The spring season is a time for maintenance tasks, which is why HVAC technicians are in great demand during this season — something that scammers will take advantage of. In today’s post, OK Heating and Air Conditioning shares a quick guide on how to protect yourself from HVAC scams this season.
How HVAC Scams Work
The key to protecting yourself from scams is by knowing how they work. Scammers typically use a bait-and-switch tactic: they will find a way to get in touch with homeowners and offer basic services like free HVAC inspections or tune-ups or “free” upgrades. Once an unsuspecting homeowner takes the bait, the scammers pull a switch and suddenly find “problems” with the HVAC system — things like mold in the ductwork, a component about to go bad, or even the imminent failure of the entire system.
Scammers will try different approaches to mix things up and avoid detection, but all scams have the following things in common:
- Unsolicited calls. If you didn’t initiate the service call, you don’t need it. Homeowners are expected to keep up with annual maintenance and call their HVAC contractors in case they have problems with their heating and air conditioning units.
- Full payment upfront. Legitimate contractors in any business will never ask for the full payment upfront. Instead, you should expect to pay a small downpayment and one or two installments, the last of which is paid after the work on your HVAC system is completed.
- Pressure tactics. Often, scammers will offer things like discounts that are only available today, or when you give them the contact information of some of your neighbors. Legitimate HVAC contractors will give you ample time to review your contract and make amends and corrections as needed. Granted, HVAC contractors will offer promos every once in a while, but they won’t pressure you to sign up.
How to Avoid HVAC Scams
Keeping the above in mind, the best way to avoid getting involved in HVAC scams is to only work with local HVAC companies — chances are, your existing HVAC system is installed by one. If you are looking into hiring a new one, take the time to verify their credentials, compare services and look up customer feedback.
If you haven’t done so already, register your number with the National Do Not Call Registry, an organization created by the Federal Trade Commission to stop unwanted sales calls. If you continue to receive unwanted calls after, odds are they’re from scammers and you can safely hang up or block them. Lastly, always think twice before you sign up with a contractor.
Call OK Heating and Air for Your HVAC Needs
You can trust OK Heating and Air Conditioning to take care of your forced air heating and air conditioning systems. Give us a call at (925) 371-2665, or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment.