Hey everyone, I'm in a tough situation after a recent rebuild from water damage and could really use your insights. I hired a general contractor to do a whole lot of drywall work, which created a massive dust problem. The contract explicitly stated they would clean the air ducts and check the furnace and water heater. However, the contractor ran the furnace non-stop to dry the paint and mud, even though I have texts where they insisted I keep it on. When an HVAC company finally inspected it, they found serious dust buildup in the furnace and AC coils, stating that it should never have been operated in such conditions. The contractor is now claiming they're not responsible since they only turned it on at my request (which is false, as it was running for months). I'm still expected to pay them a small amount that I owe. I'm wondering: 1) Is the contractor liable for the damage? 2) How should I handle the remaining payment? 3) What's the best way to discuss repair costs with them? 4) Should I seek legal advice? Any advice or similar experiences would be greatly appreciated!
2 Answers
I've dealt with similar issues before. They sell coil cleaners that you can use to fix a dust problem like this. If the situation isn’t too severe (like fried electrical components), a good cleaning might be all you need. It could be worth getting a second opinion from another HVAC technician, as sometimes the first one can be a bit dramatic about needing a whole new furnace. You should talk to your contractor about covering the cleanup costs since it’s their fault for not protecting your system during the work.
How much do you owe the contractor, and what did the remodel cost in total? Also, consider what the repair cost for the furnace is going to be. Your contract should outline the responsibilities in situations like this, which is super important. If the contractor isn't willing to cooperate about the repairs, you might have to hold back on the final payment until you sort this out. That way, you'll keep some leverage in case they try to push you.
I owe around 8k for the work, and the whole remodel was over 100k.