DENVER — Your A/C will never crap out on you in the middle of winter when you don’t need it.
But it always seems to stop working the moment you desperately need it — a time when you could easily be taken advantage of. Steve On Your Side spoke to two consumer advocates Thursday for tips on how to make sure you still get a good deal even when you’re in a panic.
Stay cool and figure out what’s wrong
Probably easier said than done when it’s 100 degrees outside. But even as your home is heating up, Jamie Lettis with Consumers’ Checkbook said you first need to figure out what’s wrong with your system. Just because an air conditioner isn’t working, doesn’t mean it needs to be replaced entirely.
“Give yourself a little bit of time to shop around for repairs, because there are big differences,” Lettis said. “And also, there are some companies out there that will tell you, you need a new system, when really, it might just be a small repair.”
Consumers’ Checkbook researches the cost of everyday repair jobs around the country, with researchers calling several HVAC specialists in different metro areas to check prices.
Lettis said the cost of repairs varies so much, it's best to shop around once you know something is broken.
“In one area, we found prices from $120 to $530 for that same repair,” Lettis said. “And that was just, you know, calling lots of different companies and asking for an apples-to-apples comparison for the same repair.”
Meghan Compton with the Denver Chapter of the Better Business Bureau said the first step any consumer should take is to call the company that originally installed the system to see if they might be able to fix it for free.
“It could still be under warranty, or they may be able to come out and replace things like replace parts or just repair it — you may not have to replace the whole thing,” Compton said.
“If it can't be the same company that installed it, just make sure that you're looking for somebody who can come out and give you a fair kind of quote on what the issue may be.”
Get at least three quotes
Whether you’re repairing or replacing the system, be sure to get a number of quotes from licensed professionals.
“It is a good idea to have multiple companies look at the unit because it may be a different issue than what the last person told you and it may cost you a lot less with them,” Lettis said.
Most service companies charge for a service call, so it’s also a good idea to ask how much it costs for a technician to visit your home. Often the cost of the call will be rolled into the price if you choose that company to make the repair or replace the system.
Compton says this is where research becomes extremely important. Look up companies on the Better Business Bureau’s website and read Google Reviews. But go beyond star ratings or letter grades. Read the reviews and complaints and look at how the company responded.
“Understanding their online reputation is so important,” Compton said. “And if you can see what the experiences that other people have had with them are, then you're less likely to get overquoted or to have somebody do a bad installation job.”
If the pressure is too much, it probably isn’t the best deal
“High pressure sales tactics are always something that should be met with a lot of caution because sometimes companies may tell you, especially when they can see you're in a time of need and your house is really hot that you need to replace your unit right away — and it's going to cost this much,” Compton said. “That's where getting the multiple quotes becomes so important.”
Compton said a reputable company is going to care about doing the right thing rather than making a sale.
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