Our Home Warranty co. uses an HVAC contractor that has bad reputation and we need new central air unit?

Question

The cost of unit is covered by warranty, but there will be an additional $1200 in permits, slab, disposal, new coil, etc. I also want a more efficient unit than they will pay for. Should I use the warranty company, or pay the additional $ for a reputable installer?

Answer 1

Ask the Home Warranty company what they'll pay you out to have it done on your own. Or just insist that he fix it for the coming out fee.

Answer 2

Any home warranty will ALWAYS use the cheapest hands possible.

I would look into a different company.

You'll be glad you did.

Answer 3

I don't know if you know it but your getting hosed. A new air conditioning coil,condensing unit,line set (copper lines) should not result in an additional $1200. You said the cost of the unit is covered - what Unit. They are inflating the price of disposal,slab and permits to lower their cost for warranty. I would ask for a detailed breakdown of the costs, and I would review the actual warranty paperwork.

With all this inflated figures you might be better off getting a price from your regular contractor and having him go over their figures

Answer 4

Bleh!

Home Warranty Companies will do anything they can to keep from paying for repairs.

The company that came out for your service is definitly out of line but that doesn't mean that all HVAC companies are "shams" as the uneducated person above stated. I guess it takes one bad apple to spoil the bunch, huh?

I have performed work for Home warranty companies and we dropped them because they were always trying to get us to drop our rates. We are by no means the highest cost company in our area but we are definitly not the cheapest. They just don't care about the level of service or pride in workmanship of a company. they just want absolute bottom dollar labor. They don't care about the homeowner at all.

It would be wise to cash out of your warranty and call around for competitive estimates. Make surea complete Manual J load calculation is performed to get the size of unit that your house requires. You home requirements have most likely changed since your unit was first installed and may have not been sized properly to begin with. Don't accept Rule-of-dumb sizing procedures (x tons per x square feet). This only leads to oversizing units and wasting energy.

Good luck!

Answer 5

Welcome to the wonderful world of home warranties!

They always use the cheapest people and equipment available.

They will offer you a very low ball buy out, but that's better than the junk and half a$$ workmanship you will get otherwise.

Answer 6

$1200 in permits, slab, disposal and new coil??? I replace condensers and handlers with a good efficient 3.5 ton for $1700.  Why do you need a new slab? Use the existing slab.  Disposal? Tell them to leave it and you'll have the old unit(s) hauled off yourself.  Junk men will take it away for you for free as there is no hazardous materials (freon) once they drain and vacuum down the system.

HVAC contractors are such a sham in the residential service markets and you need to tell the warranty underwriter to issue you a check for actual replacement costs.  How do you find the costs?  Call several out of the yellow pages and get written estimates.  Tell them this is an insurance job and you'll get a more realistic rate tailored more to what your situation actually is.  You may and may not have to come out of pocket for a more efficient unit then you have now if there's a depreciation claus in the warranty.

Mike Lonergan

TradesProfessional, Inc.

http://tradesprofessional.com

Answer 7

Take what the insurance company will give you and find a contractor you like, this company is way out of line!