Cold weather is here, and your furnace is acting up. So, you call a repair company and ask them to send someone over to diagnose the problem and fix it.
The experts at Checkbook.org say it’s important to ask a few questions before you schedule that service call.
“Find out how much they’re going to charge to show up; what’s their minimum service fee? And once they’re there, how much they’re going to charge you to diagnose a system and give you a price to fix it,” said Kevin Brasler, Checkbook’s executive editor. “It’s very important you find that out in advance, because a lot of consumers are surprised by businesses that charge $200 or more just to show up at their doors.”
If you need a new furnace, it pays to shop around—Checkbook finds that some companies charge thousands more than others for the same installation work. Get several companies to prepare written bids.
If you’re installing a gas furnace, consider spending a little more on a more energy-efficient model. With gas prices rising, you’ll recoup that extra cost fairly quickly.
Checkbook is an independent, non-profit, subscriber-based consumer rating and education service. As a courtesy to Northwest Newsradio listeners, you can use this special link until Dec. 31, 2022) to get ratings for 74 heating and air conditioning contractors in the Puget Sound area.
More Info from Checkbook: Heating & Air-Conditioning Contractors
