You might be surprised to learn that seasonal changes to warmer weather increase the likelihood of HVAC scams. The unfortunate reality is that many scammers and con artists use the increase in demand for air conditioning professionals as an opportunity to fraudulently pose as one. Once allowed inside your home, this illegitimate AC repairman will then likely target your personal information and valuables for theft.
What doesn’t change is the fact that hotter weather means you need quality air conditioning. AC repair is rarely something that can wait, so you’ll need to make a decision fast. This brief guide will help you spot the ways to know you’ve found a legit ac repairman.
1. The Price Feels Right
When we look for qualified AC repair, it is only natural to do your research and shop around for the best price. The problem is that a dishonest HVAC contractor knows you will be doing this.
As we compare the rates and estimates between supposed air conditioning repair professionals we might be considering, be wary of gravitating toward the cheapest option you see. An AC repair scam artist knows that a price low enough to stand out from the crowd is an easy way to win your attention. After all, your out-of-pocket payment is not the central thing that he or she is attempting to get.
At the end of the day, if a supposed HVAC contractor’s price feels too good to be true, it’s safest to assume that it probably is. Even if the price isn’t indicative of an AC repair scam, cheaper rarely means better.
AC repair should be a healthy investment that means a more functional HVAC system and less financial woe for you in the long run.
2. The AC Repairman Provides a Written Estimate
An instant red flag that you could be dealing with a potential AC repair scam is if a cost estimate comes too easily. Attaining an estimate with a professional AC repair company should be a smooth yet thorough process.
A licensed contractor or estimator should be able to meet your schedule and visit your home at an arranged time. From there, you can expect them to inspect your home and ask all manner of questions to pinpoint the specifics of the job they intend to do. They should also be polite, communicative, and answer any questions you may have.
Once this process is complete, the estimator should be able to provide you with a consistent and detailed cost estimate in writing, proving their confidence and competence.
On the other hand, you might call a supposed HVAC repair company and quickly receive an estimate over the phone. This should be your first warning sign that you are not communicating with a professional operation, as that information can’t be provided without knowing the specifics of your home.
In such cases, the best-case scenario is that they are unlikely to do a good job.
3. They Are Licensed
If you need another quick and easy way to learn if an air conditioning repair company is legit, look for their license information. The law requires every HVAC repair company to have a license in order to operate.
If asked, a legit AC repairman should have no problem providing this information. The specific license that the company has should also be accessible and visible somewhere on their website along with their license number. From there, you can easily take steps to verify the provided license information to know for certain that it is valid.
In addition, a little-known fact is that a license requires that at least one person working for the company be a Board of Contractors certified “master” tradesman. For an extra test, you can even try asking someone who works for any HVAC company how many “masters” they employ. They shouldn’t hesitate in telling you there is at least one!
4. Good Customer Feedback
For additional peace of mind when hiring an AC repair company, a helpful area to explore is their customer reviews.
Google, Yelp, and Facebook are normally pretty reliable places to find authentic reviews from real customers. You may also find that an HVAC company features customer feedback on their website, though you should still see that these reviews are sourced from places like the aforementioned websites. Reviews can be faked after all, so ensuring that they are from third-party websites can add an extra layer of authenticity.
Also, it is only natural that any business has a handful of poor reviews. In such instances, take a look at how the HVAC company handles negative feedback. If they actually engage with the dissatisfied customer and attempt to get to the bottom of the issue, then you have yet another good sign.
Get Peace of Mind in No Time!
When you experience an HVAC that only a qualified AC repairman can fix, it does you know good to hesitate. The longer the problem goes unattended, the more you risk it compounding and costing you even more time, stress, and money.
If you find that you are hesitant in trusting an AC repairman or HVAC company to be legitimate, there is no quicker way to build trust than to reach out.
Cool Care Heating & Air has provided consistent and reliable HVAC service to happy customers all throughout South Carolina.
Contact us today and let us help you get your AC system on track for the oncoming summer weather.