Follow Furnace Repair Recommendations To Get Good Service

When the weather turns cold isn\’t the time to get a furnace cleaned and serviced. Unfortunately, sometimes homeowners forget this essential maintenance until Old Man Winter blows into town. Whatever the time, a homeowner can get good service by following furnace repair recommendations from consumer groups.

Consumer protection organizations such as the Better Business Bureau offer several tips for choosing a reputable and qualified furnace repair service.

Refuse phone solicitations that offer \”free\” or \”low cost\” furnace repair or maintenance. These scam artists often try to bilk homeowners by telling them their heating system has serious problems when it doesn\’t. In addition, sometimes these \”free\” services are fronts for burglary rings that later come back and strip the home of valuables. Don\’t fall for this scam.

Also beware of anyone who\’s going door to door, offering to clean furnace ducts using a \”shop-vac\” type of machine. No ordinary vacuum cleaner has sufficient power to remove all the dust and dirt from heating ducts. Often a steam-cleaning process or a high-volume vacuum machine is required for proper maintenance.

Also beware of signing a contract with a firm whose \”inspector\” insists that the furnace presents a danger to your home\’s inhabitants. Before hiring someone who makes this kind of claim, demand a written report on the hazard that you can take to the local utility service for review. If the company refuses to give you written statement, throw them out of your house and report them immediately to local authorities. In doing so you may save one of your neighbors from getting scammed.

When told that your furnace needs major repairs, get a minimum of three independent written inspection reports from qualified, licensed companies. Check each report to make sure it includes complete descriptions of the parts or materials needed, the services involved, warranty, the unit\’s energy efficiency ranking, and the total price. If the estimate doesn\’t have this information, ask for it.

Homeowners also can reduce the likelihood of needing emergency repairs by keeping up furnace maintenance themselves. Change the filters each month, and regularly vacuum the dust and dirt from air returns.

If it turns out that the furnace really does need repair or replacement, check the original warranty to determine whether repairs are covered. Some warranties require that the furnace receive annual maintenance in order to keep the warranty valid. If you must buy a new furnace, don\’t choose a unit that\’s too big for your household needs. You\’ll only waste money.

Furthermore, get the home furnace serviced annually, whether it\’s gas, oil or electric.

If you don\’t have an annual service contract with a reputable home maintenance and repair company, ask for recommendations from neighbors, family members or co-workers. Then check out their recommendations with local authorities such as the Better Business Bureau or even the public records of small claims court. One woman who served as a bailiff in local courts once hired a heating repair service because, as she told them later, \”you\’re the only company who\’s never been through our court.\”

Ask specific questions when choosing a repair firm. Know the make, model and year of the furnace so that you can ask something like \”How much would you charge to repair a 2006 Trane heat pump, including any service charges, parts, labor and other fees?\” Reputable companies should be able to give you an answer quickly. Be wary of those that can\’t or won\’t.

Follow these furnace repair recommendations and you\’ll be not only warm, but happy with your heating service.

Air conditioner Toronto provider that sells, installs and services heating and air conditioning Toronto products.