Beware this Expensive (But Easy to Fall for) AC Scam

We recently wrote about one of the biggest AC scam busts in Florida.

You can check out all the juicy details in our article, “Florida Attorney General Shuts Down Air Conditioning Scams”.

We’re glad the scammers were caught, but there are still AC tricks out there to watch for.

We’ve noticed one scam that has homeowners pulling out their wallets all too easily: the refrigerant scam.

Ever heard a contractor say it’s time for your “annual refrigerant refill”? If so, they’re seconds away from scamming you out of hundreds of dollars.

Here’s why.

Refrigerant never gets “used up”

Refrigerant plays an incredibly important role—it’s what actually cools your air. So being told you’re low on refrigerant can be scary.

That fear and misconceptions about refrigerant are what make homeowners vulnerable to this scam.

One common misconception about refrigerant is that it works like gas in a car: over time you’re due for a refrigerant refill, right?

Wrong.

In reality, your AC system should never need to be refilled with refrigerant.

Why?

Refrigerant flows through a closed loop of copper coils. It never gets used up because there isn’t a way for your refrigerant to exit the system.

Unless there’s a leak.

But even if your system truly has a refrigerant leak, there’s a sly way that AC contractors can still scam you out of thousands of dollars…

Beware contractors who refill your refrigerant without repairing the leak

So, you have a refrigerant leak. Unfortunately, you’ll have to pay a pretty penny to have your refrigerant recharged.

But if your contractor is offering to refill your refrigerant without first finding and repairing the leak, he’s setting you up to pay for repeated refrigerant refills.

Think about it: if your bike tire has a leak what do you do first? You repair the leak and then refill the tire with air.

The same holds true for your AC system.

Always make sure your contractor repairs your leak before he recharges your system.

Protect yourself (and your AC) with a maintenance plan

Cool Today’s AC and heating maintenance plans provide coverage for refrigerant refills.
But they also prevent costly repairs altogether by including annual tune-ups, warranties on parts and more.

Contact us today to learn more about your maintenance plan options.

Posted in: Tips