Don’t Be Duped: 5 Tips For Owning Your Furnace Repair

Furnace repair scams are more common than most homeowners realize, especially during the tail end of Iowa’s harsh winter months. With just a few bitter cold spells left, you might be hoping your furnace can hold on a little longer. But then, during a sudden temperature drop, your heating system takes a dive. You know you need a repair, and fast, but how can you be sure the company you call won’t take advantage of the situation?

1. Watch Out for Furnace Repair Scams with “Too Good to Be True” Pricing

A quick internet search will pull up a handful of HVAC repair companies. Some will try to differentiate themselves with a low trip-charge fee to inspect your system. The savings may calm your nerves, that is, until you get the final bill. Often, these companies make up the difference with unexpected labor or parts charges, a hallmark of many furnace repair scams. Instead, look for companies that use a standardized pricing system. That way, you know you're not getting the short end of the stick.

2. Look for a Licensed HVAC Technician

Did you know that not every HVAC company requires its technicians to be licensed? Even years of experience in the business doesn't equate to the accreditation of holding an apprenticeship, journeyman's, or master's license. Holding a license means the technician must complete continuing education courses and abide by a universal set of standards. If you're unsure of the technician's credentials at all, feel free to ask for their license and registration.

3. Demand Data from Your Furnace Technician

If your technician is spending more time trying to convince you to purchase new equipment rather than troubleshooting the problem, that's a red flag. In this day and age, there are tools to measure just about everything, combustion, airflow, electrical consumption, voltages, you name it. So, if you're being told you need to overhaul your heating system, ask for the analytics to back it up. There are always anomalies, like an electrical failure, that may be tough to measure and diagnose at first. However, these types of repairs shouldn't require you to replace your system.

4. Don’t Be Bullied by HVAC Scare Tactics

In a pinch, technicians may try to use scare tactics to pressure you into buying new equipment. While situations like carbon monoxide poisoning and heat exchanger failure are very serious, the technician's claims should always be rooted in fact. If you're ever unsure, conduct some of your own research. Reputable organizations like the Air Conditioning Contractors of America are a great resource for homeowners seeking unbiased guidance. Protecting yourself from scare tactics is one of the best ways to avoid falling for furnace repair scams.

5. Go With the HVAC Warranty

The last thing you want is to shell out money for a repair only to have it break again one or two years down the road. Do yourself a favor, look for companies who offer repair warranties. Some companies may even cover the cost of poor repairs from previous homeowners. It never hurts to check! And, like any other major decision, feel free to seek out a second opinion. No one company will have all the answers, and you don't want to be left out in the cold.

It’s unfortunate that some companies may try to capitalize on you during a time of need, which is why furnace repair scams are more common than you might think. Knowing what to watch for helps protect your family, your finances, and your peace of mind. That’s why at Bell Brothers, we take service personally. It’s simple, we treat our customers how we’d like to be treated.

Bell Brothers is committed to training the next generation, and we added a state-of-art HVAC apprenticeship training facility in 2012. Listen as Chuck Gassmann shares why apprenticeship training programs are vital to help fill more than 100,000 HVAC technician jobs by 2025.

See all the advantages of a career with Bell Brothers — including no college debt!

You’ve heard about apprenticeship training, but what exactly does it entail? Watch the video below to see Chuck Gassmann explain the apprenticeship process and what you will learn in the training program.

Did you know? The starting salary for an HVAC service technician is higher than many of those for young adults with a college degree. The skilled trades provide a great career opportunity for bright young men and women who like technology, working with their hands and want to make a difference in others lives. Watch the video below to learn more.

See all the advantages of a career with Bell Brothers — including no college debt!

Updated: June 30, 2025

Energy costs are rising right along with Iowa’s summer temperatures, making it more important than ever to learn how to save on electric bill in summer. Since you’re running your air conditioner day and night, you might dread reading that utility bill each month. Don’t give up on saving energy and money, though!

With these seven tips, you can keep your family cool and comfortable while keeping energy costs low.

1. Replace the furnace filter.

We really can’t say this enough. If your furnace filter is dirty or clogged, it will also affect your air conditioning. Even normal dust build-up can reduce airflow by one percent per week.

2. Use a programmable thermostat.

If you’re away from home all day, why waste that energy to cool the air in your empty house? According to the U.S. Department of Energy, homeowners can save up to 10 percent a year on cooling (and heating) expenses by turning the thermostat back seven to ten degrees for eight hours a day.

Note: We don’t recommend you set the thermostat back while you’re not home during periods of high humidity or extreme temperatures since your system will have to work too hard to catch up.

3. Set thermostat at 74-76 degrees.

We’re all guilty of setting our thermostats in the 68-72 range. When you set your thermostat just one degree warmer, you can save up to 2 percent on cooling costs.

4. Schedule an air conditioner tune-up.

We recommend annual maintenance to ensure your air conditioner is working at its best. A technician will clean and inspect the components and check any damages or safety hazards. If it’s not properly cleaned every year, your system could be losing up to 40 percent efficiency.

Regular AC maintenance and tune-ups are one of the most effective ways how to save on electric bill in summer while keeping your cooling system running smoothly.

5. Change direction of ceiling fans.

Make sure ceiling fans are rotating counter-clockwise to push the air down onto you.

6. Shade the air conditioning unit.

Direct sunlight on a window unit or the outdoor unit of a central air conditioning system adds to the workload of the equipment. Lend it a hand by keeping it shaded.

7. Close the curtains.

Keep window blinds and curtains, especially on the south and west sides of the house, closed during the day. Direct sunlight can add unintentional heat to your home.

If you follow this advice and are still struggling to manage cooling costs, upgrading to a more energy-efficient air conditioner and furnace system could be the key to how to save on electric bill in summer long term.

When is it time to call in reinforcements for your home’s humidity issues? Watch this video for some advice on humidity control from Chuck. Head over to our Facebook page to watch the whole video.

Every problem presents an opportunity to discover a solution. Maybe the issue requires putting in little extra work. Or, maybe, solving it means going back to the drawing board entirely and completely adjusting your approach.

We have a problem here in Iowa. Actually, this problem is affecting America as a whole. We need to train and hire 3.4 million skilled workers in the next 10 years. And the demand for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) workers alone is expected to grow by 14 percent by 2024. We could stew and worry and be consumed by the magnitude of this problem, but I’d rather start focusing on the solution.

In my opinion, these individuals right here are the answer.

And there are a lot of Des Moines business leaders who agree with me. That’s why we all teamed up to form the Skilled Trades Alliance. Working to raise awareness around the need for skilled workers and the benefits a career in the trades can offer, the Skilled Trades Alliance is comprised of representatives from various industries including homebuilding, concrete, welding, plumbing, electrical, HVAC and more. In partnership with Central Campus and Des Moines Public Schools, we’re hoping to bring real world experience to the next generation of workers.

One of the first initiatives presented by the Alliance was a week-long Skilled Trades Camp held in June. Campers signed up to spend each day learning about a different trade from construction to carpentry. The only pre-requisites were a good attitude and a willingness to participate and learn.

While people often talk about how important it is to expose high school students to a possible skilled trades career, we think the conversation needs to start even earlier than that. That’s why our campers were students entering the eighth or ninth grade. The earlier young people are introduced to jobs in skilled work, the more time they have to consider pursuing it as a career path.

Bell Brothers Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc., was happy to host five different groups of campers throughout the week. Campers got to learn about HVAC equipment and our apprenticeship program as well as visit an actual construction site to see how all the trades work together to accomplish a common goal. We think the campers learned a lot from the experience, and I know the Bell Brothers team came away with some valuable lessons as well.

So, yes, we’re staring a big challenge in the face. The consequences of a shrinking workforce are rapidly approaching. But what a great opportunity to educate our kids about the many advantages that come with a career in the trades — advantages like higher average salaries, no college debt, on-the-job training, and working within a much-need industry for a company that is eager to invest in young people and help them realize their full potential.

The Skilled Trades Alliance is just getting started. We have big plans for the future and for how we’re going to involve Iowa’s youth in these growing industries. Stay up to date on our efforts by following the Bell Brothers Facebook page as well as the Central Campus Facebook page.

Chuck and Steve discuss one of the questions we hear all the time: Should I set my HVAC system fan to the “ON” or “AUTO” setting on my thermostat?

Head over to our Facebook page to watch the video.

One of the questions we get all the time — why is furnace and AC maintenance so expensive? Chuck is here to explain why regular maintenance is important and how it might actually save you money in the end.

Head over to our Facebook page to watch the video.