So, Val Bartkus quoted me via text a few weeks ago $85 for an a/c check, which normally includes…read morecleaning the unit that contains the fan, and checking the charge. My a/c works fine--it's 2 years old, which I told him, no worry, no hurry. Imagine my surprise when the tech handed me a $170 bill for checking the charge and hosing down the unit--only from the outside, not even opening the unit to get the dirt and leaves out. And, I had asked his techs to find out why the unit sometimes will not start without me restarting the thermostat. Nothing, they could figure out nothing re that, and I had to call another company (that originally installed the a/c) to figure out the thermostat was not connecting correctly with the a/c and needed to be replaced.
When I questioned the doubling of the bill, the tech showed me that Bartkus (the owner) had texted him to charge extra for washing it--When I texted Bartkus re the doubling, he said $85 is just for coming out to check the unit. The rest is extra--so washing my unit with a hose only from the outside was $85 extra? And, then, how come that was not stated before the tech washed it, so I had an option to say no to the outside washing? And, how come washing it does not include opening up the fan housing, vacuuming out the debris, washing off the fan, and cleaning it thoroughly with water from the inside vs something I can do (wash it from outside)?
I had my a/c serviced last year by Ken Erickson for $70, which included washing the unit (and Ken opened up the fan area and washed inside there) and I know my other HVAC guy from Home Comfort Systems charges $90 this year, 2025, for the same service, and always takes the fan cover off and washes and cleans inside. I've recommended Bartkus in the past, but now I'm hesitant. He's saying now that he will refund me the $85 extra, after my check clears, and he did do that, thankfully, so he honored his $85 quote, in the end. But, I would still double check prices with him and what they include before a service. In the past, I've not had him upcharge me after the service, so this is something new. And, unfortunately, I will say his techs don't know that much re how an a/c works not to have figured out the thermostat issue.
