Trusted Tips and Resources

Trusted Tips & Resources

A warning for consumers about fraud in the furnace and air conditioning industry in Saskatoon

JOB Heating & Air Conditioning’s wonderful staff will be more than happy to provide you with an estimate for any home comfort improvement that you have in mind. They also offer training classes at your personal site for maintenance and they also offer home heating tune-ups. JOB are Trusted Saskatoon Furnace experts and they can also help you with all your Saskatoon plumbing needs!In this Saskatoon HVAC article,  Jeff Bolton, owner of JOB, highlights how important it is to be aware of scams in the Saskatoon air-conditioning and furnace marketplace. 


JEFF FROM JOB WARNS AGAINST FRAUD IN SASKATOON’S HVAC INDUSTRY

The feeling of being ripped off is horrible, and I count myself fortunate that I haven’t been the victim of fraud very much in my life. However,  I am sad to say that I deal with victims of contractor fraud too often in Saskatoon.  In my latest article, I share another example that happened recently, as I want to educate consumers on what to look out for.- Jeff , owner of JOB


Fraud takes many different forms

I was recently at a lady’s home to provide a quote to replace the furnace and air conditioner. Her house was the same as most other homes in our city,  in fact she lives just  4 blocks away from my family. She invited me in and we exchanged pleasantries,  then I asked her the burning question that had been top of mind since I pulled up outside.  Why was she requesting a quote for a new home comfort system in a house that was no more than 12 years old?

She explained that the night before her furnace had stopped working. This was especially an issue as the overnight temperature in Saskatoon had dropped to about  -30C. Unfortunately, she was unaware that JOB offers 24-hour emergency service and she had called another company.

The other company turned up, identified the problem but they didn’t have the part required ( It was 4 am, so I give them a pass on that one,) . They  returned at 8:30 am with the correct part to fix the issue and the tech took it upon himself to go through her furnace and air conditioner. He noted that there were old watermarks both on the side and at the base of the furnace, which I can verify. As someone that has a career in the furnace and air conditioning industry, the source of the water was very evident to me.It was clear that at some point, probably in the summertime, the evaporator coil had frozen and then melted.

One indication about this was the plugged air filter leaning up against the furnace.


The other technician told this very nice lady that her furnace was over ten years old and a crack COULD happen in the heat exchanger (even though he couldn’t find any crack) and that would send carbon monoxide into her home potentially killing her, her partner and her dogs!! If that ominous threat was not enough,  he also told her that her air conditioner unit had a leak and would also need to be replaced.


Now, it is possible that she may have a leak in the air conditioner, but there’s simply no way to determine that when it’s -26C outside!  Saying that she has a leak when there is a dirty filter right there is, “bullcrap!”


The other thing that I haven’t mentioned yet, is the 3 carbon monoxide detectors I saw in her home. I will not downplay carbon monoxide poisoning,  because it is the biggest threat to life that we face in the HVAC industry, however, there was no sign of that here. When questioned, she confirmed that the carbon monoxide detectors had never gone off. In addition, one of the detectors displays the level of CO present and when I checked it showed zero.


Let me be VERY clear here, this person was simply using fear tactics to sell a new furnace and air conditioner to this lady.

If you get a flat tire on your Chevy do you buy a new Mercedes??

 

 

 

“But he said I’m in imminent danger!” Said the lady

 

The moral of the story about fraud in Saskatoon’s HVAC Industry, is to be careful, ask questions and deal with the right people. Start by looking for businesses on TrustedSaskatoon .com.

 

JOB Heating has been a TrustedSaskatoon partner from almost the beginning. We are both locally owned and accountable companies and we deal with local companies. Local people always care the most, we care about service and we care about people.  We care because this is my city and my home too.

Contact Jeff and team at JOB Heating today. 



JOB products and services include:

Trusted Saskatoon Air Conditioning Experts at Gibbon Heating and Air Explain Why Air Conditioners Freeze

Gibbon Heating & Air Conditioning has been serving Saskatoon and surrounding areas for over 30 Years,  a "Total Service" company with trained technicians who are able to provide customers with solutions to all your heating and cooling needs. They provide prompt, courteous and professional service. In their latest Air Conditioning Tip they explain why air conditioning units freeze up.  Gibbon Heating and Air Conditioning are TRUSTED SASKATOON Air Conditioning & Furnace Professionals

So, Why Do Air Conditioners Freeze Up?



Here are a few idea’s to keep in mind:

AC PROBLEM: Clogged Air Filter  

One symptom that causes a majority of air conditioning issues is a dirty air filter. When your air filter isn’t cleaned/replaced monthly, dust and dirt can build up and obstruct proper air flow. In turn, this causes your refrigerant to over-cool and freeze any condensation located on your air conditioner.

AC SOLUTION:

Inspect your air filters monthly. If you see dirt beginning to form, give it a clean . We recommend to clean or replace your filters every 4-12 weeks. If the filter looks unrecognizable, the best option is to replace your air filter.

 

AC PROBLEM: Low Refrigerant

Another symptom is low refrigerant levels. This can be one of the key causes for your air conditioner freezing up. This culprit can be at the center of many issues you’re experiencing with your AC unit. In regards to freezing, a low level of refrigerant will cause the evaporator coils to freeze over. Your refrigerant can run low when you have a leak, caused by holes or cracks anywhere in your system

AC SOLUTION:

Contact Gibbon Heating to access the situation. NOTE: R22 refrigerant is no longer manufactured. In most instances your old R22 system will likely need replacement.

 

AC PROBLEM: Drainage Issues

Frozen pipes AirconditioningThe main drainage issues are:

  • Dirt causing a blockage
  • The drain line and pipe are loose.

When it comes to a blockage, the water can be disrupted by dirt buildup and can eventually cause the air conditioner to freeze up. When your drainage pipes are loose, the water will begin to leak all around the air conditioning system and later freeze over if the leak isn’t cleaned.

AC SOLUTION:

During humid days, check on your drainage pipes. Be sure you see water traveling through the drainage system. If you’re experiencing a clogged drainage pipe, contact us to make an assessment.

 

AC PROBLEM: Thermostat Levels

Blasting your AC can be an easy way to turn your air conditioner into an ice cube.By frequently placing your thermostat at a low temperature, you’re producing a higher risk of freezing your coils.

AC SOLUTION:

To help with that, do not drop the temp down below 21-22 deg C. If you have a programmable stat, set it the sameway you do heat in the winter (this saves money and is not so hard on your system)

 

AC PROBLEM: Fan Malfunction

A faulty fan is another issue that can result in a frozen air conditioner. Good indicators for a fan malfunction is if you’re not feeling any air out of the registers. Check that the system is on. Condensation will build up over time. The overage of condensation can build up on your AC coils and result in them freezing because of lack of air flow.

AC SOLUTION:

If the fan is damaged or simply not working, call Gibbon Heating and Air and we can can help get you up and running\

See more of Gibbons Air Conditioning Articles and Tips here 




Trusted Saskatoon Air Conditioning & Furnace Experts Discuss Quality Boiler Installation

At Razor Heating & Air Conditioning, the primary focus is to provide Saskatoon and surrounding area customers with quality work, prompt service and innovative real world solutions to everyday mechanical and home comfort issues.

Whether it be an upgrade or repair to your current home, or mechanical needs of a new home Razor Heating and Air are the people to turn to for all your Air Conditioning, Heating and Indoor Air Quality needs. Their real-world, on-the-job trained employees have the industry experience and know-how to look past the rough edges of renovation or construction. The professionals at Razor strive to bring you quality products and services with a budget-minded solution.

 

THEY ARE YOUR TRUSTED SASKATOON AIR CONDITIONING & FURNACE EXPERTS!


Trusted Saskatoon Air Conditioning & Furnace Experts at Razor Heating discuss proper boiler installation:


Importance of a Quality Boiler Installation

 

Just like a furnace, the importance of a quality boiler is installation is key for proper operation. A boiler that is installed improperly can cause premature failure in the unit and can result in you spending more money to repair it or replace it. There was a case where Razor Heating and Air Conditioning came in and repaired a boiler installation that was installed by a different company improperly. Make sure your boiler installation is done correctly the first time.

 


Things to Consider When Having a Boiler Installed in Your Home:


- Product Quality: 
Do some searches about the quality of the brand you're installing, or ask your HVAC professional about the brand.


- Company Reputation: 

Make sure to check how long the HVAC company has been in business, their reviews and testimonials, and any installation photos they have.


- HVAC Service: 


Make sure that the company you hire also offers service in addition to installations. In the case that you do need assistance with your new boiler installation, you want to know the company can help.


- Boiler Warranty: 


Ask the company what warranty is offered with your boiler installation.


A high-quality boiler can last for many years, but proper care and maintenance are important. They can provide you with the proper services needed to keep your boiler working effectively. If you need more details about boiler installation in Saskatoon contact Razor Heating and Air Conditioning today!


Trusted Saskatoon's Heating and Cooling Experts, Razor Heating and A/C are here to help you with all your need Heating, Air Conditioning, and Indoor Air Quality Needs. Contact them today!



Trust JOB Heating & Air Conditioning with Saskatoon Heating And Furnace Issues

JOB Heating & Air Conditioning’s wonderful staff will be more than happy to provide you with an estimate for any home comfort improvement that you have in mind. They also offer training classes at your personal site for maintenance and they also offer home heating tune-ups. JOB are Trusted Saskatoon Furnace experts and they can also help you with all your Saskatoon plumbing needs! In their latest Saskatoon furnace tip, owner Jeff Bolton,  shares why you can trust JOB with your Saskatoon heating and furnace issues.

The Importance of Trust. 

When calling someone for help, especially help in your own home, you really need to ask yourself – who can you trust? If you aren’t working with someone you can trust, how can you have any confidence you are being treated fairly, and the person working for you has your best interests at heart?


Jeffs Real Saskatoon Heating and Furnace Calls.

I was asked to go help two different ladies. Both lived on their own and had furnace issues. The first lady was what I would describe as everyone’s grandma, you know the type, sweet as sugar. The second was a single mother who was also a joy to meet. Both had very legitimate concerns with their furnaces. The first lady simply asked me to drop by and listen to her furnace because she thought that something was not right with it. I was in her furnace room for maybe 5 seconds and I could tell that the bearings in her inducer motor were on their last legs. We had one of our technicians over to her house later that afternoon to change the inducer motor and it turned out just fine. By calling me, she saved herself a possible (more likely probable) after hours call due to having no heat.

The second lady asked me to come and give her a quote on a new furnace because she was under the impression that her furnace needed to be changed. When I showed up I commented that the house was nice and warm. She told me that her brother had been by and found a loose wire on the furnace. I cycled the furnace on and off a few times and I believe that he was correct. Although this furnace is quite old I suggested she budget the appropriate amount to replace the furnace within 3 to 7 years. I explained what parts would cost her if they needed to be replaced. Of course, I didn’t charge her for my time because we don’t charge for furnace replacement quotes.

The trust issues with Saskatoon heating and furnace contractors

What I realized when listening to these ladies is that there is a real trust issue with companies that they hire to come into their homes in Saskatoon. Who can you trust and how do you know you can trust them? This is the very reason that Trusted Saskatoon was started. A wonderful lady who was a single mother had a company charge her a ridiculous amount of money to change a P-trap in her plumbing system in 2010.

She thought there should be a better way to find businesses you can trust, so she created trustedsaskatoon.com and launched it along with her 5 Trusted guarantees in 2011.



The 5 Trusted Guarantees are:

  1. Provide the service and quality promised.
  2. Complete the job on time.
  3. Charge the price quoted with NO surprises.
  4. Communicate honestly and be responsive to customer needs.
  5. Resolve any issues with customer satisfaction in mind.

To be a Trusted Saskatoon plumbing and heating company JOB, along with every Trusted business, must adhere to these 5 promises. I believe that these promises are the foundation of good customer service, and that integrity and honesty must be maintained at all times in everything we do. We use this approach when dealing with our customers or dealing with our vendors. By maintaining this sense of integrity, honesty, and respect no matter who we are dealing with, those values ingrain themselves in the culture of our company – acting according to these values just becomes the norm.

JOB Heating and Air Conditioning is a company you can trust with your Saskatoon heating and furnace worries.

Who can you trust with Saskatoon heating and furnace issues

If you or someone you know are in a similar position to the ladies I saw this week, remember that JOB Heating and Air Conditioning is a Trusted Saskatoon company and we approach every job like it was in our own mother’s house. If you need other services that JOB Heating doesn’t provide, www.trustedsasaktoon.com works with the top companies in each category. From personal experience in dealing with Trusted partners, I have witnessed the integrity that I expect and value. Don’t hesitate to use JOB Heating and Air for your plumbingheating, and air conditioning needs, and for all other needs check out trustedsaskatoon.com.

Trusted Saskatoon partners are here to help.

Jeff Bolton.

JOB Heating and Air Conditioning



JOB products and services include:

JOB Heating & Air Conditioning  Trusted Saskatoon Furnace, Boiler and Air Conditioning Experts

JOB. Heating & Air Conditioning  are Trusted Saskatoon Plumbers 

Jeff Bolton Owner of JOB Heating and Air Conditioning Shares why "Good Enough" Usually Isn't!

Saskatoon, if you are looking for a Trusted company to help you with your home or business Heating or Cooling system problems or to find the best and most high efficient air conditioner or furnace for your home, J.O.B Heating and Air Conditioning is who you need to call! If your family suffers from allergies a new furnace that filters and helps to eliminate those unwanted allergens will make a real difference. 

The amazing staff at J.O.B Heating & Air Conditioning will consult with you to get something that fits your exact and specific needs and budget. 



get to spend a good deal of time explaining to customers what you should ask for when choosing a contractor. We have all heard about the usual things. "Check the reviews", yes I agree that reviews are important but how many of the are legitimate? How many reviews are there because the contractor earned them and how many are there because he paid for them. How many are there because he has a disgruntled employee or a ruthless competitor and of course how many are there because they are real? 

Further to the reviews here are a few things to notice when they are in your house. What are they looking at and what questions are they asking? My Dad tells me that I have 2 ears and one mouth so it should be 2/3 listening and 1/3 talking. What that means is the contractor should be asking questions about your home but also how you live in that home? How can he or she offer you a product or service without knowing how you intend on using that product or service? In the case of an air conditioner are they looking to ensure that the unit can be placed where you would like it? Or are they looking for the most direct route that would save them time and money? Are they just automatically going to the "best" option because well its the Mercedes who wouldn't want it? In reality most of us drive  Chevy's or Fords. 



I believe that there are a couple of documents that they should show you. You should see their contractor license. In the case of heating contractors they should show you their gas licence. So many times guys hang their shingle out and say I can put that water heater in for you and the never take out a permit so the inspector never knows to go see the job. They end up making a mistake when installing it that causes you to have no hot water at the most inopportune of times.  Further to that if that contractor doesn't have a gas licence when the gas inspector issues a deficiency he has to issue it to the homeowner and if the homeowner does not correct it they could loose their gas service. 

Another document you should ask to see is their Workman's Compensation Board letter of good standing. This lets you know that they have a commitment to safety and they pay there premiums to the WCB which gives you an indication of their financial status. You should also ask to see their insurance certificate. How much coverage do they have? Is it enough to cover the worst case scenario? Check the dates, is everything you are seeing current?





If you are going to get a job done and you are researching the job and the equipment on the Internet please be careful with where you are getting that information. Is it a trusted source such as a manufacturer or a professional group or is it just some blow hard on a message board. When you are planning on researching equipment or contract work I think the best place to start is the glossary. Learn what the terms used are and mean. In the heating business we use terms such as delta T. Sounds impressive right? All it means the the difference between the supply temperature and return temperature. I've heard many contractors say "if you can't dazzle them with knowledge baffle them with BS". This can't be farther from the truth. If he can't explain what he's doing or selling in terms that you will understand then he doesn't completely get it himself. 

Now having said that sometimes in contracting there isn't absolutes, that is to say you never know what you'll find in a wall or under a cement floor. When dealing with new products the contractor will have to research it and get back to you. Don't be afraid if a contractor tells you this. This shows diligence and a commitment to getting it right the first time. 

Every job isn't going to go perfectly the best contractors are the one's that have a game plan in place to deal with problems when they arise. Having a plan means the problem gets repaired quickly and with as little disruption to the homeowner as possible. Remember even Mike Homes makes mistakes, he just gets to edit them.

- Jeff Bolton

At J.O.B Heating and Air they strive to hold up the values of Trusted Saskatoon! Find them online at www.jobheating.com or check out their listing here in the Saskatoon AIR CONDITIONING & FURNACE Directory of excellence!

Categories

Previous Posts

ADDRESS

S & E Trusted Online Directories Inc
TrustedSaskatoon.com
310 Wall St #209
Saskatoon, SK   S7K 1N7
Ph: 306.244.4150

GET THE APP

App Store Google Play
Follow us on Facebook Instagram Linked In Twitter YouTube RSS Feed
Abex
Abex
Stevies
Sabex
NEYA
Website hosting by Insight Hosting