Unfortunately, there are scammers who target homeowners specifically in relation to HVAC needs. The good news is that you can easily avoid scams by knowing what red flags to watch out for so you can avoid the hassle and run around.
Instead, give our team a call when you need service for your heat pump in Calgary. Our team can help with all of your HVAC needs, big and small. You can also keep reading to learn more about some common HVAC scams and the signs in each one.
Demand for Cash Payments
Paying cash for a service is perfectly acceptable as long as both you and the HVAC technician agree to the transaction. However, an HVAC technician should never make a demand for cash-only payment without the option to pay using a debit or credit card. If they do, it’s a red flag.
The person may be scamming you or trying to get around having the transaction tracked for tax purposes. It’s even possible that they want to hide the payment from the company they contract with. If you do agree to make a cash payment for HVAC services, be sure to take some precautions.
First, request an agreement that details exactly what you’re parts and services you are paying for with a deadline for completing the project. Then, you should only be paying a deposit on the agreement. The rest of the balance should be due when the HVAC service is complete.
Refrigerant Recharging
The offer to recharge refrigerant levels may be the most common scam in the industry. Someone may tell you that your refrigerant levels are low and that the line needs to be recharged for more cooling power. The tricky thing about this scam is that it’s perfectly plausible that your refrigerant does need to be recharged – but only on one condition.
Your air conditioner gets installed with a precise amount of refrigerant charge. The chemical cycles through the HVAC lines over and over for its entire lifespan. The only reason you may need to have a professional recharge your refrigerant is because there is a leak somewhere in the lines.
If this happens, the damaged portion of the line also needs to be identified and repaired. Otherwise, recharging the refrigerant levels is only going to boost cooling power for a short time. An active refrigerant leak will continue on and drain the charge until the damaged portion is fixed.
High-Price Repairs
If you have an HVAC technician visit your home for service and they tell you that the repair estimate is expensive, it’s a good idea to get another opinion or two. This is especially true when the estimate for HVAC repairs doesn’t align with the problems your air conditioner is experiencing.
Scammers may make you feel pressure to act right away and make a decision, but you don’t have to. Expensive repair needs on a relatively new system are concerning because your unit isn’t yet old enough to face extensive wear. On an older unit, you may be better off skipping out on expensive repairs and switching to a new model.
Let us be clear, repairs to residential HVAC systems are perfectly normal. It’s the significantly high repair bill and pressure to act right away that should be considered red flags. If you have any doubts about a repair estimate, follow that gut instinct and call around to get some additional quotes.
Agreement Changes
If you schedule HVAC service for a specific problem and your contractor begins adding on additional expenses, take time to pause the project. If an HVAC professional does their job right, an initial assessment should return a fairly good idea of what’s wrong and what needs to be done.
It’s OK to have minor tweaks to a service plan, but major ones are concerning. This is another situation where you should plan to get a second opinion before you spend a lot of money without feeling confident about your decision to do so.
Contact Ace Plumbing and Heating today to schedule an appointment for your plumbing and HVAC needs. Happy Today or You Don’t Pay!