I got my furnaces inspected yesterday and cleaned. Everything was fine per the inspection except the serviceman said the run capacitors (2) need to be
replaced. The cost for these 2 capacitors was going to be $294 after a 20% discount. I almost fell for it because he said it would strain our blower
motor and to replace that would cost $700 approximately. He was correct that capacitors need to be changed out every 5 years or more because they can strain your motor as they age and put undue wear on them. What I am upset about is the charge for these two capacitors. My wife did a quick
check online and found the same two capacitors for $20. I think what they are doing is a highly questionable business practice. You get the customer to bite on the $59 special, you find a common service need (capacitors) and charge them an outrageous price to replace them. The primary fault does not lay with the serviceman. He seemed knowledgeable, pleasant and professional to deal with. He was doing what he was instructed to do and does not set the pricing.
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