Over the last several years, consumers have been trying to save money wherever possible. Though the economy is finally starting to show signs of recovery since bottoming out in 2020, the challenge still exists to save on groceries, gasoline, clothing, entertainment, and especially home energy costs. The little things like caulking around doors and windows are always a good place to start, but real energy savings come into play when consumers choose the right HVAC contractor to find the optimal solution for their heating and cooling needs. If you live in the Greater Toronto Area, finding the most qualified and trusted HVAC contractor is as simple as picking up the telephone and calling the professionals at Tropic Air.
Every trade is beset by figures on the fringe who try and profit from people’s misplaced trust. Unfortunately, the HVAC industry in Ontario is not immune to this problem. The vast majority of HVAC companies employ honest methods and highly trained professional technicians who always do what’s right for their customers. But how can you tell that you’re hiring the right kind of company, and what is the potential cost of not choosing carefully?
Each year, thousands of Canadian homeowners and businesses fall victim to scams, costing the economy billions of dollars. While auto insurance scams top the list, HVAC-related fraud is also prevalent, especially when it comes to heating and air conditioning services.
If you’re not careful in your selection of an HVAC contractor you may fall victim to any of several possible scams, including:
You’re having a minor problem with your furnace and call a number from a business card someone dropped in your mailbox. They show up and spend some time in the basement talking to their girlfriend on the phone. They then emerge and declare there’s nothing wrong with your furnace and that will be $200 please, cash only.
You get a cold call from an HVAC contractor who tells you they’re offering a special price on furnace maintenance. You say okay. They show up and spend most of the time trying to get you to sign on for other services available at not-so-special prices. Oh, and that furnace maintenance they promised at the special price? Maybe they do it, and maybe they don’t.
You hear a funny sound in your ducts and call an HVAC company you know nothing about. After a half hour downstairs they emerge holding several strange-looking devices. They explain: “The ratatat of the corpuscle is looping the fig newton. They’ll all need to be replaced immediately or your furnace could explode.” You say okay. They smile.
If an HVAC company tells you that multiple components in your system need replacing for optimal efficiency, question their diagnosis. HVAC systems are durable, and usually only a few parts require attention over time. Request a written estimate for any proposed replacements and consider comparing prices from other trusted companies
The HVAC contractor emerges from your basement with a dire look on his face. Your furnace, he declares, has developed a carbon monoxide leak and needs to be replaced immediately. He appeals to your sense of duty to your family and your desire to do the right thing by them. Ask him to prove it. If he resists you can be pretty sure he’s up to no good.
Be cautious if a technician claims there’s a carbon monoxide leak in your home and insists that replacing your furnace or cooling system is the only solution. While carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, modern, affordable carbon monoxide detectors can easily verify the presence of leaks. Always invest in a CO detector and get a second opinion if needed.
Beware of HVAC companies suggesting that Freon needs to be added to your air conditioner every year during routine maintenance. Freon is expensive and typically doesn’t need to be “topped off” annually unless there’s a leak. Ensure the technician checks the levels before and after servicing and verifies that your system works efficiently once the maintenance is completed.
Scammers may advertise extremely low pricing or exaggerated discounts for HVAC services, but once they start, they may find “unexpected issues” that aren’t covered by the initial offer. The price then increases, leaving homeowners with unexpected costs. Always read the fine print and confirm what’s included in the service.
Watch out for scammers posing as legitimate HVAC businesses offering discounted furnace maintenance or tune-up contracts. They may take your money upfront without providing the services promised—or simply disappear. Always verify the credibility of any HVAC company offering such contracts.
Fraudulent HVAC contractors may present fake credentials or claim to be licensed, putting your system and safety at risk. Always check that the technician or company holds valid certifications and licensing from recognized authorities before hiring.
To avoid any of the above unhappy scenarios you’ll want to spend some time making sure you find an HVAC contractor that can be trusted. Here are a few simple ways to do this by Asking these questions and finding information about:
Some other things you may want to ask before hiring an HVAC contractor:
True HVAC professionals are as aware as anyone that the contractor landscape is littered with more than its share of phonies. For this reason, a real pro will never balk at the idea of providing you the proof you need to put your mind at ease about hiring them. They’ll be glad to. Here are the things all legitimate HVAC contractors should be able to produce on request.
Ask to see the HVAC contractor’s license. If they are legit they’ll have no problems showing it to you. While licensing requirements vary by province and city almost all contractors in Toronto, including HVAC contractors, need to be licensed. The technicians who work for the contractor must also go through a lengthy apprenticeship program.
If the HVAC contractor damages your home while working on it who is going to pay for repairs? If the contractor has liability insurance their insurance company will. If they don’t, you will. So you can see it’s important to know the contractor you hire is fully insured and that they can produce proof of coverage. If they can’t you should move on.
This is another form of coverage you must insist the HVAC contractor can prove upfront before you agree to work with them and for a very good reason. If one of the contractor’s workers gets hurt while on your property and they don’t have workman’s comp you could wind up paying their medical expenses and more.
While it’s not required that HVAC contractors be accredited by an outside organization it doesn’t hurt to know that they are. Accreditation simply means one of these outside organizations has put the contractor to the test and found them professionally competent. Most accredited contractors will be proud of this and gladly share it with you.
When looking for the right HVAC contractor you need to be especially vigilant, as if things go wrong, they can cause serious threats to safety, property, and your bank balance. At the same time, we need to be careful not to let costs spiral out of control. We need to find the right contractor for the job, at the right price – something that sounds easier than it is. Making a mistake at this stage could end up costing thousands of dollars, so we need a way to separate the good from the bad.
There are some giveaway signs that you should be suspicious of when dealing with a new HVAC contractor for the first time. They are all red flags. In some cases, there may be a good explanation for them and you may be able to work with a contractor despite one red flag. In other cases, just one red flag should be enough to steer you away. Two or more red flags mean that it’s time for you to start looking for a different contractor. Remember that your money, health, and property are at stake and there are, unfortunately, a small number of rogue contractors working in and around the Toronto area. Here’s what to look out for:
With only one person running every aspect of the business, it could be very difficult to get hold of them if you need Furnace or water heater repairs done, especially in winter. While that one person may be a consummate professional and an HVAC expert, none of that matters if they are taken ill, go on holiday, or are busy when they need an emergency repair on your AC unit.
This is a major red flag. At best, you will be dealing with a contractor with low cash flow and little experience. At worst, this could be a fly-by-night cowboy who will take your money and run. However, this red flag can be ignored if you are getting a new furnace installed or replacing your AC unit.
High-pressure sales tactics often take the form of limited deals, in which you are faced with the threat of missing out if you don’t quickly put pen to paper. Don’t fall for this. A reputable contractor understands that people need time to consider the decision carefully.
New contractors are aware that they need to have good reviews in order to attract more customers. Older contractors will have plenty of reviews for you to look through. A contractor without reviews is a red flag because it suggests they may be trying to shield themselves from bad reviews.
Even if you’re impressed by your HVAC contractor in person, if they don’t answer your calls and emails promptly, take it as a warning that you might not be able to contact them when you most need them.
If what you are being told just sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Less-prepared scammers often go for a quick seduction, before slinking off in the night with your money.
Scammers and cowboys know that there is a lot of money in HVAC, and you’ll need to be on your toes to make sure you don’t become the victim of one. By looking out for these red flags, you stand a much better chance of securing the services of a reliable heating and air conditioning contractor instead.
HVAC contractors are some of the hardest working people in the Toronto building trades but they’re often the victims of popular misconceptions that swirl around the work they do. Misconceptions such as:
The fact that few people have any idea what an HVAC contractor does leaves these talented professionals open to suspicion from those who wouldn’t know the difference between HSPF and CFM. They may need to do dozens of little things to your furnace during an annual maintenance to make sure it’s running properly. Yet it’s these little things that tend to make some people believe that they (the HVAC tech) are making things up as they go along. They’re not. Everything your HVAC technician does or bills you for can be easily researched on the web. Try it next time you’re curious or want to know more about how your home’s HVAC system works.
Most HVAC technicians will attend trade school while serving lengthy apprenticeships that last anywhere from 3 – 5 years. Beyond that, they will need to be licensed to work in most parts of the country and they also need special training and certification to handle the refrigerants associated with repairing air conditioning units. Most also attend supplementary classes in order to stay up to date with advances in technology and many have advanced certifications in other, related lines of work. In addition, any good HVAC contractor will also possess:
This probably falls under the rubric of people thinking every HVAC contractor in Toronto is out to rip them off by selling them a periodic air-conditioning service package but it’s a big enough issue on its own that it merits its own bullet on the bullet list. There are a couple of things to know about HVAC service contracts:
1. If you treat your HVAC system like it’s indestructible and never have it serviced you will pay dearly in the long run. You can depend on it.
2. If you check the fine print on your furnace installation warranty you’ll more than likely see that if you don’t have it serviced by a qualified heating and air-conditioning professional on a regular basis the warranties associated with various parts will be void.
Unlike carpentry or stone masonry the HVAC industry as we know today it is less than a hundred years old. Maybe because it’s the new kid on the building trade block it tends to attract suspicion and misunderstanding. Whatever the cause the HVAC contractor doesn’t deserve the bad rap they sometimes get. Instead, they should be praised for delivering us the modern, climate-controlled world in which we live and which few of us today could imagine living without.
For the record:
HSPF = Heating Seasonal Performance Factor
CFM = Cubic Feet per Minute
With over 30 years of experience, Tropic Air have been offering affordable Air-conditioning (AC unit) services in the GTA area. Our commitment to quality and exceeding customer expectations has positioned us as one of the top home heating, and air conditioning companies in Toronto. We prioritize customer satisfaction by providing prompt emergency services for boiler repairs, furnace repairs, tankless water heater repairs, and air conditioning services.