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It won't surprise anyone that the climate in San Diego is moderate. It rarely rains and seasonal temperatures fluctuate less here than most other major cities. That doesn't mean we don't get our share of extreme weather, however. Just ask people who live in Fallbrook or Lakeside.
It can certainly get chilly throughout the area in the winter and pretty warm when a heat wave hits in the summer. Often that heat wave will strike in January or February. When temperatures get that intense, how do you know to select the right HVAC contractor to install, repair or change out a heating and ac system?
Maybe you have already verified that the contractor was properly licensed, but that information is not going to tell you how they deal with their clients or if they run an honest business. A lot of people love to check with the Better Business Bureau to learn this information, but we've found the BBB to be considerably weak in this area. The BBB is a dues collecting organization. As long as businesses stay up-to-date with those dues, the BBB isn't going to be in a hurry to give them a negative rating or file consumer claims. Contrary to what many people believe, the BBB exists to serve business, not the consumer.
An even more dependable resource for ratings and reviews is the Internet. One can find objective consumer ratings and reviews on both Yelp and Google. First, go to a browser like Google, Bing or Yahoo. Then type in keywords such as air conditioning repair San Diego or heating and AC San Diego. Your results will vary, but you'll get a list of companies with gold stars next to their company names. These are the reviews and ratings from other consumers. You will also get businesses with Yelp ratings as well. Study the reviews on these platforms, but don't just look at good ones. Look closely at the bad reviews. Usually, a negative review will tell a lot more about a company than a good one.
Nearly all rating and review websites allow the business owner to reply to negative comments from consumers.
Pay attention to these. Owner replies tell you they care. A company that ignores customer feedback is one that you want to stay away from. If he or she responds by name calling or pointing the finger at the consumer, that's a warning sign as well. Don't trust companies that do this. Seek out contractors who react to negative comments as learning experiences and as suggestions for improvement.
Next time you want a heat pump, furnace, air conditioner or ductless mini-split solution for your home, make sure you check all the resources accessible to you online. You'll find HVAC directories, air conditioning forums, social media groups and government sites. The finest resource, however, are the viewpoints of other consumers who have had firsthand experience with a given contractor. That's just what customer review sites were created to do. They are your very own network.
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