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Be Aware! Even the most energy-efficient heating and cooling system will fail to save you money if it is installed incorrectly or improperly adjusted.  Avoid making your decision solely on the basis of price. The quality of the installation should be your highest priority, because it's installation, not brand name, that will determine energy cost, comfort, and durability. Just this past week, I was called upon to evaluate a new heat pump installation in Mecklenburg County.  The homeowner was having problems and the installer would not return to correct those problems.  I found copper lines joined together with *JB Weld, a type of epoxy glue.  The line was ruptured and Freon was leaking into the attic space.  HVAC lines carrying Freon are under immense pressure and must be brazed.

 Lines smeared with glue cannot be brazed.  I did the absolute best I could for this customer but after tearing away insulation; cutting away, discarding and replacing copper lines; and, recharging the system with Freon, this customer had more money invested in the system than he would’ve paid had he meticulously searched the yellow pages, making absolutely certain he found the highest priced heating and air conditioning contractor in Charlotte, NC.

I’m by no means saying that everyone advertising on Craigslist is not qualified or does shoddy work.  I advertise there.  I have friends who advertise there.  I am saying, “You need to do your homework.”  Asking the person if he’s licensed by the state is an excellent starting point.  Unusually low quotes, site-unseen, over the telephone, are warning signs.

My home is my number one investment and my family’s safety is my number one priority.  I apply that principle to each and every home I enter.  The customer’s satisfaction and payment is important – but, that’s not enough!  It’s my call and I am NOT going to leave that home until I am one-hundred percent satisfied with the job and thoroughly convinced that family’s health and safety are not at risk.

*JB Weld – An empty tube was left behind, concealed under the insulation, and only three inches from a copper joint – no rocket science was involved.  Also, the number of joints leads me to believe this was no more than scrap copper removed from a job-site dumpster.  Ordinarily, I NEVER comment negatively on another man's work but there are exceptions to every rule and this one is so far over the top, it definitely deserves my comment.