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Beware of Shady HVAC Installers (and how tospot them)
Posted by Steven Cox on Tue, May 01, 2012 @ 12:01 PM
Sure, there are tons of heating and air conditioning repair guys in
the Fairfax area, but how do you know which to hire? They may
say they’re licensed, but do they keep up with the latest industry
trends and advances? Do they do quality work? And most
importantly, do you trust them enough to let them into your
home?
A little common sense goes a long way
when choosing an HVAC installer.
Don’t trust anyone who doesn’t come to your house to look at the
project before giving you an estimate. Even if yours is a fairly
routine repair or installation, there may be unexpected
complications that cause the final price to be much higher than
anticipated. You should not have to pay for any home visits or
estimates that may be performed.
Be sure to get a written, itemized estimate.
You should know exactly what you’re paying for and how much it should cost. To take it a step further, shop around. Get written
estimates from several companies – otherwise, how will you know if a price is too high? If the estimates you receive are wildly
different, don’t be shy about asking why the price is so high (or low!). A company may have missed something in the estimate that
would cause the final price to be just as high as its competitor.
One of the best ways to find a reliable HVAC installer is to ask friends and
family.
They can tell you who you should hire or, even better, they can tell you who to avoid – both are equally valuable! Word-of-mouth is
the best way to get honest reviews. That’s why Web sites such as Angie’s List are gaining in popularity. People who have had
particularly good or bad experiences are usually more than willing to tell others about them.
If you can’t find a recommendation and are going straight out of the phone book, be sure to vet the company carefully. Find out
how long the company has been operating in the city under the same name and whether or not it has operated under any aliases
or other corporate names.
A company with a physical address is preferable – don’t trust a guy who only
gives you a cell phone number.
If reviews are available on a Web site, read all of them. Companies often list reviews from best to worst, knowing that prospective
clients may only read a few before making a decision. If possible, check with the Better Business Bureau to find out if a company
has received any complaints.
If you follow these rules, you should be able to easily find an HVAC installer that’s not shady – of course, if you’re reading
this blog, you’ve already found the best Fairfax heating and air conditioning installer, anyway!
F.H. Furr Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning proudly serves Fairfax, Alexandria and the surrounding area. Call us at (703)
491-1234 to learn more about what we can do for your home!