I recently had Chris Cochrane of Fat Boys come out to inspect our air conditioning system. He spent between two and three hours on site using various diagnostic tools, computers, and equipment to take readings. His conclusion was that nothing could be done to repair or improve the existing unit because it is 19 years old, and that a full replacement was the only option.
When I specifically asked whether there was anything that could be done to keep the house cool for the remainder of the season, he said absolutely not--we needed a new system. I also asked if he had checked the Freon levels. I never received a clear yes or no answer. Instead, he referred back to the readings he had taken and indicated that adding Freon would not help.
He provided a quote for a new system ranging from a little over $19,000 to more than $25,000. I told him I wanted a second opinion, and he said he understood.
That same day I had another company come out. They were here about 30 minutes, found that the Freon was extremely low due to a micro leak, and added nearly 4 pounds of Freon. The house has been cooling fine ever since. That company also noted the age of the system and suggested replacement would eventually be needed, but their quote for a new system came in just under $8,000--for what appears to be a comparable or better option.
I later asked Chris to explain the significant price difference of $10,000 to over $15,000. He responded by resending the same diagnostic readings but did not address the pricing discrepancy at all.
I am left questioning whether this constitutes price gouging. Being told there was "absolutely nothing" that could be done, only to have another company restore cooling the same day with a simple Freon recharge, and then receiving a quote more than double that of another reputable company without any justification for the difference, has left me very dissatisfied with the experience. read more
