The Air Conditioning Scam
It starts with a knock on the door. A legitimate-looking person in a uniform informs you that your older air conditioning unit runs on R-22, aka “Freon,” which is now illegal in the state. They then tell you that you must upgrade your air conditioning system, or the state of Florida will charge you $90.00 a month until it’s replaced. These new systems, often quoted on the high end at approximately $9,000, can be installed right away saving you tons of money, if you hire them, of course.
If this hasn’t already raised a red flag or two, it should! Here is why and what you need to know about these legitimate sounding air conditioning scams.
An Air Condtioning Professional Warns Consumers
I spoke to Jamil Chaves, Oakland Park resident and owner of TactiCool, a small family-owned residential air conditioning company, operated right here in our City. Chavez was floored when his neighbors reached out to him to ask if these claims were legitimate. Through his research, he found that this was indeed happening to his neighbors.
He quickly took to the Living in Oakland Park Facebook group to ensure no one falls for the scam.
"When it comes to trade work, solicitors raise red flags. Picking a tradesman should be something you do carefully rather than letting someone off the street come in and perform thousands of dollars worth of work".
So What is R22 Freon?
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- Keep using the system until R22 runs out entirely and you are forced to replace your equipment.
- Retrofit your current system, so it runs on a coolant other than Freon.
- Upgrade to a new system now, saving you from having to replace your existing air conditioner shortly, and many experts say the time is near.
Consult A Licensed and Insured AC Tech
You can, by all means, replace your system. Just be wary. “The tricky thing about pricing an air conditioning system is that it’s heavily influenced by a company’s overhead,” Chavez says. “If you can find a legitimate licensed contractor doing work at a very low-end price, quality comes into question. There are so many ways to cut corners on an AC installation. You won’t know until years down the road when the wear and tear has taken its toll”, he adds.
Do Your Research Before Hiring
- Make sure they are licensed.
- Read reviews, ask questions, and ask your neighbors.
- Deal with the contractors directly. “When I have to hire a tradesman, I call the company where the contractor himself will be at my house.”
He says to keep this in mind, especially when dealing with larger companies. He also states that he is available to answer any questions residents may have regarding their systems. You can find his Facebook TacticoolFL.
Keep Cool
If you have an older AC, and someone shows up at your door, trying to scare you in to spending thousands of dollars, don’t panic, keep cool. It is best practice to ignore the solicitors and certainly ones that make false claims. These are not people that you would want to hire to perform major repairs to your home. It’s best to politely decline and inform them you have done your research on the topic. Then consult a local licensed and insured air conditioning business that is known for having its clients’ best interests at heart.
