This is a great investigation video done by NBC, about some common (unfortunately) practices that leave homeowners paying for repairs that they don’t need. As mentioned in the Energy Vanguard blog, many HVAC companies are structured around “flat-rate” pricing. While this may sound initially appealing over the phone, it can often lead to sales people selling you pieces and parts that you don’t really need, because that’s how their employers judge their performance.
The Air Conditioner Contractors of America (ACCA) were involved in staging this video. They promote their members on their website, here. You can also find NATE certified technicians on the NATE site, here.
2 thoughts on “Are air-conditioning repairers being competent and honest?”
The AC repair contractors in this video were not selected at random. NBC went looking for shady contractors that had complaints in the New Jersey area. Flat Rate pricing is used in many industries (auto, medical are a couple) and what matters is the contractor, their record of customer satisfaction, great guarantees they provide….not a pricing system.
Agreed. Quality of service and professional integrity are much more important than what pricing system a contractor uses.