Don’t Fall For These HVAC Scams!

Your A/C just went out and the rest of the day is going to be a scorcher. Who do you call? For most people, they open the internet on their phone and type in “air conditioning repair near me” to find an HVAC company in Fort Collins to help them. Although this is a convenient way of finding a company to help you, it’s also best to know how to protect yourself from some common scams. It can be stressful to need a repair now but do due diligence in finding the right company for the job.

In this post, we want to share the most common scams to look out for when hiring an air conditioning company in Fort Collins. At Ace Hi, we’ve been serving northern Colorado for more than 25 years. We have a reputation to keep. We’re reliable and affordable. If you need emergency HVAC services, give us a call today! Want to learn more about common HVAC scams to look out for? Read on!

Five Common HVAC Scams

You’re not alone if you’ve trusted an expert when they’ve said things like, “It’ll cost you, but we can fix it.” No other details are shared, and when questioned, the professional avoids answering questions directly. At Ace Hi, we understand if you’ve been in a situation where you needed air conditioning maintenance or repair to keep your family from melting inside your home. It’s also unfortunate in general that people are still running scams when it involves the comfort and livelihood of people. Nonetheless, here are five common HVAC scams to look out for:

Scam #1 – “Would you just look at it. This is bad. You need a new one.”

Yes, your air conditioning expert should tell you what’s wrong with your unit, but they shouldn’t stop at the phrase above. Ask questions, get more information, and request to see the problem. It’s tough to be patient, but it’s also devastating to be scammed and have a broken A/C unit at the end of the “repair.” Listen for these types of phrases and dig deeper with the professional.

Scam #2 – Your A/C Unit Is Too Large

It’s inevitable that your air conditioner will need to replace parts from time-to-time. It’s the nature of HVAC; however, as you saw in scam one, you need to dig deeper as to why a given part needs to be replaced. Furthermore, you may get this comment from the individual inspecting your unit: “Your unit it too large.” This is common to hear from those trying to sell you a more expensive product and not what you actually need.

When it comes to air conditioning units, their size does matter. You can ask the technician for the formula and numbers they used to determine the load and size of the unit. Once you have these numbers, you can get a second opinion. For the most part, HVAC technicians do their best to find the perfect air conditioning unit to fit your needs and not sell you one that’s overpriced and overpowered.

Scam #3 – “It’ll Clear Up In A Few Days”

If you hear this phrase, you need to be concerned. The only real repair that requires hours to remedy is if your A/C unit has frozen. It will need to thaw, which can take a few hours before it returns to normal. Otherwise, your unit should be fixed and running properly before the technician leaves your residence. A great way to avoid this scam is to do your homework ahead of time and call the best HVAC company in Fort Collins first!

Scam #4 – Cold Call Inspections

If you get a call from someone claiming that they’re offering free inspections on behalf of a company, you need to make sure they’re legitimate. In most cases, HVAC companies don’t rely on cold calling to grow their business. What’s more, your air conditioning experts rely more on referrals from current customers. You can ask the following questions:

Where is your business located?
What area do you serve?
What services do you offer?
When was your company founded?
Can I call you back?

Scam #5 – Frequent Tune-Ups

This may seem like an odd scam to fall prey to, but you need to know about it. For the most part, two maintenance inspections a year is plenty for a relatively new air conditioning unit. If you decide to schedule more inspections, that’s your prerogative. Take note that the more times a technician visits your residence, the more it will cost you. Otherwise, two tune-ups a year is the industry standard.

The Air Conditioning Maintenance Experts In Fort Collins

For more than 25 years, Ace Hi has been serving Fort Collins, Loveland, Longmont, and the surrounding areas with expert HVAC services. If you’re in need of an air conditioning unit inspection, repair, or routine maintenance, give us a call today! We’re invested in keeping our northern Colorado community cool and comfortable and dedicated to high-quality service.