Have you ever had a contractor look great upfront, with a great price and a great proposal, only to have the end of the project leave you unsatisfied? The unit doesn’t heat or cool right, or there’s noise or moisture creating problems? And then you call the contractor and still aren’t able to get a resolution, or maybe even a call back?
“Ghosting” is what the kids are calling it these days. When the person you THOUGHT you had a relationship going with, just up and stops returning your calls. Bam. Gone. Out of your life without a word or explanation. The same thing happens with certain unsavory contractors. They installed your equipment, collected their check and never were seen or heard from again.
“Ghosting” is what the kids are calling it these days. When the person you THOUGHT you had a relationship going with, just up and stops returning your calls.
The difference is, in the dating world, your broken heart will heal in time. In the HVAC world, your poorly installed HVAC system will not heal itself! It will cost you money in inefficient operation, unhappy occupants, unit damage and a shortened unit lifespan.
So, what do you do?
Far too many businesses end up in the same position, unhappy with the HVAC system that they spent so much to have installed and no satisfying way to get resolution. Whether you choose the route of legal action to recover your loss, or not, you need to address the problem, your badly installed HVAC unit.
Once a unit install has gone wrong, it becomes more important than ever to get a qualified contractor on your side to help make things right. It’s harder to fix a bad install than it is to do one correctly in the first place, so choose wisely. We call this “rescue” contracting – rescuing a bad install from doomed to functional in the most effective, efficient way possible.
What should you look for in a Rescue Contractor?
- Look for a Service-Focused Contractor – A contractor focused on SERVICE rather than just installs, will be more likely to value your relationship and do everything possible to make sure you get the best outcome for the best price. Ask what percentage of the contractor’s business is service vs. installs. If it’s heavily weighted towards installs, get references to avoid the “one-and-done” installer.
- Licenses and Insurance – This should always be part of your contractor search. It’s a sign that your contr
actor cares about following the rules and doing things right.
- Referrals – A great contractor will have a list of current customers who would be more than happy to rave about them. They may even have their own HVAC Horror Story to share to make you feel not-so-alone. Rescuing starts a lot of new relationships.
- Warranty or Guarantee – A quality contractor should have an iron-clad warranty on their work. If they don’t, run! This warranty very rarely will apply to a rescue repair, simply because it’s not THEIR work that needs repair but ask for their warranty policy and you’ll get an idea for how your original contractor SHOULD have treated you. It’s a great measuring stick.
Things can sometimes go wrong, through no fault of your contractor. One time, we received a brand-new rooftop unit from a major manufacturer that had a massive (yet invisible) manufacturing flaw, direct from the factory. It happens. Not often, thankfully, but it does. It took more than 88 technician hours to diagnose the problem, remove and reinstall a brand-new replacement rooftop unit. Do you know how much our customer was charged for all of this extra work? Zero dollars. Zip. Zilch. Nada. Because our warranty states that our installations are completely covered for one year. We correct any defects of installation, including defects that aren’t ours for one whole year. How’s THAT for peace of mind?
If you’re looking for a rescue repair (we do a LOT of them), new install, or regular service and maintenance, we can help!
Call us TODAY! We’re available 24/7/365 at 508-763-3738