Get a second opinion

[Toy4x4]

My A/C went out late Saturday and the company I use came out on Sunday. They have great ratings online and I've used them for minor repairs like fuses and capacitors and have been happy with the results. His final diagnosis was that the compressor went out and it would cost thousands to repair (unit is a 12 year old American Standard) and suggested getting a new unit. Monday I made an appointment with a friend's A/C tech to come on Wednesday and was quoted a price of $6600 for full unit installation only (AmSt 14 SEER 3.5 ton). First tech came back with a coworker on Tuesday to analyze the house to see what would be best and kept pushing their own house brand (rebadged Goodman) while I kept stating AmSt. I also stated I wanted a full breakdown, price wise, as well. Their proposal of several different options ranged from $10 to $12K which included: the unit, elbow, stand, attic insulation to R30, new intake/outflow runs, condensation pipe, minor electrical, extra intake to deal with hot spot, duct cleaning and sealing...NONE of which was broken down price wise. I was in shock at the price considering the other quote and the difference.
When I stated I would call them back as I was getting a second opinion, I got a dose of "car salesman". As if this was the first time they'd heard of second opinions and were a bit offended. At this time I still felt they were right about the compressor, but was not about to sign off on THOSE prices and would sweat it out a few more days. I also made a third appointment for Friday with another company.

My friend's tech comes out on Wednesday and fixes the unit for $245.

He did it while I was at work, left the bad parts, and explained the issue over the phone. The issue is PLAINLY visible (scorch mark and melted/broken plastic). He added a 1/2 pound of refrigerant and let it run an hour. He couldn't find any other issues and said everything is working fine.

Needless to say I made a phone call to company #1 and told them the tech didn't need to call me back, that the unit was working now, that a different company saved me $10k+, and that I would no longer be using them. I regret not asking for a manager, though. Kicking myself now.

So, get a second opinion when a high dollar issue comes up even though you think they're on the level. You never know.

 

[SuperDave456]

+1

I recently had the motherboard on my unit go out.
It was a 9 year old unit.

From diagnosis to repair it was $600.

The repairman is an old family friend. He's the 2nd generation of A/C repair in his family. His father started doing it full time once he realized he could work for himself instead of working crazy hours as an engineer during the 80's.

I know he will fix the issue. And that everyone else will milk me for every cent because their overhead is so high.

Advertising costs money, trucks and warehouses cost money, education costs money.
These are all things big companies have, or wish they had.

Find a trusted repairman and stick with him.

 

[Dominic]

I completely agree with this. I had an hvac company come out for routine maintenance of my unit and they wanted to upsell me a UV light in the fanbox upstairs along with a whole new indoor coil because mine was supposedly leaking.

I called out a second contractor who confirmed there were no leaks, pressures were good, but that I did have a bad capacitor upstairs on the fan motor.

HVAC units aren't difficult to understand or work on, but I wonder how many folks get taken to the cleaners over some of their sales tactics and fraud?

 

[demarpaint]

Similar situations happen everyday to people and their cars and houses. The old saying Familiarity Breeds Contempt is very true. I think that's what happened to you.

About two years ago I went to a local transmission shop, trusted in the neighborhood. I used them once or twice when I was too lazy to do it myself. I told them I wanted an accumulator kit installed in my Century, and explained why. The manager said he had to check the unit himself, I knew where this was headed. Long story short he told me I needed a transmission. I told him leave the car alone I'd be in to pick it up. When I got there I got the hard sell, I laughed. Thank God he didn't F' it up on spite while I wasn't there.

Trav suggested putting in the accumulator kit prior, then made a trip down and did it. Fast forward to today, the car is still running perfectly. I make it a point to tell any friends and neighbors who are thinking of using this shop to do business with another shop.

 

[L_Sludger]

My HVAC went out recently. I called Thompson (Now called "HELP") and they sent a kid out who quoted me $1400 to fix it. He said the hot surface igniter was bad ($465 to fix), condenser coils were filthy ($220 to fix), thermostat wasn't the right kind ($650 to fix), and some other misc. stuff.

I said thanks and never called back.

He never checked the condenser coils, the thermostat WAS the appropriate one, and the hot surface ignitor lit up bright red when I put 120v to it.

Later had a family acquaintance A/C tech drive down 60 miles to give an evaluation. He replaced a fuse, reprogrammed the thermostat, and even fixed a few unrelated things in a couple hours. All was good to go that night. He asked for a hundred bucks. I gave him $120.

I might have fixed it myself if I had the patience, but I didn't. Now I know how people feel when a garage charges $800 to do a brake job that doesn't need to be done, and they don't even do it anyway!

 

[Kuato]

Wow. Integrity sure has taken a hit the last few years, since so many servicemen have incentives based on selling.

Time to call back and speak to a manager.

 

[bullwinkle]

Originally Posted By: L_Sludger
My HVAC went out recently. I called Thompson (Now called "HELP") and they sent a kid out who quoted me $1400 to fix it. He said the hot surface igniter was bad ($465 to fix), condenser coils were filthy ($220 to fix), thermostat wasn't the right kind ($650 to fix), and some other misc. stuff.

I said thanks and never called back.

He never checked the condenser coils, the thermostat WAS the appropriate one, and the hot surface ignitor lit up bright red when I put 120v to it.

Later had a family acquaintance A/C tech drive down 60 miles to give an evaluation. He replaced a fuse, reprogrammed the thermostat, and even fixed a few unrelated things in a couple hours. All was good to go that night. He asked for a hundred bucks. I gave him $120.

I might have fixed it myself if I had the patience, but I didn't. Now I know how people feel when a garage charges $800 to do a brake job that doesn't need to be done, and they don't even do it anyway!
That's the danger of having techs act as salesmen-and I wouldn't let Thompson/HELP anywhere near anything of mine, or my family's-vast majority of their techs are IDIOTS!

 

[Fleetmon]

Just recentyl my moms ac went out and they quoted her $6500 to repair.....once I repaired the thermostat wires at the condensor unit from an errant weedeater, she was back in business.

There are a lot of hard-working HVAC professionals out there but there are also a lot of crooks/low-lifes. When dealing with them you have to be able to sort out the fly-poop from the pepper.

 

[artificialist]

This happened to my mother a few months ago. Someone said she needed a $6000 air handler. She called for a second opinion, and the guy showed that she only needed a capacitor.

 

[Toy4x4]

Update: The tech called yesterday asking if I had any questions or any other people out for bids. I let the machine take it. I guess the lady who answered the phone on Thursday didn't pass the message along. I called today to see if there was a manager, but no one was there with that title...weekend I guess.