There are secrets in every trade and business. I reveal some that we see in our HVAC business with the hope you can avoid one of these issues if they ever arise. I think most folks that do what we do are good and honest, but there are enough of the shiesty ones that give the rest a bad name.
So if you see one of these tactics performed in your home, you'll know something is up or off with the HVAC technician you've welcomed into your home.
For more information on Griffin Air, visit https://www.griffinair.net/
For more information on New HVAC Guide, visit https://www.newhvacguide.com/
So if you see one of these tactics performed in your home, you'll know something is up or off with the HVAC technician you've welcomed into your home.
For more information on Griffin Air, visit https://www.griffinair.net/
For more information on New HVAC Guide, visit https://www.newhvacguide.com/
Hey guys before we get to the video for more tips and tricks in the heating and air industry, please click that subscribe button. Thank you: hey guys, joshua griffin, air serving the middle peninsula and the northern neck, and i wanted to do a video because you know just like anybody else that has any sort of traction on youtube and they're starting to get some folks to watch them. We have found some haters too, and a lot of the people that seem to hate me are other heating and air technicians or contractors that they want the homeowners to stay in the dark. I had one guy even message me and of course comment on my video and put all this nasty stuff because he didn't even like that.
I told the customer who owns the thermostat by the way if it's their thermostat. He didn't like that. I was giving out the code on how to unlock that thermostat, so i'm kind of becoming that guy, i'm the guy that other contractors are starting to hate right because they don't want you to know some of this stuff. Well, i've got three things: three secrets that heating and air contractors don't want you to know and most decent heating and air guys they don't really care.
If you know this stuff right, but it seems like it's becoming rare to find a decent one right, we've got competitors in our market and there's a few of them that i actually think pretty highly of, but there's a bunch of them that don't have the greatest Reputation and they're the folks that don't want you to know these types of things that i'm about to tell you. So what are the three things that you should know that a lot of heating and air guys don't want you to know? First thing is first and i'm talking about a broad spectrum on this uh. We don't do this at griffin air, but i have noticed that in our industry some companies will adjust their prices based on how busy they are kind of like a car lot. I remember when i was a kid: i heard that car salesmen will lower their prices at the end of a month, so that way they can hit their quota if things have been slow, they're willing to make a better deal - and i don't know if that's true - That's just something you hear right well, i have noticed that we have competitors in the in our industry that, if they're really busy they'll raise their prices, so here we are we're bidding our price, we're giving them a fair estimate for a really good product and a Really good, warranty and they're way over bidding us because they're super busy that time of year and then other times of the year, when we're still keeping our fair price, competitive, great warranty, great product, then the same company will find during other parts of the year they're Coming in at prices down here - and i like to ask folks, especially if we don't earn your business, i like to ask why you know what could we have done better and a lot of times.
Companies that i know that they have in the past were bidding way more than us thousands of dollars more well. They beat our price by a thousand bucks or 500 bucks, and i think most people, if you're watching my videos, you don't just pay attention to pricing. You pay attention to other stuff too, but you want to get several estimates. You want to make sure you're being treated fairly and a lot of our customers. You know they care more about the price itself. You know they care more about warranties and the products and having less headaches and all that good stuff. But obviously, if you can get a good deal or whatever you want to make sure you're being treated fairly, you want to be marrying a company. If you will, that is going to treat you fairly for years to come as well, so that is secret number one that a lot of heating and air contractors don't want you to know secret number two.
This is kind of a simple one, but i see it all the time years ago i used to work with a guy and he would go into homes and if they didn't have batteries in their thermostat, so it was hardwired and it was working just fine. He would put batteries in those thermostats and i, of course i asked why and i found out that this was actually a shady sheisty practice. A lot of thermostats don't operate like a smoke detector. Would you know we have smoke detectors in our house.
They're, hardwired they've got battery backup so that way, if the power goes out, that battery's there to still protect you in your home in case there's a fire. A lot of thermostats do not operate like that, a lot of thermostats. If you put batteries in them, they will operate off the batteries, whether they're, hardwired or not, and the problem with that is, as those batteries start to die, they start to lose their power as time goes on. Well, then, you could end up having issues.
You know your hot summer day, you don't have air conditioning and it gives this sheisty contractor a way for him to be able to get more business out of you, come out put new batteries in the thermostat and then sell you something or whatever it's just kind Of a shiesty practice, little disclaimer some thermostats have to have batteries if they're, not hardwired, if they don't have a common wire, the battery is what operates that digital thermostat. There are times when we've replaced the system and there's not enough conductors, not enough wires in the cable going to the thermostat and instead of tearing out walls and having to pull a new wire and stuff like that, we'll put batteries in the thermostat. So i'm not saying batteries are always a bad thing, and a thermostat honeywell came up with a few thermostats a few years ago that if the power went out, you'd have to reset the date and all this stuff before the thermostat could operate again, which is huge Problem for folks, if they weren't home, like they went on vacation and then they get back home and find out that the air conditioning went out and just because there was a power surge and the thermostat never turned the system back on. Even though power was turned back on so with issues like that, we might put some batteries in there every time we add batteries or put batteries in a system. We want that homeowner to know we want them to know hey. You know right now, it's spring. Just remember next spring: let's put new batteries in there if you're on our vip club at griffin, air and we're doing maintenances for you that year, that's something we're going to handle for you! So i'm only talking about those times where you've got a thermostat, everything's been working, fine, you're, getting maintenance done or whatever, and you see that heating and air guys slipping batteries into your thermostat. That is a little bit shiesty ask them! Why they're doing it and see what their reason is and finally number three the secrets that heating and air contractors don't want you to know, and that is you can check your own warranty with a lot of brands, some brands you can't, unfortunately, you got ta rely On your heating and air company to check that out and make sure that your warranty is still good to go, but a lot of companies have it right there on their website.
You can go right on there punch in your serial number. It will tell you if your warranty is still valid or not. You might have to put in your name, maybe a little bit of other information but for the most part, you'll be able to check whether or not your warranty is valid and whether your system is still under warranty right there from your own computer. Now.
Why is that a big deal? Why does that even matter well, and we have seen in our market there's been companies that will tell folks that their system is no longer under warranty and charge them beaucoups of money to make a repair for a part. That's actually covered, and it's just super sheisty, i'm not saying all companies do that. But if you have a company, tell you hey your system's not covered under warranty, here's the price! You can check that warranty yourself with a lot of manufacturers. In fact, i've made it easy for you to do that, instead of trying to track it down and figure out all these different places.
If you go to our website griffinair.net or my other website, new hvac guide, dot com, there's a tab at the bottom. That says, check your warranty and you just click that it will take you to a page where you just click the manufacturer of your system and then you'll be able to check your warranty again. Not all companies have that capability online, but a lot of them do most of the big dogs most of the companies. You've heard of they've got a place for you to be able to check your own warranty, so i hope that helps again.
Those are three secrets that we have run into that. I think that homeowners ought to know - and i'm sure i'm gon na get some hate on this. I'm sure somebody's gon na message me or comment or whatever, but you know, that's kind of become my deal. I want to piss them off. I want you to be informed and i hope that helps. Thank you. The last thing i'll say is if you're in the market for a new heating and air system and you're in virginia and the middle peninsula or the northern neck, give griffin air a call. We'll give you a free estimate and the best warranty in the area.
But if you're, not in our coverage area check out my new website, i've even got a little banner up here. New hvac guide, dot com check out that site because we've put so much information on there. It's as if i wrote a book telling folks, hey here's. The good and the bad avoid this or that i've even got a whole page called no knows things to stay away from, and so before you spend thousands check out that website and finally, for more tips and tricks in the heating and air industry.
Click that subscribe button, thanks for watching you.
Good hvac work isn't cheap, cheap hvac isn't good
Flame Furnace watched this video & down voted it. 🙄
i have an idea and need ur advice just to see if my idea has merit…. my ducts are too small they say for AC i wanna add a portable air conditioner connected to my ductwork and pushed with an inline fan. my house is 1500 sqft two level home, would this work? The dumb heat pump isn't practical for the whole house so i want a CHEAP solution. I also wanna do the same with a wood stove which i believe will work i dont have a furnace in the wood stove house so i wanna run ducts to the room with the wood stove and pull the heat with a inline fan and distribute it around the house…this will work but wanna hear ur thoughts. Service area Ottawa??
we live in roanoke va. i am a disabled veteran- any way i could hire you?
#1…HVAC guys are not car dealers. Most if not all have a markup margin they maintain in order to be profitable. SOME contractors slash their price when they know certain other contractors are biding jobs against them.
#2….batteries leak and cause damage to the control boards on thermostats. For this reason I don’t put batteries in thermostats. IF there aren’t enough wires present during a change out job I always pull a new wire. This is the best practice and should be figured on the quote.
#3….honesty is the best policy. It took me a while to realize that I didn’t have to run down competitors for “sheisty” work….let their work speak for itself. Just explain what was done wrong to start with and let the customer form their own opinion. Good luck everyone!
You spilled the beans that’s why they’re mad !!! 😂 They ripped off so many during these floods selling furnaces when they could have replace the combination valve and clean up the burner and gaz chamber for $800
thanks for sharing, but to be fair raising prices based on demand is nothing new, it's economics 101 / supply and demand.
if it still hard wired and batteries go dead then…
It is possible, to turn my air handler From Vertical to horizontal position ? I am about to take this task on my own… FLorida
A lot of t-stats use batteries for backup. That way you don't lose the programing. That's not a scam. Programing is a bitch no one likes doing. I make the customer do it so they get to know their equipment and don't call me to change it for free. I cannot be running around Charging settings for some lady having hot flashes and shit.
All warranty customers should go to this guy, he’s great.
Just subbed after watching a second video !! Thank you for all your help
I often see a line item that says "a/c unit charging"… The unit comes charged. When i state the obvious they get pissy…
I've resorted to figuring it out for myself because no one can fix what's wrong.
I am not sure if you answer questions on here but last week our AC unit (23 years old) stop blowing air. We have had 2 companies come out and give estimates. One told us $7,000 (we found on them home advisor) and the other (that we found through home depot) told us $16,000! Why is there such a price difference? Also, do we even need to replace the whole a/c unit and furnace?
Griffin Air do the right things and you'll never regret it! Customers will respect and trust you and that's as good as money in your bank account!
Thats how b00mers are Are you in Barrhaven ?
I've been around HVAC my whole life and I have found that HVAC techs don't like each other and think that everybody but them sucks. Don't be sad if other HVAC people hate on you.
1. First item, true story. It is called supply and demand. The best deals on AC can be found in the winter.
2. Second item, I've not seen this. If contractors are doing this, they should be reported to the state license board. That is shady as heck.
3. Third item, again, I have not seen this but if contractors are doing this, they should be reported. They should not knowingly charge homeowners for a warrantied part.
I used to work for a company that installs Goodman air conditioning units. Removes the Goodman tag, puts their company name. Sells the units for example a 5 ton unit for over 20k. And won’t honor the warranty because they would never register with Goodman. I hated this company.
Not sure how it works in your market. But we have a profit margin on complete systems. So when train raises prices of equipment, our prices go up. And when the prices drop, so do our prices. I'm pretty sure that's how most companies operate. But I think that Quality work at a fair price, is key to customer retention.
Your awesome brother. Keep your integrity.
You’re absolutely correct! ‘Decent’ workers will want customers to know simple things to make their life easier, not withhold information to con people into paying them to do unnecessary work!
Your videos can help to weed out the unethical companies by asking them some basic questions before hiring. Service area Barrhaven??
A major issue with a decently functioning system is the fact that a/c installers are, for the most part, sub-contractors who are paid very little and the contractor is purely profit motivated. This being the case, ALL INVOLVED, would love to throw out a condenser and air handler unit, replace them in an hour and give you a bill which is far more than it should be. I once had an a/c unit replaced where the compressor was on the roof. The tech was an Indian fellow who asked me if he could throw the old unit off the roof. I allowed it. He then strapped the new condenser onto his back and stepped it up the ladder himself! He was a sub-contractor who was paid only $160 to replace both the condenser on the roof as well as the air handler in the closet…
That is some engineer crookery to have designed a thermostat to use batteries over 24v system power. Makes zero sense. What ive noticed 24v systems without batteries use a hearing aid style battery for memory. Now with smart thermostats saved on the company website.
I live in Queen Creek, Arizona. When I bought my house in 2018, I called a local ac service company to inspect and replace the blower fan in my attic that exploded. The tech was pushy, arrogant and insulting. He asked me about our finances then tried to convince me that we needed a whole new system for $12,000. He repeatedly lied about things he found during his inspection. I ordered him off the property, then called his boss. The tech lied to his boss. That worked for until I played him my digital recorder. Never heard from them again. Must have been something I said?
Your making your money convincing people that companies are sketchy by making them think your so upstanding. Look their are sketchy people but your still wrong about a few things. First off batteries with a common wire doesn't cause problems the common wire is primary and batteries only are good to see what temp is if power goes out. 2 I don't think getting multiple bids is good advice to loyal customers that customer should have a relationship with me enough to not get other bids. In most cases the people that get multiple bids usually go with cheapest price and that alone is misleading. Brand name and price doesn't depict in detail what the homeowner is getting. Cheaper usually means just that.
What problems would arise from having batteries and it's hard wired? That doesn't make sense… having batteries saves your settings if your power goes out. You wouldn't lose all your schedule settings Are you in Orleans ?
Thanks for sharing information..It's good to see good old honest people out there. That's what's wrong with this world now, everybody trying to screw each other..keep up the great video's..
The first thing is just basic business sense if you are too busy to keep up with all your work your prices are to low, its just the difference when you have a businessman run a contracting company and a contractor running a company you see it a lot in trades, a lot of guys are good with their hands and god bless them but they are terrible business owners
I just paid $380 for a capacitor change, system was not checked other. Took longer on trying to sell a maintenance plan than the actual service. Paid $180 2-3 years ago and they also checked the whole system.
Hey, man, I have been in the HVAC business since March, and just wanted to know if my business was guilty of any these. The only one was the batteries in the stat with the common wire hooked up. However, changing the batteries in the stat is the first thing we reccomend to customers if they are having problems. The same thing with air filters. We'd rather not drive out and charge people for something they can easily do themselves.
You're very honest and ethical. Your company is exactly the company I'd want in my home. Are you in Ottawa ?
I don’t know how good technically are you informed about the stuff you talking about. And I can guarantee you will change price based on market situation.
You are awesome!
I’m sorry your first topic is basic inflation .. that’s basic business 101 you adjust prices based on growth or decline along with costs that’s is spent to buy supplies or anything spent into keeping the business running. For example covid messed up pricing for supplies ans goods everywhere so you have adjust your price to cover the cost of supplies or equipment used or needed..Every one does price adjustments up or down accordingly… that’s how you grow your business and stay out of the red zone
Another scam is contractors hardwire UV lamps vs allowing to plug into outlet. I prefer the latter.
Zzzz
Number one thing I tell customers is do not buy the super deluxe model AC systems. I don't care what brand we are talking about. They are all over engineered and have way more issues because of this. Just stick with one speed 15 SEER and buy the extended warranty.
Anytime a guy like me is trying to talk you into spending $6000 less on a new system there is a very good reason for that. Are you in Nepean ?
Other corrupted contractors hate you, but we, normal customers who love a honest contractors, love you man!
I need my Air working
I have a Question for you why do they charge so much to install a new unit when they are just removing the old one and not replacing any of the duct work or the copper pipping my quotes have been any where from 10 to 11 thousand but the units on line do not cost that much it like they are tripling the money.
Hi thank you for such an informative video. I am looking to get a new heat pump as mine has went out. I currently have a 2 ton in a 1940 sq ft home although it worked well. Now that I need a new one some companies have quoted me with a 3 or 3.5 ton but others have quoted me at 2 tons. I'm concerned because I don't want to make tge wrong decision. I am told that they quoted me with a 2 ton because of the size of my refrigerate line. Any feedback you can offer would be appreciated or even better a video.
Well there are a fuck load of dumb ass people in this world who would stick a gauge set on an ac unit and try to blow in it to charge it then complain about how the hvac guy made it where they cant fix it themselves..
I actually teach sensor cleaning, drain line and gen maintnence but usually they call anyway
Local Competition is nasty. Only met one that was decent that would even toss me leads he doesn't do. All of them will kill you for their dinner. Service area Kanata??
Thank you. The only way I, as a homeowner, can support you and good business is to learn and educate myself to be able to select and work with good companies so you can have profits to last. I will spend time watching other related videos from your channel.
HORRIBLE WARRENTY, LOW QUALITY PARTS….CHINA…..JUNK…. Service area Nepean??
Most of the time when i install the thermostat i always tell the higher manager about how to set the thermostat. there is a lot of time where employees will adjust the t stat without the manager knowing. I will give them it all day every day but only to the manager
Thank you for all the information. However can you increase the volume.
grasias