When you’re in need of quality HVAC services for your home’s cooling or heating system, it’s all too easy to be taken in by unscrupulous contractors. Even here in the McKinney, Frisco and Allen areas, it happens. To help protect homeowners and consumers in our community, we’ve compiled an outline of the most common red flags to watch out for when hiring an HVAC contractor:
Low-Ball Pricing
Since the average HVAC contractor has overhead expenses of $50 per hour or more, be suspicious of service prices that are too low. It’s likely that no one actually ever pays the low price quoted or advertised, or you may be getting a bid from an unlicensed/uninsured HVAC company. The low price generally evaporates once the technician visits your home, and contractors without proper licensure often do substandard work. It could cost you money and major inconvenience to get work re-done properly.
Cooling Load “Rule of Thumb”
If your HVAC contractor says you need a certain capacity A/C system based on your home’s total square footage, hire someone else. (A popular myth: one ton of A/C capacity is needed per 400 sq. ft.) This tells you the contractor won’t take time or doesn’t have the skill to compute the actual cooling load for your home. Using rules of thumb can leave you with a wrong-sized cooling equipment, an uncomfortable home and high energy bills.
Reputable companies perform Manual J load calculations as required by the ACCA (Air Conditioning Contractors of America) to ensure proper system sizing. A proper load calculation takes into account several factors, including:
- Home layout and room sizes
- Construction materials
- Airtightness of ducts and insulation
- Number and type of windows
Phone Quotes for System Replacements
Choosing the right home comfort system requires looking at and researching several variables; it’s not a simple on-the-spot recommendation. For this reason, don’t accept quotes for system upgrades that are doled out over the phone before a technician has visited your home. Besides taking measurements and gathering detailed information, an HVAC contractor must also inspect the duct system to ensure it’s adequately sized and sealed for a new A/C system.
When you need an expert HVAC contractor, contact Bill Joplin’s Air Conditioning & Heating. We’ve been servicing the home comfort needs of the McKinney area for over 35 years.
