After a long day at work, nothing compares to coming home, kicking off your shoes, and just sinking into your favorite chair. Many of us, however, have returned to that dreaded stuffy feeling and headed to the thermostat only to realize that something isn’t working the way that it should. Frustrated by this unfortunate turn of events that has cut into your precious relaxation time, you rush to find the cheapest and least time consuming option to get your air conditioner running again. Alas, making such a decision while flustered can prove more costly in the long run. What then, should you do, and how can you make an informed decision about what price is best? Read on and find out. Keep Calm & Call SWAN Many less than reputable companies rely on your immediate need to coax you into rash decisions. In your haste to take care of the problem either for your own comfort or to take care of your family, you may overlook suspicions you have regarding outrageous claims. The low prices and seemingly hassle-free promises fit so perfectly into what you’re looking for that it’s almost too good to be true.

Unfortunately, that’s exactly what these ads are. red dot ac dealersUnder normal circumstances, such attempts would raise warning flags to steer us clear of their traps, but with the heat and desperation beating you down, you are more susceptible. how do air conditioner units workEven though you are under pressure to resolve this issue, take the time to research companies with attractive reviews and track records of great service. cost of adding a second ac unitThough you may not choose to employ the business you read about, you will still get a feel for reasonable pricing and know what to expect. Or, click here to schedule your air conditioning repair service online. Think Long-Term About Your Comfort After settling down, ponder exactly what you will be paying for.

Not all of the low prices you see are scams, but they may represent the bare minimum of service. If your system is more complex or larger than what their basic offer covers, you will have to pay the difference. Furthermore, these companies who offer quick fixes usually disappear into the night after doing work of very little quality. Hiring a larger company typically comes with the benefit of warranties and follow-up services that will cost less than hiring another fly-by-night business. Some smaller businesses will also do very high quality work, but they come at the disadvantage of longer wait times. Larger companies’ higher rates encompass the convenience of more staff to address your problem in a timelier manner. Making a calm, and collected decision about your budget versus how immediate the problem is will determine which route you should take. Ask AC Companies Questions Though researching on your own is very effective (and highly encouraged), you will inevitably encounter a question you cannot answer on your own.

Companies who are desperate to come out and make you an offer rarely attempt to help you figure out what type of system you have or the best course of action without trying to charge you in some way. More reputable businesses are looking to serve you in the most efficient way possible to save everyone time. Perhaps your issue is an easy fix, and you just want clarification that what another repairman told you is legitimate. Maybe you can’t figure out the type of system you have and need to be pointed in the right direction to get started researching exactly what it is you need. Whatever the case, don’t be afraid to ask. Any business that is worth working with will be happy to answer your questions to the best of their ability and build trust, which leads to our final tip. Build A Relationship With Your AC Company With all the fakes out there looking to take your money and leave you in an even worse state than you began, it’s no wonder so many people end up questioning the intentions of legitimate businesses as well.

The only way to counter this is to get to know individuals and build a working relationship with them based on trust and respect. In this way, you will not have to question the quality of service you are getting because you will know the person doing the work as well as the company they represent. Finding a business that you trust takes time, and may even involve some trial and error, but it comes with many benefits. Reliable technicians who are certified and have an observable, proven record Quick resolution to emergencies as they occur Peace of mind that you have a plan ready People you recognize and know ready to serve you locally Repairs will be covered under warranty And these are only a few of the advantages you get from having a company that you regularly call upon for your air conditioning needs. Simply knowing when something goes wrong that you have someone to rely on will also save you all the trouble of going through the entire process described above as you will have built that relationship already instead of having to research all over again and sift through the incessant reminders of ads that intend to prey upon you rather than help.

So, Are Pricey AC Repairs Worth It? In the end, you should make a decision that fits your budget and takes care of the problem. Be wary of offers that seem too good to be true, because more often than not, they will leave you worse off than you started either by charging you more with hidden fees or performing work that does not meet standards. Choosing between a larger or smaller company comes down to how immediate your needs is and your long-term needs. If you are curious about specific pricing and all the benefits of hiring a company devoted to your success, please feel free to browse our site and of course to contact us with questions. We are always happy to help you come to an informed conclusion without pressuring you into a decision. Remember, stay calm, consider long-term advantages and disadvantages, ask questions, and build a working relationship with a company you can trust. Or, click here to schedule your air conditioning repair service online.If you’re a homeowner worried about the cost of maintaining your house and appliances, setting money aside in a special “rainy day/repair fund” savings account every month is probably a better choice than buying a warranty from American Home Shield and giving your money to them. 

At least, that’s the impression we got from our readers this month. In just the past 30 days, we’ve had 27 different AHS customers write us to share complaints about the company, and in any random sampling of these stories, the same disturbing patterns emerge.Let’s start with Christine T. of Dallas, who wrote on Oct.8 to urge us, “PLEASE do not waste your money with this company.” Christine had an AHS warranty for two years before she first tried requesting service from them. Then, she discovered, “you have to pay a $75 fee just for them to assess [the problem], NOT REPAIR.”After the assessment, “by some coincidence, nothing in the contract covers what needs to be repaired …. My water heater was leaking and in order to bring it to code with repairs (not covered by contract) it would cost $1,200! I can go to the local Home Depot and buy a water heater brand-new for $400.”JM of Sacramento, Calif., also paid a $75 assessment fee after his bathroom tub/shower started leaking.

But that’s as far as he got. He wrote us on Oct. 7, a full month after he first attempted to have AHS fix the leak: “On Sept 6, 2013, I emailed a request for repair for our tub/shower leak,” he told us. A plumber came out on Sept 9, looked at the tub, collected his $75 and left.JM spent the next three weeks calling the plumber and AHS, and repeatedly received assurances that his case was under review and his leaking tub would be fixed any day now. Eventually, he grew exasperated enough to write us with the observation: “It is now in the fourth week and no resolution has been completed by American Home Shield. We are still out of the $75 that we paid … October 6, 2013, nothing done, tub/shower still leaking.” Nor did Chicago resident Ezella W. get any response about her three broken ceiling fans. She told us, “I called American Home Shield on Sept. 12, 2013, Thursday, about my three ceiling fans and no one has come out to fix them. Today is Oct. 3, 2013, and I am calling again to try to get my ceiling fans fixed.

What is the problem with this company?”Sean K. of Cameron Park, Calif., wonders the same thing. When his water heater broke, he did manage to get a technician to fix it with little difficulty — after he paid for it himself. Sean’s problem is that AHS was supposed to reimburse him, but hasn’t.After repeated calls to and assurances from AHS representatives: “We then sent fax copies of the repair invoice … and our AHS contract showing that if we were given authorization to use an independent contractor, AHS would reimburse us for the repair fee of $700.”“Weeks pass with no response (approval or rejection) from AHS. It is like you send things into a black hole over there. Each time we would call a rep, they would approach the claim like it was the first time, giving us another (different) fax to send the claim documents to.”Sean is now “taking it to litigation where we will go for triple damages. You cannot get to a manager or supervisor, or even the claims department at AHS, only to a call center uneducated idiot.

We had initial contact with AHS, had their contractor come take a look, got approval verbally to use the local expert, paid him $700, for a covered item....and AHS is trying to not reimburse us on the grounds that whatever idiot rep we spoke to did not put the approval in the computer. Anyone who uses this company is an idiot, IMO.”Another Californian, Steve P. of Simi Valley, had an AHS warranty only because it was included in the purchase price of his new home. He soon concluded his warranty was worthless; when his built-in microwave oven broke, he paid $75 for a service call, but never had any repairs done. “I cancelled my policy after 2 months only to get a partial refund …. They provided no services and charged me almost $200 to cancel.”Even when AHS does provide repair services, our readers found themselves dissatisfied with the quality. When Virginia M. of Gig Harbor, Wash., discovered her kitchen faucet was leaking, AHS sent repairmen who were polite and professional, she said, but couldn’t repair the faucet;

it would need to be replaced.“On their second visit, they brought what was described as a ‘contractor grade’ faucet, which was vastly inferior to original. I called AHS and they refused to upgrade. I had to go to Home Depot and purchase a faucet myself, which necessitated a third visit. I would not subscribe to this AHS service ever again if this is typical of their level of customer service! Oh yes, there is a $75 service fee on every call, in addition to upgraded parts you'll want to use.”After awhile, our readers’ complaints about American Home Service all started sounding alike. Jodi M. of Helotes, Texas, told us about her experience on Sept. 23: “at the expense of lousy customer service, we have been 15 days without AC in south Texas.”Jodi’s fellow Texan, RaeLee P. of Waxahachie, can top that. She wrote us on Sept. 18 to complain, “My AC went out on a Monday three weeks ago. The temperature has been in the hundreds all summer. I have been paying premiums to AHS for years….”

Even so, when her air conditioner broke down in the middle of a heat wave, she never could get AHS to fix it, so after several frustrating (and sweltering) weeks getting the runaround from AHS, she eventually gave up, cancelled her AHS policy and paid to repair her air conditioner herself.Denise H. of Springfield, Ill., Oct. 2: “I have never had an experience with any company that comes close to American Home Shield nightmare. It takes them more than two weeks to get an air conditioner and a cherry picker to get the unit on the roof of the condo building. The unit was finally installed on 9/11 and has never worked correctly.”Erica P. of Orlando, Fla., Oct 10: “I can't tell you how many times last year, AC repair guys came out to fix things. Every time there was a fix, it was a $75 charge. Every time something broke down, it could take days before someone came out - so no AC and I live in Florida.” Even after AHS finally agreed to replace her lemon of an air conditioner, Erica said, “I still had to pay $500 for the pad, hurricane clips and removal of old product.”