Specialty Heating & Cooling

I am not sure why issues with home systems always seem to happen on weekends or long holidays—but that’s usually when something stops working. At the same time, we are all talking about rising costs and how we’re paying more than twice what we used to just a couple of years ago. Companies like Specialty Heating & Cooling are contributing to this problem with pricing practices that, in my view, take advantage of customers. Last week, I noticed an unusual noise coming from our furnace. I had a good idea of what it might be, as I dealt with the same issue when we lived in a different home. I called Specialty Heating & Cooling and scheduled an appointment. The technician arrived on time, and within five minutes the diagnostics confirmed exactly what I suspected. That’s when I was told there was a $189 diagnostic fee—something no one had mentioned when I scheduled the visit. I paid it, but I made it clear that this had not been disclosed. The technician said he would call after the Thanksgiving weekend with a repair estimate. On Monday, he contacted me and asked for my email. When I requested the total cost of the repair, the quote was $1,186.43. I asked for an explanation of how they justified charging nearly $1,200 for the same OEM part, made by FESCO, with one full year of warranty, that retails for about $142, installs with three screws, and takes less than 30 minutes to replace. Unfortunately, no clear explanation was provided. If their quote had been anywhere near reasonable—say, up to $500—I would have approved the repair immediately. However, at this price, I strongly suggest exploring alternatives before calling Specialty Heating & Cooling, unless you’re comfortable paying far more than what the job is worth.