Air Conditioning Contractor Tips to Avoid

You Don’t Want an HVAC Contractor Who Engages in These Practices

Anyone may call themselves an HVAC contractor. However, separating the sheep from the goats and the professional contractor from the wanna-be requires careful consideration. Competition in the residential HVAC business is keen and often inspires those lacking real credentials to offer unrealistic deals and pie-in-the-sky promises. Frequently, the “bargain” transaction includes sub-standard equipment and slipshod installation. Of course, the homeowner pays the price—not only to the pseudo-contractor, but also in the form of years of unnecessarily high utility bills, diminished home comfort and perhaps a costly early replacement of the system.

It doesn’t have to be that way. Here are three giveaways to be on the lookout for before you hire an HVAC contractor:

• Unbelievably low prices – If it sounds too good to be true…well, you know the rest. An established professional contractor who’s in business to maintain a clientele of satisfied customers has certain fixed expenses like any business. An impostor hasn’t made that investment, nor does he or she have to worry about maintaining a good local reputation. Quotes of sub-minimum prices are a red flag, which can be part of the take-the-money-and-run scam before the consequences of inexperience and poor workmanship become evident.
• Sizing by guesstimate – Any “contractor” who claims to determine the appropriate BTU requirements of your home simply by estimating its square footage is telling you something important about his or her expertise and/or honesty. The critical match between heating or cooling unit’s output and the unique thermal characteristics of the home can only be determined by performing an onsite room-by-room load calculation using industry standard software.
• New unit, same old specs – Some unskilled contractors attempt to cut corners and avoid a proper load calculation, ductwork inspection and energy evaluation by simply recommending a replacement unit with the same BTU specifications as your existing unit. Home efficiency status and comfort requirements change over the years. The HVAC system that was a good match 15 years ago may be all wrong for today’s conditions.

If you’re interested in a professional HVAC contractor with the credentials and established reputation in the Brandon area, contact Gulf Coast Air Systems.