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.
Refuse phone solicitations that offer “free” or “low cost” furnace repair or maintenance. These scam artists often try to bilk homeowners by telling them their heating system has serious problems when it doesn’t. In addition, sometimes these “free” services are fronts for burglary rings that later come back and strip the home of valuables. Don’t fall for this scam.
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.
Don’t be fooled into hiring a company because its “inspector” says the home heating system poses a serious health hazard. If someone gives you this kind of report, ask for a written copy of the report and the consult with the local utility service.
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.
Be sure to check the original warranty if faced with major repairs or replacement. In many cases a warranty will be invalid if the furnace hasn’t been properly maintained. Should a new furnace be necessary, get a unit that’s big enough for the household’s needs, but no bigger. It wastes both energy and money to install a unit larger than necessary.
Furthermore, get the home furnace serviced annually, whether it’s gas, oil or electric.
If you don’t have an annual service contract with a reputable home maintenance and repair company, ask for recommendations from neighbors, family members or co-workers. Then check out their recommendations with local authorities such as the Better Business Bureau or even the public records of small claims court. One woman who served as a bailiff in local courts once hired a heating repair service because, as she told them later, “you’re the only company who’s never been through our court.”
Ask specific questions when choosing a repair firm. Know the make, model and year of the furnace so that you can ask something like “How much would you charge to repair a 2006 Trane heat pump, including any service charges, parts, labor and other fees?” Reputable companies should be able to give you an answer quickly. Be wary of those that can’t or won’t.
Heeding these furnace repair recommendations will keep you warm and happy when it’s cold outside.
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