One major expense that most homeowners have to think about at some point is replacing their old HVAC system. That means you’ll want to find a trustworthy, reliable HVAC contractor. There are a few red flags you should watch out for to avoid the shady operators in the business.
1. Phone Quotes
If anyone tries to give you a quote on a new heating or cooling system, or major repairs on your current system, over the phone without seeing your home first, try a different contractor.
A good HVAC contractor will always come out and inspect your home. This allows them to see what existing system you have in place, the condition of your ducts, unique factors of your home, any changes you’ve made to the home, and talk to you about your concerns.
2. Unbelievably low tune-up price
If you see an ad that offers a very low tune-up price, there’s probably more than meets the eye going on. Technicians are paid fairly well, and companies are not in the business of losing money. If you take them up on the maintenance visit, you’ll likely learn that there’s hidden charges, or else they’ll take shortcuts on the parts or labor.
3. Quoting rules of thumb
If a contractor tries to size your new system using a “rule of thumb” sizing technique – using square footage as the only variable, or basing the size on your existing system – look for a new contractor. A trusted HVAC contractor will use industry-standard sizing protocols that assess your home’s heating and/or cooling loads before deciding on the right size system.
If you contact us at Paschal Heat, Air & Geothermal, we’re confident that we’ll provide you with satisfactory answers to all of your questions. We serve northwest Arkansas homeowners will pride.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Springdale, Arkansas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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