You want to do your due diligence when it comes to using the services of air conditioning maintenance contractors. You have worked hard to purchase and install your AC system; now, you want to ensure that you get the most out of it. While there is no substitute for ongoing routine maintenance, certain warning signs can serve as red flags indicating you should run from a given contractor like the plague itself.
Air Conditioning Maintenance Contract – Know some warning signs!
Knowing how to properly identify such possible issues will help keep your household cool and comfortable while saving money on utility bills that would be wasted with ineffective or even potentially dangerous services. One such issue that continually pops up with AC repair contractors is whether or not they use subcontractors to do their work for them: more often than not, this is a sign it might best to avoid that company altogether.
Why? The short answer is that older, experienced contractors often have fewer employees, sometimes only one or two. Their knowledge and skills allow them to get the job done right the first time around – they don’t need to farm out work to other companies or hire crews, which can result in quality issues and increase potential safety risks. After all, you wouldn’t want someone who doesn’t know what he’s doing going into your home, touching your AC components while telling you everything’s just fine… would you?
One other thing that particularly sticks out as a red flag is when an air conditioning maintenance contractor wants access to your attic area or other parts of your home that are difficult to reach or not regularly accessed by homeowners. The fact is, while there are times when climbing onto the roof might be necessary to perform certain types of repairs, it should not be an everyday occurrence – especially if you have concerns about someone else’s work being done in areas where you yourself cannot watch every move they make.
Another sign of trouble is excessive fees for routine maintenance contracts, particularly those which seem too good to be true. Generally speaking, a reputable contractor will tell you upfront what he charges for each type of service call and won’t try to get more money out of you once inside your home. And needless to say – no one who knows what they’re doing should ever need to do a surprise inspection to see if “there’s anything else wrong” with your AC system – it either works as intended, or it doesn’t.
So what should you look out for? There are many other red flags along this line that can indicate potential problems, including:
Using low-quality replacement parts to save money – not using any parts at all (and trying to get away without repairs) – not completing the requested work in full, and demanding more money to finish up – refusing to provide a written contract or agreement before starting work on your home. This one is particularly true when someone comes by unannounced and offers his services. If your first introduction is face-to-face and he says he can do the repairs right then and there, you’re probably looking at a scam artist. – when someone wants to be paid with cash only – when someone talks in circles or tries to confuse you about what’s wrong with your system or how it can be fixed. Anyone who claims he knows what the problem is but does not provide specific information is likely hiding something like an inability to fix the issue.
These are all warning signs that should prompt caution when dealing with air conditioning maintenance contractors.
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