0
0
When it comes to home repairs, you always count on contractors to do the job. There is no doubt there are some honest contractors out there but you cannot trust them every single time. Contractors can be manipulative and scam you without you even noticing. We will tell you about things HVAC contractors won’t tell you while you are on the hunt for a reliable AC repair service. This will help you avoid the sketchy ones and pick someone trustworthy and worth the money.
Things Do Not Always Need To Be Replaced
A common thing with HVAC contractors is that most of them like to replace the components instead of repairing them. If the air conditioner happens to be well-maintained and is less than 10-12 years old, it makes more sense to simply replace the malfunctioning component instead of replacing the entire unit.
Plus, it could also be that the malfunctioning component is repairable unless it is an electric component. The reason is that electric components are relatively difficult to repair and there is no guarantee they will work even after spending a hefty amount on repairs. So, it’s better to replace the electric component.
Furthermore, if the unit is still new and the contractor has asked you to replace a component, you should check if the unit is still under warranty. This way, you won’t have to spend time and the contractor will most probably back out as well realizing that they won’t leave with money at the end of the day.
One of the tell-tale signs of sketchy contractors is that they will always suggest you replace the components or the entire unit without even trying to get the issue repaired. This way, they can make more money having spent a lot less time.
HVAC Units Need Maintenance Based On Usage Frequency
Although, homeowners and business owners should follow the user manual when it comes to maintaining the HVAC units, but the frequency may be more depending on the usage of the HVAC unit. The reason some HVAC contractors won’t tell you this is because they would wait for the unit to run into an expensive problem.
On the other hand, some HVAC contractors might also suggest you get the units maintained every 3 months regardless of whether they are being used or not. This is just another way of making money. The best way to maintain your HVAC unit is by performing an inspection personally and looking out for unusual signs & symptoms. Only call a technician if you find something fishy. Otherwise, you can replace the air filters and perform basic cleaning tasks yourself.
We Are Inexperienced
When it comes to finding a good team of experts for your HVAC unit, you will come across many options in the market. You might think it is a good thing but it is not. The fact that the market is so saturated by HVAC contractors that it will eventually become difficult for you to trust someone.
Some HVAC contractors will offer you their services at a rate that is cheaper than the market rate. It might seem tempting but what they won’t tell you is they are inexperienced and do not carry a certification or license. Keep in mind that certified HVAC technicians are always going to be expensive.
This is because they have gone through extensive training to acquire the knowledge and skills they have. A sketchy team won’t offer to show you their credentials. This is why you should always ask for certifications and licenses to make sure you are putting your money where it’s worth it.
Maintenance Might Cause Refrigerant Leak
If your HVAC unit is old, there is a chance the compressor and refrigerant lines are rusted and corroded. In this case, the refrigerant will leak as soon as the HVAC unit is taken apart for maintenance. But some contractors won’t tell you this, fearing that they will have to pay for the gas.
Considering the fact that the majority of the homeowners do not personally inspect the maintenance process, this gives the HVAC contractors the edge to scam the customer. Once they are done maintaining the unit, they refill a small amount of refrigerant only for the customer to check.
However, after a few days, the gas leaked again and upon contacting the team, they told the customers they filled the unit with the refrigerant already. As a result, the contractors tell them there might be a crack or a leak that needs to be fixed.
Then again, the contractors show up again, this time to repair the leaks and to scam the customer off more money. So, choose air conditioning companies Vienna that have experienced and honest contractors who will tell you about the pros and cons of any AC repair and maintenance task beforehand. This way, you can allow them to do a task keeping in mind the potential problems that can be caused due to that.
Prepaying Isn’t The Best Option
You might have come across many homeowners paying the contractors even before the HVAC system is maintained or repaired. If the contractor is coming through a reference or someone you have known for a while, then it might be a feasible option to prepay.
However, if it’s your first time, you should not give in to someone who is asking you to pay the full amount before the service can be offered. Some HVAC contractors do this to book appointments. But the thing is that you don’t have a guarantee when the contractor will show up.
You are always going to be on his time and not yours. To tackle such situations, you should offer 50% of the payment and the rest when the service is done. Plus, if something is wrong during the maintenance process, the contractor is less likely to return the money since you have already paid for it.
Good Contractors Can Hire Bad Subs
A common practice of good contractors is sending sub-contractors to perform services on HVAC units. This usually happens during peak months when good contractors are busy working on units and are not able to cater to every customer out there.
If your contractor does good work, there is no guarantee that his subcontractors will do a good job as well. There have been many incidents where good contractors have hired poor subcontractors without any skills or basic knowledge to perform HVAC-related tasks.
The good contractor might stop by for a few hours but you won’t get the kind of service and guidance you were expecting. To prevent this, ask your contractor if he is subbing out any of his work. If he is, you should ask him about their credentials.
Your HVAC unit should only be maintained by the same team of experts. If they keep changing at every interval, you are most likely to waste your money and end up damaging the HVAC unit as well.
Conclusion
It is always advisable to run a background check and opt for a reputable HVAC repair service Fairfax. And, make sure that you supervise the maintenance, repair, or replacement process to avoid any sketchy practices. This puts the team under pressure and reduces the chances of scams and fraud.
