Get Good Service By Following Furnace Repair Recommendations
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 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.
Refuse to hire anyone who rings your doorbell offering to clean the air ducts with a “shop-vac.” It takes a high-volume or steam-clean vacuum system to clean heating ducts properly
Also beware of signing a contract with a firm whose “inspector” insists that the furnace presents a danger to your home’s inhabitants. Before hiring someone who makes this kind of claim, demand a written report on the hazard that you can take to the local utility service for review. If the company refuses to give you written statement, throw them out of your house and report them immediately to local authorities. In doing so you may save one of your neighbors from getting scammed.
When told that your furnace needs major repairs, get a minimum of three independent written inspection reports from qualified, licensed companies. Check each report to make sure it includes complete descriptions of the parts or materials needed, the services involved, warranty, the unit’s energy efficiency ranking, and the total price. If the estimate doesn’t have this information, ask for it.
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.
To keep the furnace in good working order, as well as keeping the warranty in force, get the unit cleaned and tested on a yearly basis. Gas heating systems should be cleaned at least every other year, while units that run on fuel oil must be cleaned annually.
Save money by contracting with a reliable home services company for annual maintenance on your home heating unit. Get suggestions from co-workers, neighbors and relatives on firms that have worked well for them. Research likely candidates through local consumer advocate groups and professional organizations to verify their qualifications and performance.
When interviewing candidates for heating service, always ask detailed questions. A good method is to write down the type of furnace you have and then ask for an estimate on service for that model, including all related charges. A reliable company should give you a response promptly and without hesitation. If the company representative takes a long time to answer your question, it could be an indication of poor performance, questionable practices or both.
Follow these recommendations and you’ll be not only warm, but happy with your heating service.
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