You’ve just begun a quiet afternoon puttering around the garden when you notice strange rattling, scraping, and groaning noises.
Just as you begin to wonder whether exorcists are listed in the yellow pages, you realize that the noises are coming from the air conditioner. You begin calling various contractors for a diagnosis of the problem and a quote, if necessary. “Sounds like it’s probably a fan motor” some might say, but each company quotes you a different price on the cost of the repair.
Before you decide to go with the cheapest quote, just remember: when it comes to the service of home comfort equipment, the old adage “let the buyer beware” definitely applies. A good service call will probably not be the least expensive, but a “bargain” service call usually ends up being the most costly of all.
Here are reasons why good service may cost a little more: well-stocked trucks, quality tools, proper testing equipment, state-of-the-art technology, good management, organized dispatching, and professionally educated, trained, and experienced technicians are all essential to providing you with superior hassle-free service.
Take the example of your failing air conditioner. A competent, professional service person would carefully check your air conditioning system and replace the old fan motor with one that is the correct size and capacity for your air conditioner. He would also advise you of other solutions that could save you more energy and money in the long run. What a good service technician will not do is try to pass off as new a motor that has been rebuilt from used parts. He also won’t “service” the air conditioner by simply squirting a little oil on the motor. This may extend the life of the motor for a short time, but eventually you’ll have to call for service again. The bottom line is that poor service can be hard on your home comfort equipment, reduce its efficiency, and result in further calls for service.
Because good service will prolong the life of your equipment, make it run more efficiently, and save energy, in the long run your service appointment will pay for itself.