We’ve been in business for almost fifty years, and in that time we’ve seen just about everything. Many of our customers come to us with problems that began while they were working with a different company in the past.
When your HVAC breaks down in July, the heat’s not working in December, or you can’t access your home’s running water, the sense of worry and the nature of the emergency can make you susceptible to pressure from companies that are more interested in padding out their bottom line than in truly helping you solve your problem.
How can you avoid getting scammed? We have four essential questions to ask before you commit to work with a heating, cooling, or plumbing company.
“Would You Mind If I Got a Second Opinion?”
Companies that have trained their technicians to use high-pressure sales tactics aren’t going to want you to ask this. It’s a polite way of saying, “I’m not sure I need this repair/new installation, I need time to think.” A good service technician should be happy to give you the time you need to make your decision, research the cost, and decide whether or not the job is within your household budget.
At Donnelly’s Plumbing Heating and Cooling, we don’t believe in strong-arm sales tactics and we won’t start working until you give approval. Our service professionals are happy to come out and take a look, whether it’s for repairs or simply to give some advice on what may need worked on in the future. We’ll provide you with what you need to make an informed decision, including what options would work best for your home, what kind of costs you may be looking at, and the financing options we’ve made available to help you prepare and budget for a large repair or new unit installation.
If you ask for a second opinon and your contractor gets nervous — it may be a sign that it’s time to make a new call.
“Can I See What Problem You’re Talking About?”
Communication is key when it comes to building long-term relationships, which should be every good HVAC company’s goal. Some of our customers have been with us for decades, because they know we’re not only happy to provide whatever repairs they need, we also make it our mission to ensure that our customers are fully informed about every single aspect of what we do.
Have you heard about our twice-yearly tuneups for Gold Star members? We’re happy to have you along so you can see what goes into keeping your HVAC system up and running at peak efficiency. If you’re interested installing a brand new HVAC unit, we’re happy to chat with you about possible costs, whether or not the unit is the right size for our home and lifestyle requirements, and work with you on ensuring you receive the right HVAC unit — not necessarily the most expensive one.
“Do You Charge By The Hour?”
This isn’t necessarily a sign of someone with less-than-positive intentions, but more a continuing problem in the industry.
Hourly charges mean that anything that doesn’t go exactly according to plan could leave you looking at a bill that is potentially hundreds of dollars more than the price you were initially quoted for the job. That’s why we believe in flat-rate pricing. Our costs are structured by the individual job, not by the hour, so we can be sure that the price quote we give you is as accurate as humanly possible.
We even added an extra benefit for our Gold Star members (read more about those great benefits we offer here) so they don’t pay fees for emergency service, dispatch, or calls that come in after daytime hours have ended.
“Can I Hear More About Your Business?”
Getting to know your service professional (and the company they work for) is a great way to feel more comfortable with them while they are in your home and hard at work. Donnelly’s Plumbing Heating and Cooling is a company that has been in business for over 44 years, has always maintained our local focus here in Eastern Pennsylvania, and makes it our mission to build lasting customer (and employee) relationships that have spanned over three decades of partnership.
Is there any information about us that you need to help you decide to choose us for your home heating and cooling system or plumbing repairs, maintenance, or installations? Just ask! We’d be happy to speak with you about our code of ethics, our history and roots here in Pennsylvania, our focus on hiring and working with military veterans, or just about anything else related to the company you can think of.
“When Can You Get Here?”
Of course, this last question is more of one we are happy to hear. If you’re looking for heating, cooling, or plumbing repairs, maintenance, or new installations, make sure to give Donnelly’s Plumbing Heating and Cooling a call. We’d be happy to come out and help, day or night. Our fully-stocked trucks and warehouse mean that you won’t be trapped waiting days and days for the right parts to arrive, and our emphasis on customer service will help you feel a peace of mind knowing that we’re hard at work for your household. To schedule service, give us a call at [hls_phone_number] or fill this form out online at any time. Interested in hearing more about that Gold Star program we mentioned? Just click the banner below!
