There is an endless supply of repair horror stories on the internet. Just do a search, and you will find all sorts of scary tales from homeowners who have made discoveries about poor repairs, installations and additions to HVAC systems attempted by disreputable contractors. There are testimonials, blog rants, YouTube videos, and even investigative journalism pieces, on the horrific results that can arise from a bad AC repair. In Raleigh, there is the advantage of having a reliable and honest AC repair service in Carter Heating and Air, Inc.
Don’t Open Yourself Up to Shoddy AC Repair
Consumer advocates say they know when summer nears, air-conditioning complaints climb with the temperatures. When your air conditioner quits working in the middle of a heat wave, the only thing on your mind is to get it functioning again so you can be comfortable. So you call the first AC repair service you find on the internet or yellow pages, and HVAC technician comes to repair it. The technician uses words and phrases that sound foreign to you yet they fail to explain clearly it terms you can understand. You may feel helpless having to take the serviceman’s word that something requires repairing or replacing, leaving you open to being scammed out of your money. So how do you evade being scammed by an HVAC contractor? There are a few regularly used scams in the HVAC industry that are easy to catch if you look for the right phrases. Here are three of signs to look out for:
All You Need is Refrigerant
If your AC unit is low on refrigerant, then this indicates more than just a “refill”. There may be a potential leak that let the refrigerant get below the proper level. An air conditioner doesn’t consume refrigerant like a car uses gas. The refrigerant just circulates in the system. If the repairman states that all you need is refrigerant, this should raise a red flag to ask more questions. More often than not, this statement translates to “I will continue letting your air conditioner leak refrigerant so I can continue charging you for more.” If your system needs more refrigerant, ask the contractor if they will look for leaks.
Is a Free AC Tune Up a Good Thing?
According to the Better Business Bureau, some HVAC companies will trick you by offering a “free” tune-up so that they can make a high-pressure sales pitch. Minor technical issues that suddenly call for the replacement of the whole unit should set off warning bells. Some contractors will suddenly discover something wrong during the “free” tune-up and try to persuade you into expensive repairs or even replacing your entire heating and air conditioning system. Free tune-ups are fine. But if a deal appears too good to be true, it probably is.
Finding Other Parts That May ( or May Not) Need to be Replaced
Having the AC service technician state that he needs to replace one part of your system is fine. However, many times, a contractor may say he is going only to replace one component, but then inexplicably needs to replace other parts as he continues working on your unit. If you are unsure of what is going on, ask to see what parts they are referring to and why they need to be replaced. Beware if they say that the parts have already been replaced as they hand you their invoice. If this happens, ask to see the broken part that was replaced. Keep asking questions until you are satisfied. It will only benefit you.
Finding the Best AC Contractor in Raleigh
Do your homework, and search for a repair provider before you need one. Checking with the local Better Business Bureau is a great way to verify the reliability of any business. Carter Heating and Air, Inc., is a BBB Accredited Business with an A+ rating and have been since 1998. Carter Heating and Air has an outstanding reputation in the Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and the surrounding areas. There is a high level of integrity, and a strong work ethic that permeates the whole company. The company has a track record of trustworthiness, and their certified technicians are trained and ready to install, repair or perform a maintenance check-up on your HVAC system. Call us today: (919) 924-0177