Complaint Review:
One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning
Before I begin, let me explain that I have not suffered a monetary loss. I am complaining about an
unethical business practice used by One Hour Heating and Air
Conditioning that could have resulted in a monetary loss if I had hired them to do the work.
The business practice is this: We requested One Hour to come to our house to clean our old furnace and
to tell us why the furnace was behaving erratically (it would sometimes not come on in the morning unless we shifted the thermostat from automatic to manual). The tech came to the house, removed the blower from the furnace, peered up into the heat exchanger, said it was cracked, and declared that the furnace was a "hazard."
He said he was legally obligated to shut it down. However, he needed this to be confirmed by his supervisor. He made a call. The supervisor arrived at the house about thirty minutes later and confirmed the diagnosis. However, the supervisor was also a high-powered salesman in disguise. He promptly sat us down and tried to sell us a $40,000 new replacement furnace. We deferred and so he started lowering his price, until he arrived at the bottom line price of $17,000.
The price included a new furnace and air conditioner, and $6,000 of new duct work. The supervisor said he was a duct work expert and that a new furnace required much larger ducts than we presently had in the attic.
Two days later we called two local companies and asked them to give estimates. Both companies sent their techs who said:
(1) Although our furnace was old and probably in need of replacement within the next year or two, it was
not hazardous. There was no sign of a crack in the heat exchanger.
(2) There was no need for new duct work. The present duct work only needed new insulation in some
places, and re-hanging in others.
(3) One estimate for a new furnace and a/c was for $10,800 and the other estimate was for $5,800. Both
estimates included the same equipment included in the One Hour estimate of $17,000. The only difference is that the One Hour bid included duct work we did not need.
I was not ripped off by One Hour because I did not allow this to happen. But I am afraid for vulnerable elderly people who have their furnaces declared "hazardous" and then have their furnaces shut down by One Hour.
This puts them in a position which is easily exploited by sales people desperate to make a sale and increase their
commission.
The lesson: Always get at least three estimates, and always get second opinions if anyone declares your
furnace "hazardous" and wants to shut it down. Be wary of large heating companies employing sales people who work on commission. They want to optimize their commission and will gladly sell you expensive equipment you do not need.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Jason DeVries
United States of AmericaPlease allow me to help.
#2REBUTTAL Owner of company
Sun, February 24, 2013
Dear Anonymous,
Thank you for taking the time to post your concerns about my locally owned and operated company, One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning. I would like to use opportunity to address your concerns and find out if there is a way to improve my company. I would also like to offer a full refund of your maintenance or evaluation fees you may have paid under our 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Due to the fact that we have no contact information, it is very difficult to review the technician and field supervisors paperwork and respond in complete detail. If you would allow me the opportunity, I would gladly contact you and discuss these concerns in detail. Furthermore, I will meet with you, my Field Supervisor and my Technician to educate both companies and yourself on exactly what our concerns are with both the heat exchanger and duct work. Airflow is a major factor in the efficiency of the furnace and can be corrected with a proper duct system.
In an effort to protect my clients, my employees and my company, I have a mandatory policy that
any failed heat exchanger must be confirmed by one of our Field Supervisors. I would also like to reiterate our failed heat exchanger policy that states We will show you the deficiency when your furnace is removed or the replacement is FREE. As a company we are very dedicated to our clients safety and follow the guidelines and procedures of the National Fire Protection Association Section
54, Annex H rules when we discover a hazardous condition.
Please contact me at your earliest convenience. I can be reached directly at 805-461-1428.
Sincerely,
Jason DeVries