HVAC Scams: When a Good Deal Really Is to Good to be True

During peak summer and winter months, we often see an uptick in bad business practices, scams, and schemes from HVAC companies trying to get customers to shell out more money than they need to, all to make a bigger profit.

It’s an unfortunate practice and one that we just aren’t willing to participate in. We believe our customers deserve better!

Here are a few of the unscrupulous tricks you may see out there and how you can keep your home’s comfort system running smooth, without shelling out too much money.

The “$19 Tune-Up” Trap

If an HVAC company is offering a low-cost tune-up or inspection, it’s likely because they are planning to make money another way to cover wages, vehicles, insurance, tools etc. If you aren’t paying enough to cover an hourly wage for an employee to come to your home then the company is likely going to “find” things to tack on to your bill, and suddenly your “$19 tune-up” is costing closer to a hundred dollars…up to several hundred dollars, or more.

Look for a company charging a fair price, in line with fair wages for a qualified technician. Our $69 tune-up and inspection is exactly what it sounds like. $69 to get your system tuned and running its best and an inspection from a qualified technician. If our technician notices anything out of the ordinary, you’ll be informed, never pressured, and we’ll provide a fair and honest quote before starting any additional work.

It’s important to note, an AC tune-up is recommend on systems that are functioning. A tune-up shouldn't be used in lieu of repairs or on a non-functioning system.

High-Pressure Tactics

If your home’s comfort system is in need of repair, getting a fair and honest quote is an important first step. Some companies will use a broken system as an opportunity to pressure you in to costly repairs. By using terms you may not be familiar with and painting a “doom and gloom” picture, they prey on the fact that your system isn’t working (and your home is likely heating up or not cooling down) to pressure you in to a costly repair.

If a company ever makes you feel pressured to pull the trigger on costly repairs or to “just take their word for it,” those are red flags that shouldn't be ignored.

When you call CTR Heating & Air Conditioning for repairs, a qualified technician will inspect your system, diagnose any issues, and give you a fair and honest quote which we’ll stand by 100%. We do a camera inspection of the system and show you a live feed so you see exactly what we see.

They Don’t Want You Getting a Second Opinion

Another reason some companies will use high pressure tactics is they don’t want you to have the time to get a second opinion.

In these cases, trust your gut. If it feels like you’re being overcharged, you’re not getting an itemized quote, or if you’re not getting a good explanation of what the problems are or how they will fix them, get a second opinion.

We provide a lot of second opinions…and second opinions from CTR Heating & Air Conditioning are always free. And we make it easy for you. Simply give us a call anytime at 801-999-4220 or book an appointment for your second opinion online using our convenient online scheduling.

We look forward to working with you to keep your home cool this summer, warm this winter, and comfy all year long.