re: AC Maintenance Plan Question

Would you change the oil in a vehicle that was still under warranty?

I called a “local” company, Surgi’s, when they were advertising an $89/unit maintenance charge. I would have never thought my two 7 year old Trane units could have so many problems. I knew they would try to upsell me, but never thought it would be as blatant as it was.

The tech checked amperage and suggested that it was pulling a little more than it should, so my capacitor was likely going bad. I let him finish his spiel that included needing 3 or 4 lbs of freeon. I then reminded him that I had variable speed units with no capacitors. He claimed that he mis-spoke.

I had a buddy (who used to actually work for that same company, and now does HVAC on the side as opposed to full time) come by to put a second set of eyes on it. He actually put gauges on it, and of course the freeon was exactly where it should have been with no other major issues.

He explained to me that alot of these “local” companies get bought out; this particular one by a larger company in Ball, LA. The techs are then pressured to become salesmen with the goal of upselling a million dollars in products and services a year. They of course do get a small percentage of everything they sell, including service plans. I’d like to have hope that HVAC guys aren’t going the way of car salesman and real estate agents, but I fear they are.