Reader F.’s air conditioner was broken, so he called the company that installed it when the house was built. They came out, charged him $100, and told him that he could repair the unit for $3,000 or replace it for $5,000. It’s a good thing he got a second opinion, because the second repair guy fixed the problem for $250.
F. says:
I called the company that installed it 9 years ago, Westminster Mechanical, because it was making a loud noise and the fan was no longer working. They came out yesterday and in minutes declared that all the components need to be replaced. They estimated around $3000 [for the repair] or a new system for around $5000.
So, I called a neighbor in the business and she sent someone out. In about an hour he found a blockage and once again I have air. Do these companies install in new houses so they can slap a sticker with their number on it and years later when you call say it needs to be replaced? Instead it cost me $250, oh plus the $100 I wasted to have the original company tell me to replace it.
It’s nearly impossible to say whether or not the first company was trying to mislead you, so we’ll concentrate on what you did right. It’s certainly not uncommon for companies to try to get unsuspecting homeowners to try to replace an air conditioner or a furnace when, in fact, it just needs a small repair. So, how do you figure out when your repair guy is telling the truth?
First, before you call someone to come in and look at your AC or furnace, do a little research with the BBB and ask your friends to recommend someone that you can trust. Second, if you’re told that you may have to replace your equipment or make an expensive repair, thank the representative for his time and start collecting 2 more estimates. If your unit really does have to be replaced, some contractors will waive the fee and offer a free estimate for the new equipment.
If, like F., there was nothing seriously wrong with your AC, an honest contractor will catch it.
We asked the BBB about F.’s case and were told that complaints about AC repair are relatively uncommon, but that they do happen.
“With something like this, it’s hard for the consumer to know if they’re being lied to or not. If an AC repairman were to say to me, “Your flux capacitor is shot,” who am I to argue? That’s why it’s important to research the company first,” said Alison Preszler, Media Relations Manager of the BBB.
Don’t Get Burned By Furnace Fraud [BBB]
(Photo: Bruce Turner )
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@attackgypsy: Another thing that goes out frequently is a relay. Yes, it’s basically a simple switch. Repeated on-off cycles cause the contacts to burn/wear out. Sometimes ants even get in there and gum it up…
Our air conditioner went out a few weeks ago during a triple-digit heat wave. Not only did the repair company not charge a fee just for showing up, but they even squeezed us in that same day because the heat index was going to be especially bad. The repairman set about diagnosing the issue, then walked my husband and me through what had caused the problem and how to assess it ourselves should it happen again. I was grateful at the time to have dealt with such a professional and this story only makes me more so.
I replaced my 15yr old system with a Carrier two years ago and glad I did. It’s colder(sumemr), quieter and cheaper to operate. Sometimes those old systems cost you more in maintenance than the savings in annual bills. I’ve saved $50-$75/month in the summer and winter since.
I work in the A/C Heating Business. I tell everyone to hire off referals from friends and neighbors. If you can put off system replacement till the offseason(winter) sometimes you can get a better deal.
Man, this goes on all the time. Plumber wanted $400 to “rebuild” my toilet. I had next-door neighbor (contractor) look at it. He shaved down part of the flapper with a penknife…voila, leaking fixed.
A/C repair tech charged the old man across the street $1,000 for changing a filter.
They’re all vultures.
Appliance repair “techs” are SO freakin bad in my area I’ve decided to repair all my own stuff.
Come to find out, if you put in your exact model of appliance and problem into Google out comes the exact fix. And CHEAP! THEN, you Google an online parts store and buy what you need and fix the damn thing yourself.
I’ve repaired 3 appliances including a 4 ton AC unit by myself. All you need is basic automotive repair and a tiny bit of electronics and you can kiss those shameful excuses for repairmen GOOD BYE!
this is to anyone who attempts to fix their A/C system: DON’T DO IT! Do you know how to fix an A/C? Do you know what is involved with it? Do you know about refrigerant systems and the pressures associated with different refrigerant blends? Don’t be stupid CALL A PROFESSIONAL!!!! Look at the BBB website to find a reputable contractor
@dcx516: I agree with that to an extent. It is not beyond the capabilities of a more competent do-it-yourselfer to hook up a set of manifold gauges to check the pressure if you’re trying to to a preliminary diagnosis before calling out the experts. Nor is it difficult to do some simple troubleshooting of the electrical circuits if you’re familiar with a schematic and multi-tester. Obviously this isn’t something just anyone should undertake on their own, but it really depends on the skill and comfort level of the individual.
This happened to me. I drive an old Lexus and I bought it in late August a few years ago. The following late-spring I realized that the a/c wasn’t working (it was blowing, but only hot air) so I took it to a local radiator place that specializes in foreign cars. The guy told me that there was a crack in something relating to the a/c or the radiator and the cheapest way to fix it would be to FIND a part out of a scrapped car (which he told me could take WEEKS to locate even though mine is a VERY common model & year – he even suggested that I try to find one myself & bring it to him) and that it would probably run me $900 in labor and “nuts & bolts” at the low end of the scale.
After I caught my breath I asked him to charge the freon “just for the ride home” thinking that I would get a second opinion and the damn a/c has worked ever since. Only cost me about $90 and I haven’t so much as re-charged it again since that incident.
Thank goodness I didn’t play the role of the naive female car owner & accept his first diagnosis.
I am an HVAC mechanic and mainly due residential. To say that we are all sleazy or take advantage of customers is outright ignorant. You will always have certain companies and individuals try to take advantage of you, but that is just a small minority. I have never tried to rip a customer off. I am always truthful to them about their problem and I try to explain it in simple terms that they might understand.
Being part of a private company means you need to constantly look for new customers and sales, but at the same time, keep your current customers happy. If you get a reputation for trying to rip people off, you can guarantee you will go out of business.
Like others have said in this post, if you don’t know what you are doing, DO NOT mess with an A/C or heat pump system. You can kill yourself. Even if your system is off capacitors still carry a charge. Not to mention refrigerants such as R22 and R410a can cause severe chemical burns, exspecially if your hands are wet. Also you must be EPA 608 certified (aka CFC).
As long as you change the filters and get preventive maintenance done every so often, your system can run 20-30 years. BTW filters are not used to filter the air you breathe, they are used to protect the coil from debris getting to it.
We replaced our old furnace and old A/C unit because they were breaking down and – according to the energy company – inefficient. Now, one new Carrier furnace and Trane A/C system later, the bills are actually higher and the house is no longer as warm in winter and cool in summer as it was with the old equipment. WTF. You can’t trust ANYONE these days.
@Ixnayer:
Let me modify my previous post: Don’t mess with the gas portion of the A/C system. I totally agree. Unless you are willing to invest in the vacuum pump and gage gear, you might as well hire someone insured and bonded to check the coolant. BUT! Everyone reading this: DO NOT let HVAC repair people scare you away from doing your own repairs. It’s one of their insidious techniques to take your money. There are many systems inside a heater/AC system which malfunction that have nothing to do with the coolant. Sensors are the main components to go first!
Now, on to HVAC repair persons integrity… UMmmm… In the bay area, 90% of HVAC “techs” are flat out thieves. I’m seriously considering quitting my programming job and becomming a HVAC “tech” so I can retire in 5 years.
I don’t know where you live, but, if your GOOD at HVAC repair, then you NEED to move to the Bay Area so you can make a killing being an honest repairman.
My air conditioning unit just stopped working the other day. The guy I’m dating wanted to look at it before I called a repair man. He went over to it, took it apart (somewhat), put it back together – without doing ANYTHING else – and all the sudden I had cold air.
I have no idea.
But then what he told me to do was get an annual maintenance plan with a local company. They’ll come out, inspect and clean the machine once a year. I guess I’ll do that.
at the beginning of the summer, our lower AC unit died.
we called a guy out, he told us that a wire burned out, he replaced it free of charge. he then went on a sales pitch, told us it’d be $13k to replace both units, gave us his card, and left.
the units are 23 years old, and we’ve been putting in $600 of refrigerant every year (will be twice this year) – we know they need to be replaced. who do you think we’re going to call?
@Eyebrows McGee: Definitely regional – they charge here in my area of VA and it’s $100 to come out.
And I got charged big time once because of the capacitor being bad, too. Hate being unable to diagnose and fix things myself.