Does your air conditioner need repair? These units are widely used in homes in Singapore to help make the indoor environment more friendly and comfortable during the hot days. However, like other appliances, they can fail to function properly or even stop working due to reasons such as blockage in the ductwork, faulty vent blower, burst tube and clogged filters. If this happens, you’ll obviously be inconvenienced. Taking the necessary action as soon as possible is therefore important. When it comes to aircon repair, many homeowners prefer to hire a professional company thanks to the various benefits they stand to gain. And finding the right contractor is not as hard as it seems if you avoid several mistakes which, although simple, could be costly in the long run. These include.
1. Choosing an unlicensed & uncertified contractor
While the requirements may vary, aircon repair experts are generally required to hold the relevant licenses for them to offer services. Further, they should be willing to provide proof of this either by displaying copies of the certificates or referring you to the appropriate authorities. Licensure basically means that the company has met all the various legal requirements and will likely do a good job. You should also avoid choosing an uncertified firm. Why? Certification is typically regarded as an indication of commitment and willingness to acquire the highest levels of training in the field. So, lack of it would likely mean less dedication to quality service delivery and professionalism.
2. Overlooking experience
How long has the company been offering maintenance and repair services in the area? Selecting a company with a track record (at least 7 years of operation) should be your top priority. Good companies will likely be stable and last long while the illegitimate ones will go out of business within a short time period. Further, they can be able to accurately troubleshoot the issues with your unit and take the necessary remedial steps. This is because they will have handled hundreds and hundreds of repair projects over the years. A company that’s new in the field will obviously not offer this and as such may not give you the results you want.
3. Hiring an uninsured repair company
It’s of absolute importance that your aircon repair project is handled by an insured company. While the unfortunate does not have to happen, the truth is that it can and it’s best to take the necessary precautionary measures. The crew handling the job might injure themselves or damage could occur to your unit or even your house. So, to safeguard yourself from possible lawsuits, problems or additional costs, the contractor should have sufficient insurance cover. Don’t be afraid to verify it’s validity by contacting the relevant insurance company. Any repairs or damage will be covered by the company and not you, the homeowner. This can go a long way towards giving you peace of mind.
4. Selecting a contractor who quotes price prior to any diagnostic testing
One of the key mistake you should avoid in your search for a good aircon repair company is picking someone who goes on to quote a price for the repairs or replacement without performing or recommending certain diagnostic testing . It could be that they aren’t properly trained to deal with the problems with your unit’s duct system, for instance, or just don’t care. Their only interest is probably to sell you some metal rather than fixing the issue & delivering results. A good company will conduct some kind of inspection or at least ask a few questions here and there relating to your problem before giving any quote.
5. Picking the first company you come across
Never ever opt for the first contractor you see. While it might seem the ideal choice, things might prove otherwise. If you’re getting referrals from friends and neighbours, try to get several names and then sit and evaluate each at a time. Avoid picking someone because your close friend is really happy with the work they did on his/her air conditioning unit. The same applies if you’re searching the internet. The point is to maximize the options available to you.
6. Ignoring reputation
In general, there are many companies that provide air conditioning repair services in Singapore but they are not the same. Some have a good reputation, while others are known for poor quality services and unprofessionalism. So, it’s a costly mistake to decide on a contractor without checking into their reputation. Try to find out what other people are saying about them and their services. The internet can be quite a useful resource for this.
You can get customer reviews, reports and ratings on the companies’ own websites, other websites, blogs and even on social media sites. Are there too many complaints about a particular contractor? Too many negative reviews should of course be a cause for alarm, but you should not hire someone simply because there are only a handful of complaints about them. In general, by reading reviews and reports, you can be able to get a neutral, unbiased and clearer understanding of the company as well as its services and in turn make an informed decision.
7. Making your decision based on price alone
Cost is of course a key factor in the choice of an aircon repair company, but it should not be the overriding factor. These service providers may charge different fees based on a range of reasons, and it’s easy to get carried away. Believe it or not, some will offer incredibly low prices just to lure you yet fail to live up to the promises of quality work. The point here is to avoid picking a contractor on the basis of what they charge for your project. Take the time to evaluate other factors and also do a comparison of costs in order to make a wise selection.
Leaving an aircon repair project to the professionals can save you a great deal of time, ensure a quality job is done, give you peace of mind and enable you to enjoy work guarantee. However, to get all these benefits, you have to make the right selection of a company. You should avoid making some of the common mistakes listed above.