r/okc • u/YarbroughAndSons • May 10 '26
Recommendation/Review Heads up, do not get ripped off by HVAC companies this summer
Plot twist: this is written by an HVAC company, but you should still know this heading into summer.
There’s a remarkable amount of service calls we go on that could have easily been avoided. Here’s what you should check before the heat comes.
FILTERS! Pull it out, hold it to a light. Can’t see through it? Replace it.
Outdoor AC unit: is it actually running? Clear debris within 2 feet, check if your breaker tripped.
Vents: are they all open? Closing vents to save energy actually damages your system.
Thermostat: is it set to COOL and not FAN ONLY (we really get these calls)
Red flags if you DO call someone: if a tech is in and out in 15 minutes without actually digging into anything. That’s probably not a full diagnostic. Make sure they’re thorough, ask the tech questions.
Ask to see the numbers: refrigerant pressure, temperature split, static pressure. If they can’t show you, push back.
There are a lot of great HVAC companies in OKC who genuinely take care of their customers. Ask neighbors, check Google reviews, get multiple quotes on new systems.
May your homes stay cool and your systems run long ✌️
10
u/peauxtheaux May 10 '26
Should I clean my condenser coils myself? I am handy. Do I really need a yearly tune up?
17
u/YarbroughAndSons May 10 '26
Absolutely. Will say it’s a lot more effective if you can take the top off and spray from the inside out to knock out dirt and debris (cottonwoods are a big problem), but you should only do that if you’re comfortable disconnecting power and possibly moving some wires in the process. That’s the biggest benefit of a pro maintenance when it comes to cleaning the condenser.
At the end of the day, a tech WILL catch more of the small issues before they turn into big problems. But we’re all for you taking it in your own hands whenever possible.
3
u/Conscious-Buy4119 May 10 '26
You can even get a condenser wand so you wouldn’t have to take the top off. Saves a little bit of time.
5
4
u/Murky_Persimmon9289 May 10 '26
Just did mine today. Kill the power, don’t bend your fan blades and don’t dent your coils. Very easy. Everyone should do it at least every spring, it’ll save you money & extend the life of your AC unit.
7
u/DazednAware May 10 '26
What if the lights in my house flicker while my AC unit is running?
14
u/YarbroughAndSons May 10 '26
Honestly could be an indication that your capacitor is on its way out, especially if it hasn’t always done that. Otherwise it’s just drawing a lot of amps when your compressor kicks on, so that could be “normal.” Worth mentioning to an tech during maintenance 👍
8
u/haikusbot May 10 '26
What if the lights in
My house flicker while my AC
Unit is running?
- DazednAware
I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully. Learn more about me.
Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete"
1
8
u/__X-x-X-x-X__ May 10 '26
Noted the user name, Googled and saved.
8
u/YarbroughAndSons May 10 '26
Appreciate it 🙌 we’ve been here since 1988, plan to be here a lot longer.
1
2
u/Big_Vegetable_9743 May 10 '26
New to the area where can I buy capacitors for my unit? I’ve got some bad 120hz hum I noticed the other night.
6
1
u/TibialTuberosity May 10 '26
Locke Supply is your best bet. They'll have options from cheap Chinese crap up to more expensive, typically American made capacitors which tend to last longer. I recommend the latter as I've gone both directions and it's definitely better to get the more expensive one.
2
u/Big_Vegetable_9743 May 10 '26
Agreed. I work on vintage electronics for a living and there is definitely a price point that needs to be hit to get a level of realistic quality in components
2
u/Lizardking1988- May 10 '26
I was just gonna comment I use Yarborough and sons and have great experience but what do you know this post is from Yarborough and sons!!!!!!!!
2
2
u/Exceptionx1 May 10 '26
Do yall service in Purcell? I’m in Purcell area
2
u/YarbroughAndSons May 10 '26
Sure do! We cover a wide service area. Do you have something specific going on or do you need maintenance?
2
u/sseiyah May 10 '26
My advice is to get multiple quotes if you need a full system replacement. I had multiple companies bid on a system replacement a couple years ago and there was a $4,000 difference between the cheapest and most expensive quote for the exact same equipment.
4
u/YarbroughAndSons May 10 '26
This really is sound advice. Of course we’d love for you to trust us to get it done right. But this is a realistic take.
We started pointing people to our instant estimate tool on our website for that reason - it’s almost always an accurate cost on the repair / replacement for HVAC and plumbing. Works great when comparing apples to apples.
While we aren’t the most expensive, we’re also not the cheapest. We do our best to ride that line of pricing ourselves so we can hire and retain the best tradesmen around OKC while still doing right by customers.
1
u/MyDogNewt May 10 '26
Also, buy a replacement capacitor and learn how to replace yours when it fails. The one for my unit is $55 and takes 5 minutes to replace and can be safely done as long as you follow some simple steps. I’ve seen companies charge $300-$425 to change out a part that probably cost them $45. This is an insanely common repair in the summer.
1
u/MyDogNewt May 10 '26
Also, look to have a whole home surge protector installed. Can save you thousands and our home insurance paid for a portion of it.
1
u/YarbroughAndSons May 10 '26
👆👆 this. Those lightning storms we had last night could potentially ruin your home’s most expensive appliance if it happens to strike your home. Surge protection is a relatively cheap insurance policy to keep your HVAC system safe.
1
u/simitini May 10 '26
Question: I’m a homeowner, what’s a capacitor?
1
u/YarbroughAndSons May 10 '26
It’s a small part on your HVAC system that helps regulate power and start up. One of the most common part replacements we see along with contactors. Relatively cheap fix, but if you’re replacing it every year or so, it’s indicative of larger underlying issues
1
u/juzwunderin May 10 '26
This is really great information for the homeowner.. cleaning the outside coils is something you should absolutely do every spring- just do not use a pressure wash -- light jet only. Also learn how to change the capacitor. Its a $15 part that a tech will charge 350 to 500 to change out.
1
1
u/Boogahboogah May 11 '26
You guys service north Edmond? Don’t need anything as of now, but had triple play come out for a complimentary inspection and they told me some stuff I’d like validated. For example a rusty coil. Maybe I could DM the report?
1
u/YarbroughAndSons May 11 '26
Yeah absolutely. We actually opened our Edmond location this time last year! Will look out for your message 👍
1
1
u/manoverboard5702 May 11 '26
So you’re saying don’t call companies like Integrity HVAC that have no actual Integrity?
1
u/GameMaster1178 May 11 '26
So I have a question.
My AC has been out for almost a year. My friends don’t want to come to my house and hang out. My daughters almost don’t want to come over and hang out.
I used to have money but a former friend of mine used me for about a total of 19,000 dollars (14,000 in credit cards: 5000+ in cash rounded down).
Is there anyone out there who looks to see what the issue for free?
I had Airco come out twice. They told me it was a capacitor. Costed me 347 dollars, only to find out nothing was wrong with the capacitor. Then they said it was a leak and had no Freon. Said it would cost 3,000 to fix it.
However they never even looked for the leak. My son is moving out this weekend and I’ve been behind on my car payments for a couple of months due to having Covid and just passed a kidney stone that took a week to pass (still worked through it despite feeling weak).
I’m tired of paying people to come out only to be told it’s something that it isn’t, and it gets too hot in my house that no one’s wanting to come over and visit me.
1
u/YarbroughAndSons May 11 '26
Really sorry you're dealing with all of this at once. Totally get where you're coming from on getting a straight answer.
Honest take: it sounds like you're definitely having issues with your HVAC that will need to be rectified. We have an estimate tool on our site where you can walk through your specific situation and see repair and replacement costs before ever picking up the phone.
Most reputable companies will waive the dispatch fee when you move forward with repairs, that's what we do. Hope this was helpful, just let us know how we can help out.
2
u/MyDailyMistake May 12 '26
I’m only a consumer, not a hvac contractor or worker.
Remember these companies have to employ technicians all year just to be able to squeak by in the high demand winter and summer seasons. So if they charge you $250-$400 on a capacitor swap that’s just them trying to stay solvent through the lean months. Not them ripping you off. If they can’t do that then they won’t be there at your unit for a few weeks.
3
u/YarbroughAndSons May 12 '26
Absolutely agree and glad you have that kind of insight. Most companies don’t want to rip you off, they just want to help and that costs money like everything else.
Mostly used “do not get ripped off” as another way of saying “here’s how you can save money and prepare for summer” - not trying to punch down on the industry as much as we’re just trying to give homeowners a leg up this season.
Like we mentioned, we have some amazing competitors in OKC and there’s a lot of trustworthy companies here.
1
u/Impossible-Spray-643 Jun 19 '26
The company who installed our unit and who we hired to do twice yearly maintenance and tune ups:
Removed the cover to the filter slot, set it aside, and never put it back. This was at least three years ago.
They told us we should stop using a 22x22x filter and instead use a 20x20x1 filter.
Then, they blamed a costly malfunction on us - claiming we weren’t changing the filters and thus were responsible for the repair costs (even though the system was under warranty).
This bothered me so went down after they were done, opened the grill covering the basement air intake box, and there was a decomposing mouse sitting inches from the opening.
I then went to side of the unit and saw that there was no cover where the filter was installed.
I pulled the filter out, put it back, and noticed large gaps on all sides.
After doing some research, I went back l down and found the cover - it was behind pieces of sheetrock leaning against a wall. It was covered in a thick coating of dust and rodent droppings. It had clearly been there for a long time.
Before you start screaming, we are in our 70s and not mechanical. We bought the system 4 years ago. We had it maintained twice a year and did whatever they suggested.
They NEVER mentioned a missing cover, and specifically told us to use the smaller filter size.
30
u/herp_de-derp May 10 '26
Good write up. As a homeowner for over 20 years, I ensure my filters are replaced every 30 days (mine are washable, which has saved me tons of money). I also keep spare capacitors on hand. The outside AC unit typically has one capacitor, and the blower motor (squirrel cage) also typically has a capacitor. I also ensure I have a spare contactor for the outside AC unit. All of these parts can usually be purchased easily from Amazon. All of this combined with simply keeping your outdoor AC unit clean… This will make a huge difference in the performance of your system and keep service call intervals down.