Wintertime doesn’t make the best time to get your home heating system serviced. When it’s necessary, though, be prepared for top-dollar prices and possibly a longer wait than usual. No matter when your get your home system repair or maintained, following the furnace repair recommendations of consumer advocates will help assure good service.
Organizations that watch out for consumers’ best interests suggest several methods for selecting a reliable furnace repair service and avoiding scam artists.
First, never hire anyone who solicits your business blindly over the telephone, even if they offer “free” or “low cost” air conditioner. In most cases, these solicitors are simply trying to get someone into your home to take a quick look at your heater and then frighten you with a report that you have serious, possibly even hazardous, defects in your furnace. If the solicitor tries to pressure you over the telephone, just hang up. Yes, it’s rude, but you don’t owe a stranger any courtesy when they try to intrude on your life.
Also beware of anyone who’s going door to door, offering to clean furnace ducts using a “shop-vac” type of machine. No ordinary vacuum cleaner has sufficient power to remove all the dust and dirt from heating ducts. Often a steam-cleaning process or a high-volume vacuum machine is required for proper maintenance.
Another key piece of advice: Don’t panic if an inspector for a furnace repair company you’ve called says you have to replace your heater immediately, or else. Unless you’ve dealt with this firm before and trust them implicitly, this kind of doom-saying inspection is almost always the lead-in to a scam. Yes, they may replace your furnace and do a good job (for a lot of money), but the question still remains whether you needed the replacement to begin with. Whenever anybody gives you this kind of warning, request a written report and then go talk to your local utility company.
Get at least three estimates in writing from other heating service companies if a service technician tells you the furnace needs replacement or major repair. Be sure that each written report includes complete listings of what’s wrong with the furnace and what it will take to fix or replace it, especially the total price with all service charges, fees and labor. Also ask for the energy efficiency rating on a new unit, if required.
The best way to avoid getting scammed in home heating is to keep up with furnace maintenance. Homeowners can clean the air return vents themselves with a vacuum cleaner. Also, changing the filter regularly, at least once a month especially in winter, will help keep the furnace working well.
Should the furnace genuinely need major repair or even replacing, then check out the unit’s original warranty to see if anything is covered. In many cases, warranties will pay for parts or replacement only if the unit has been properly maintained.
To keep the furnace in good working order, as well as keeping the warranty in force, get the unit cleaned and tested on a yearly basis. Gas heating systems should be cleaned at least every other year, while units that run on fuel oil must be cleaned annually.
Another way to avoid heating scams is to sign an annual service contract with a reputable home repair and service company. More than likely you’ll get a discount on services with a yearly contract, as well as being assured of regular maintenance.
When interviewing candidates for heating service, always ask detailed questions. A good method is to write down the type of furnace you have and then ask for an estimate on service for that model, including all related charges. A reliable company should give you a response promptly and without hesitation. If the company representative takes a long time to answer your question, it could be an indication of poor performance, questionable practices or both.
Heeding these furnace repair recommendations will keep you warm and happy when it’s cold outside.
Air conditioner Toronto provider that sells, installs and services heating and air conditioning Toronto products.
