion or second estimate if you are going to have to spend more than $500.  You may find out that your system is working perfectly fine or save yourself thousands from an unneeded installation.
4. Make sure that your HVAC contractor has a PA Contractor’s license and has been in business for at least five to ten years.  If a company installs a system and they are not around to service your warranty, it could cost you thousands.  Additionally, if they install the system poorly, you may need to pay another company to have the system re-installed.