Beware of Furnace Scams!
Delta Air Systems is committed to keeping the people of Kitchener, Waterloo, Guelph and Cambridge comfortable for an affordable price. We’re a part of this community and have been for over 50 years. So when someone rolls into town with something about furnace and air conditioners that doesn’t sound quite right, we think you should know.
It has been brought to our attention that there are some organizations sending employees later on in the evening, knocking door-to-door and trying to push people into signing a long-term furnace or air conditioner rental agreement. The employees are commissions-based salespeople who are not licensed technicians and whose sole purpose is to get a sale.
It’s even gotten so big that organizations such as CTV and Manitoba Hydro have covered it.
From the people in Kitchener and Waterloo that we have spoken to, this is a rough idea of what they are saying:
“Can we come in to ensure that your home is safe and check your appliance venting.”
“There is a government-mandated movement that requires you to replace your furnace and air conditioner. This is part of an energy-efficiency movement to help reduce Canada’s/Ontario’s carbon footprint.”
“If you sign this contract (usually a 12 to 15-year contract to pay off your furnace and air conditioner) with us today, you can save by adopting this energy saving system early.”
Now, let us be perfectly clear: THIS IS NOT TRUE. DO NOT BELIEVE SOMEONE WHO TELLS YOU THIS.
The government of Canada (or Ontario) does not have a strict policy in place to force people to switch from an older furnace or air conditioner to a new, high-efficiency model, unless a licensed technician has deemed the appliance to not be safe or code compliant.
Some of the salesmen may use the up to $650 incentive from the IESO (Independent Electricity System Operator) formerly the OPA (Ontario Power Authority) as a hook to sign the deal. You should know that this incentive is available from any qualifying contractor to any owners who are upgrading to a newer energy star qualifying furnace and air conditioners.
However, this does not in any way mean that you will be forced to upgrade to a new furnace and/or air conditioner.
Why we write weekly blogs, why we offer low-commitment protection plans and why we felt it necessary to write this post are all same reason – we want to inform our customers and protect them from unnecessary expenses. We live here, just like you.
If you are interested in looking into what a new system can offer you and your family, schedule an appointment with one of our Delta professionals. Estimates are free and home comfort specialists can provide you with recommendations on the proper size, style and brands that will optimize your comfort and budget.
If you ever suspect something fishy is going on within the HVAC industry, our phone lines are always open. Give us a call and we can offer our advice on the best options for your home-comfort needs.