Stay Safe from Predatory Practices

We often see an uptick in bad business practices, scams, and schemes from some HVAC companies during the peak summer and winter months, with aggressive tactics aimed at getting customers to shell out more money than they need to for repairs, replacements, or unnecessary services.

We don’t love it. It’s a poor reflection on the industry, so we refuse to take part in it. Our customers deserve far better than that.

Here are a few of the tricks and “promos” you may see out there and how you can keep your home’s comfort system running smoothly and efficiently, without shelling out too much money or flat out being scammed.

The Ever-Present “$19 Tune-Up”

If a company advertises a very cheap HVAC tune-up or inspection, they’re probably planning to make money another way. If the price won’t cover an employee’s time and expenses, they’ll add extra charges or sell repairs. That $19 “tune-up” can easily end up costing $100–300 or more. Technicians often earn big commissions on those upsells, so they’re motivated to recommend extra work.

Choose a company that charges a fair price and pays technicians a fair wage—not one that relies on high commissions. Our $69 tune-up and inspection is just that: $69 to tune your system and get a qualified technician’s inspection. If we find any issues, we’ll tell you, give an honest quote, and never pressure you. We don’t pay commissions, so our techs won’t push unnecessary work.

PRO TIP: An AC tune-up is recommend on systems that are functioning. A tune-up shouldn't be used in lieu of repairs or on a non-functioning system. If you suspect your system isn’t running at its peak performance, start with an inspection, not a tune-up.

Tacky Tactics

If your home’s comfort system is in need of repair, getting a fair and honest quote is an important first step. Some companies will use a broken system as an opportunity to pressure you in to costly repairs. By using terms you may not be familiar with and painting a “doom and gloom” picture, they prey on the fact that your system isn’t working (and your home is likely heating up or not cooling down) to pressure you in to a costly repair.

If a company ever makes you feel pressured to pull the trigger on costly repairs or to “just take their word for it,” those are red flags that shouldn't be ignored.

When you call CTR Heating & Air Conditioning for repairs, a qualified technician will inspect your system, diagnose any issues, and give you a fair and honest quote which we’ll stand by 100%. We do a camera inspection of the system and show you a live feed so you see exactly what we see.

Discouraging Second Opinions

Another reason some companies will use high pressure tactics is they don’t want you to have the time to get a second opinion.

In these situations, trust your instincts. If it feels like you’re being overcharged, if you aren’t provided an itemized quote, or if you don’t receive a clear explanation of what the problems are and how they’ll be fixed, seek a second opinion.

We provide a lot of second opinions…and second opinions from CTR Heating & Air Conditioning are always free. And we make it easy for you. Simply give us a call anytime at 801-999-4220 or book an appointment for your second opinion online using our convenient online scheduling.

We look forward to working with you to keep your home cool this summer, warm this winter, and comfy all year long.