How to Protect Yourself Against HVAC Scams This Spring

Heating and cooling services are in demand during spring, as property owners prepare for the warmer months. Like in any other industry, unscrupulous individuals will try to take advantage of this surge. Don’t be a victim — read on as Reliable Air Conditioning & Heating discusses how you can protect yourself from HVAC scams this season.

How Do HVAC Scams Work?

The best way to protect yourself from HVAC scams is to know how they work. One of the most common types is by using a bait-and-switch tactic. A scammer will offer seemingly innocuous services like free checkups, then they’ll magically find “problems” like a component is about to go bad, there are toxic substances in the HVAC system, or that the HVAC system will fail soon.

There are other variations to these scams, but they have things in common that should be considered red flags:

• Telemarketing. Most of these scams begin with unsolicited calls, so exercise caution if you receive a call from a telemarketer offering HVAC services. Customers should be initiating contact with an HVAC technician if their air conditioner or heating furnace develops a problem.
• Offers that are too good to be true. Scammers will be making all sorts of offers just to get you to sign them up. Offers like “special” discounts since you “happen to be in the area” are among the most common.
• Pressure tactics. Scammers will apply pressure to get you to sign them up sooner, such as discounts that are “good for the next couple of hours”. Legitimate HVAC companies like us will sometimes have promos — and maybe even try to upsell — but will never apply pressure to potential clients.

How to Protect Yourself Against HVAC Scams

The following are some of the things that you can do to protect yourself from HVAC scams:

• Work with local HVAC contractors. Don’t wait until you have an HVAC emergency before looking up an HVAC technician. Take the time to look up HVAC companies in the area and compare their services, credentials and customer feedback.
• Register your number at the National Do Not Call Registry. The National Call Registry is created by the Federal Trade Commission to stop unwanted sales calls. If you are already registered and you’re still getting unwanted calls, you can simply hang up — odds are the calls are coming from scammers.

Reliable Air Conditioning & Heating is a trusted heating and air conditioning repair company serving communities in Los Angeles. Give us a call at (818) 487-0671 or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment.