Your HVAC system is essential to the comfort of your home. In order to function properly and last as long as possible, it needs regular maintenance and for any repairs to be completed in a timely manner. However, there are sketchy HVAC contractors out there who charge you out the window and don’t solve the problems you’re having.
Fortunately, most HVAC contractors care about providing high-quality work and ensuring that their customers’ needs are met. In order to find trustworthy contractors and avoid getting into a situation, it’s good to know the warning signs of sketchy HVAC contractors.
Here are some warning signs to keep an eye out for when you’re on the hunt for a new HVAC contractor.
#1. Poor Customer Service
Everyone has bad days, but customer service is still a priority. You should feel free to ask your contractor any questions that you may have. They should be attentive to your needs and communicate properly. Sketchy HVAC contractors often have poor customer service and poor to no communication.
You should be able to trust your HVAC contractor to listen to the problems you are having and to communicate anything they find and what they did. They should provide you with options and advice on how to keep your HVAC system in good working order between your spring and fall maintenance appointments.
#2. They’re Unprepared
When you schedule an HVAC appointment, the contractor should arrive ready for whatever work you need done. If they’re unprepared, this is a big warning sign. It’s understandable if perhaps they don’t have a part for something that needs replacing on them when they didn’t know it would need to be replaced. However, they should come ready with everything that they need for the service you scheduled.
#3. They Replace Parts That Don’t Need Replacement
People are often suspicious when contractors tell them that something needs to be replaced. It’s for good reason: many sketchy people will try to charge you for things that you don’t need. Whether it’s your car or your HVAC system or something else, it can be hard to know whether or not the contractor is being truthful when they tell you something needs to be replaced.
A good HVAC contractor will only ever be honest with you. If they notice a potential problem, they’ll tell you what you can do in order to prevent it from escalating into a full-blown issue. If something needs replacement, they should be able to tell you exactly why, how long the replacement part should last, and see to the replacement in a timely manner.
If you have an older system or you don’t maintain it, you’ll likely need more frequent replacements. However, if your HVAC contractor is always telling you to replace this or that, it’s a good idea to get a second opinion from another company.
#4. Dishonesty
This ties directly into the previous point. Sketchy HVAC contractors will often call on behalf of other companies, when they have nothing to do with the company they’re talking about. They’ll replace parts that don’t need to be replaced, overcharge, and may even do things like turning off your gas valve so that when your heat doesn’t turn on in the winter, they can tell you it needs to be replaced.
In many cases, you can’t tell whether or not someone is lying to you, unless you’re an expert in the field yourself. However, if someone is calling on behalf of a company, you can call the company directly and ask about it. You can call around and get an idea of what average rates for HVAC services are like in your area. You can also check reviews – more on this in the next section.
#5. They Don’t Have Reviews
Now, if a company is just getting started, they may not have claimed their Google My Business listing yet or they may not have many reviews. However, people are often more than willing to leave reviews, especially if the service was either really good or really bad.
If you can’t find the contractor online, this can indicate that they’re sketchy. Reviews can be tricky, because people can buy them and fake them. You can look on sites like TrustPilot for reviews from legitimate customers.
You can also ask around. If no one’s heard of the contractor before, run.
#6. They’re Secretive About Rates And Timeframes
Rates and timeframes can be tricky, because depending on any complications that arise, a project may end up costing more and taking longer than anticipated. However, you should be able to trust your HVAC contractor to be upfront and honest about this before doing anything. Your HVAC contractor should have no problem giving you their rates and estimated time frames.
If the contractor is trying to get around your questions about rates and timeframes, this is a warning sign. They could also offer free services or massive discounts only to hit you with incredibly expensive “complications” once they get started. They could also massively overcharge.
You’ll note how when you call around to get a ballpark idea of how long a project should take and how much it will cost, trustworthy HVAC contractors will have no problem with this. It’s common to need a consultation before the contractor can tell you exactly what is needed. However, if the contractor tries to avoid telling you this information, you should continue your search, as they may be a sketchy HVAC contractor.
Are You Looking For Trustworthy HVAC Contractors?
These are but 6 of the warning signs of sketchy HVAC contractors to keep an eye out for.
If you’re looking for trustworthy, licensed and insured HVAC contractors around Northern Utah, R & D Heating And Air is here to help! We take great pride in providing excellent service. We only ever recommend replacements if something truly needs to be replaced. We’re always honest with our customers about our services, rates, and estimated time frames.
Additionally, it’s important to us that you know how to take care of your system between maintenance appointments. We’ll give you advice on the things that you can do in order to keep your HVAC system in optimal condition for as long as possible. We also offer specials to help you keep your system in great condition.
Contact us today for any questions that you may have about our services.
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