It’s been a long, hot summer. Don’t get us wrong, summer in Chicagoland is our reward for the brutal winters. We’re not complaining, but maybe your family is. The kids grew tired of the hot weather weeks ago and you’ve been running the air conditioner nonstop. Now, in these last weeks of the season, what if the air conditioner blows out — or rather, stops blowing all together.

You definitely don’t have time to be messing around with technical difficulties. You’re running a household here—and that means juggling multiple things when everything’s spinning a million miles an hour. Whether it requires repair or replacement, this problem just needs to be fixed and fixed now, so you google “A/C Contractor” on your smart phone and pick the top local result. Of course, they’re as kind and gracious as they can be and promise to send someone out just as soon as possible today sometime between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

A few hours later, Steve the HVAC technician rings your doorbell. He seems nice enough, but after he pokes around your air conditioner for a few minutes, he pulls out some kind of weird instrument with wires and probes sticking out of it and some numbers flash on a little screen and he makes a grave face. Steve says a string of words that sounds something like, “It looks like your air handler is seeping coolant because the compressor blew the knuter valve, so we’re going to have to replace the stack overflow unit, but no need to worry, I’ve got one on the truck.”

While you’re trying to figure out if any of that makes sense, there’s a moment where you’re almost certain you can see dollar signs in Steve’s eyes, but you’re not quite sure. It doesn’t matter, though, because he’s here and he’s going to fix it.
You’re relieved—right? Should you be?

Resist the temptation to just say yes right away in high-pressure situations like these, especially with potentially costly repairs. Whether it’s your heating or your A/C, put the brakes on for a moment. If you don’t have a history of doing business with the company, or you just don’t feel right about the amount and the proposed fix, take the time to get a second opinion.

There’s no downside to doing it, and that second opinion could be the easiest way you save hundreds of dollars all year.

You can always depend on Allied Air Conditioning & Heating for your repair and maintenance needs. Even if the repairman is standing right in front of you, call us and we’ll provide consult over the phone or send out a technician. We’re able to provide the second opinion you need for confidence that you’re making the right decision and not getting taken for a ride.

For more than four decades, Allied has been the best North Suburban source for all your household heating and cooling repairs. Our reputation is based on consistently providing prompt, professional service and the highest quality products from manufacturers like Carrier.

Call us today, or call us the next time you need a second opinion!