Our home heating and air conditioning units play an integral part in giving us a comfortable everyday life. This is the reason why the maintenance and repair of these systems is a necessity. But like any unfamiliar area of home repair, there are also numerous scams surrounding aircon maintenance and repair services. The good news is there are some steps that you can take to avoid falling into these scams, as well as to ensure that you’re dealing with a reputable A/C service provider.
1. Perform a Background Check on the Company
The best way to avoid falling prey into scams is to do a background check on your potential service provider beforehand. Check the company’s license, insurance, certifications and affiliations. If the contractor isn’t affiliated with any reputable organizations in Singapore, then there’s a huge possibility that they’re not a reliable company and their technicians haven’t undergone any training or testing.
Sure, some aircon servicing companies might just be getting started in the industry, but that doesn’t excuse them from getting certified and licensed. Just like how you’d want someone with a medical degree to take care of your health, you’d also want to hire a professional to work on your HVAC system needs.
2. Educate Yourself
Educating yourself is one of the most effective ways to avoid getting scammed. If you’re installing a new air conditioning unit, take note of all the questions and calculations that your Singapore www.airconmaster.sg technician mentions. Understand that the size of your new A/C system depends on the size of your home, the number of people residing, as well as the number of windows in the place. If you need aircon repair or maintenance, however, then familiarize yourself with the common problems and parts of your HVAC system.
3. Beware of Offers That are Too Good to be True
Although a limited time low price offer seems like a great deal for someone looking for an affordable repair service, know that it’s just another scam in the A/C services industry. Contractors who use this promos won’t tell you that it’ll actually cost you more, especially when you call them back to have your air conditioning unit fixed again. So beware of such offers, as this is a repair service scam that you’d definitely want to avoid.
4. Request a Written Quote
Asking for a written quote for your repair job is always a good idea; it informs you of all the details of the work and holds the technician accountable for the entire job. Having a written estimate also allows you to perform further research about the problems of your unit and total cost of the aircon repair job. Other than that, you can also call a different HVAC company to compare service prices.
5. Inquire About Any Unclear Details in Your Quote
Confused about something? Are there any details in your quote that you don’t quite understand? If so, don’t hesitate to ask your aircon servicing contractor about it. He should be happy and willing to answer all your queries and educate you about your air conditioning unit. Your contractor might be the one who’ll repair your unit, but it also pays to understand all the details in your quote since you’ll be paying for it.
6. Get a Second Opinion
An air conditioner repair service isn’t as expensive as you thought it would be. If you happen to receive a large estimate from a certain contractor, call another service provider and get a second opinion about your problem. This is quite crucial, especially if one company suggested to replace your entire A/C system. You’ll be surprised to find out that the repair job that you need doesn’t cost as much as you originally thought.
7. Avoid Contractors Who Require Full Payment at Once
When doing an air conditioning repair, most service providers in Singapore typically ask their clients for a down payment before they start working on the repair job. But if your prospective contractor asks you to pay in full even before the repair job begins, then consider it as a red flag for an A/C repair scam. These contractors have a reputation of charging their clients with an absurd fee and doing poor quality work in return.
8. Ensure Your Contractor Specializes in Your A/C Unit
A good way to avoid falling into any aircon servicing scams is to make sure that your prospective service provider is experienced and certified to work on your specific A/C system. Check the contractor’s website to see the air conditioning that they’re qualified to fix. If you want, you can also call the manufacturer of your A/C unit to ask if they know a technician who specializes in repairing your particular aircon model.
9. Ask for the Part That was Replaced
If your technician informs you that they removed an old or broken part from your air conditioning unit, have them show you that particular part. If you’re sceptical with the repair job that they’ve done, bring the part to another professional and ask for a second opinion.
10. Schedule Regular A/C Maintenance
Regularly maintaining your A/C unit is another way of avoiding repair job scams, as it allows you to get a better idea of your system’s current condition. Being that lack of maintenance is a common cause of system failure, having your air conditioning unit regularly checked also reduces the chances of needing emergency repairs in the future – thus, reducing the likelihood of getting scammed by an A/C repair contractor.
Having a broken heating or air conditioning unit is never a pleasant experience, and getting scammed by a technician makes it even worse. So remember to put these tips to work as you start your search for an A/C service provider in Singapore, so you get to find someone who’s reputable and experienced to fix your air conditioning unit.