A landlord who added central air to two apartments said the repair problems that followed raised even more doubts than the installation itself.

Trying to figure out whether an HVAC company was taking advantage of them, the property owner went to Reddit's r/HVACAdvice community after receiving a $1,400 bill for a "warranty coil" and a separate $950 charge they said they hadn't approved beforehand.

Here's what to know

In a Reddit post, the landlord said two HVAC systems installed in 2022 later became a source of conflict with a repair company. The original poster wrote that the company "bills me $1,400 to fix one for a warranty coil without any explanation or asking me to approve it before doing the work," and later sent "a bill for $950 without my prior approval."

OP then wrote, "I feel like there are red flags… Can someone who understands this stuff take a look and let me know what you think? I'm learning there are many shady characters in the HVAC industry."

A lack of documentation added to the concern. The landlord said the invoices didn't clearly show whether the quoted parts were under warranty or how much of the total was labor, and wrote, "I asked for pics after I questioned the $1,400 invoice and never got a reply."

The top comment offered a simple recommendation, suggesting, "Always ask for pictures and keep up with your serial numbers. You can also check if a warranty was filed on your serial number at the manufacturer but you have to call." That advice matters because warranty coverage is often tied to the equipment serial number.

Several commenters said the situation was not entirely clear-cut. One noted that "it is very common for hvac companies not to itemize an invoice," but added that if the parts were under warranty, "those labor prices seem pretty high." 

Another commenter said the bills might reflect flat-rate pricing rather than a detailed tally of time and materials. As that person put it, "Regardless of costs we charged a set price for everything we did." That does not necessarily mean a customer is being scammed, but it can make it much harder to judge whether a bill is reasonable.

What can be done?

Most people do not know whether a coil, board, or blower failure is unusual after only a few years, and many also have little sense of what fair labor charges look like in their area. That uncertainty came through in one of the OP's replies, when they wrote, "At this point it's hard to tell who's being honest, so I'm trying to learn what I can."

Keeping records from the start, like serial numbers, data plates, photos, invoices, and written approval before any work begins, can make HVAC repairs or upgrades easier to sort out later.

For homeowners looking to upgrade or replace aging systems, Palmetto's Comfort Plan network can help you find efficient heating and cooling solutions for your home and connect you with vetted installers, so you don't have to wonder whether you're being ripped off. 

And if you are not ready to spend up front, Palmetto's Comfort Plan includes $0-down options that can lower your heating and cooling costs by up to 50%, plus 12 years of free maintenance. That kind of support can make high-efficiency HVACs and heat pumps easier to consider without a massive initial bill.

Where can I learn more?

Questions about HVAC pricing and whether to trust a contractor often come up when a repair bill or replacement quote feels hard to explain. These stories look at homeowners dealing with steep estimates, aggressive sales pitches, and confusing heating and cooling decisions.

• One homeowner was shocked when an HVAC tech sent a $25,000 AC quote for a basic replacement.

• Another homeowner blasted a $50,000 new AC quote as wildly off base.

• Frustrated homeowners said HVAC contractors used trust me sales tactics to push costly systems.

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