At Air Rescue, the trust we’ve built with our customers is our highest priority, who’ve told us that don’t want to be taken advantage of by shady HVAC companies or fly-by-night repair guys. With that in mind, we thought we’d give you tips to avoid common HVAC scams, preventing air conditioning repair ripoffs.
Make Sure Your Contractor is Licensed, Bonded, and Insured
There are many air conditioning contractors that are operating without a license, without a bond, and without insurance. Any respectable HVAC contractor should have no problem showing you their license and insurance and bonding information.
If you’re in doubt, you can look up that information online. Florida’s online portal for looking up contractor information is Department of Business and Professional Regulation – State of Florida.
Read the Marketing Material
Legitimate companies have proofread and checked their material for typos and grammar mistakes several times. Occasionally, an error does pop up, but if multiple errors appear in the same marketing piece, it’s usually a red flag that this “company” is impersonating another company.
Refrigerant “Recharging”
A common scam, your air conditioning repairman says you must “top off” your refrigerant, or “recharge” it, another red flag. Refrigerant runs in a closed loop between the outside condenser/compressor unit and the indoor evaporator unit, with the only reason needed for coolant is if there’s a leak in the refrigerant line.
Your central AC doesn’t work like the AC in your vehicle, where you “top it off” or “recharge” it. Recommending an ongoing service that ignores the root problem. If your HVAC company suggests this service without fixing the leak, find a new HVAC.
Pressure Tactics/Upselling
Similar to going to the auto mechanic and feeling like you’re being upsold unnecessarily, the same goes for HVAC contractors. Consumers are not always familiar with HVAC technology, they find they often take the “experts” word for it. Believing the experts often results in buying a “replacement” product or service that you do not need.
Look at Local Reviews
A convenient way to measure whether a HVAC contractor is ethical or not is to look at their reviews on Google, Yelp, Home Advisor, Houzz, or the BBB. When HVAC companies have a pattern of charging for services not needed or delivering poor workmanship, your community members will put the word out.
Heating and cooling companies that have a stellar track record will have almost all positive reviews from their customers.
Air Rescue is the best choice for heating, ventilation, A/C repair, or installation needs for the greater Tampa Bay area. Our service and pricing ensures the most competitive pricing and 100% satisfaction. Visit our website, contact us, or call us at 813.612.600.
Sources:
https://www.simplythebestac.com/blog/typical-hvac-scams-protect-yourself/
https://ventwerx.com/blog/avoid-air-conditioning-ripoffs/
https://www.dependableair.com/blog/2020/april/how-to-spot-hvac-bait-and-switch-scams/
https://vandyckmechanical.com/how-to-identify-and-avoid-common-hvac-scams/