(Newswire.net — December 17, 2014) Toronto, Ontario — Before the onset of winter many homeowners contact HVAC companies to take a look at their furnace to determine whether they are ready for the heating season ahead. If a household does not have a regular company that has been carrying out the task, they will have to look for one to undertake it. Looking for a good company is not always easy because one has to be mindful of a furnace maintenance scam.
Many property owners have complained of being lied to by furnace repair companies on the extent of repairs to be carried out on their systems.
“The most common ploys that have been reported is to inform the homeowner that their furnace has a crack that is leaking carbon monoxide which may eventually cause health problems and in the worst case scenario it could cause death.” says Elliot Brighton, a contractor that has extensive experience in HVAC systems and home improvement.
It is only natural for anyone to be concerned about such a serious problem. Most would be willing to part with thousands of dollars to replace the furnace to avoid the forewarned. These unscrupulous companies are known to target seniors especially if they are living on their own.
Brighton adds, “There are a few things to keep in mind to ensure that they are not scammed. When looking for a quote for a repair job, it is a good idea to get at least two different quotes. If one of the companies is trying a scam, the homeowner can then ask them to explain the high cost of a job and find out whether there are any unnecessary costs being charged.”
While going through the quotes one also needs to query the items included to find out how they relate to the task at hand. Many homeowners have fallen victim of poor technical skills. One can avoid this scenario by asking for the certification of the technicians sent to work on their furnace. Technicians with a NATE (North America Technician Excellence) certification are qualified for the job. If a technician claims they can do the job without the certification, it may put the heater at risk. When a person contracts a technician with this certification, they can count on a professional job.
In addition, the contractor must have high BBB (Better Business Bureau) standards of quality rating to prove that they are up to the task. Having a good rating is proof that the company maintains certain standards. Contractors that end up making unjustified money out homeowners are usually vague about how long the project will take. A sharp homeowner should get all the details of the project from the onset. If they claim they cannot predict how long the task will take, they probably are not the right company for the job. Any honest contractor will offer all the details and leave no room for unexplained costs.
“A final strategy of due-diligence is to go online to search for customer reviews on their contractor of choice. If the contractor has too many negative reviews, one should avoid working with them.”
Brighton adds that he hires www.lairdandson.com for his residential furnace requirements in the GTA.
About Laird & Son Heating and Air Conditioning
Laird & Son is a family owned and operated and extend our tradition of family to family service.