The Costly Lesson of “Walmart Willie”: Why Choosing the Right HVAC Contractor Matters
At JBH Heating & Air, we’ve seen just about everything when it comes to heating and cooling systems. But every so often, a story comes along that perfectly illustrates why choosing the right HVAC contractor is so important.
This is the story of a local homeowner who wanted to be thrifty—and how cutting corners on a new heat pump ended up costing far more in the long run.
Meet “Walmart Willie”
When the customer’s heat pump went out, instead of calling a licensed, reputable HVAC contractor, they ran into a man we’ll call Walmart Willie. His nickname comes from where he was first spotted—in the aisle between car batteries and fishing rods—promising he could install a heat pump “for half the price.”
Walmart Willie made sure Craigslist Carl wasn’t going to beat his price, so he cut corners wherever possible to get the job done cheaper.
What Went Wrong
The Wrong Lines: Instead of upgrading to the correct refrigerant lines between the indoor and outdoor units, Walmart Willie reused old, incompatible ones. Two years later, the compressor failed as a result. That’s a $2,000+ mistake right there.
An Old Air Handler: The home’s 20-year-old air handler was never replaced. Just a year after the compressor failed, the air handler coil started leaking refrigerant. Another costly repair bill.
A Failing Fan Motor: By year five, the original fan motor—now 25 years old—finally died, leaving the homeowner hot, frustrated, and out of options.
And to make matters worse? Walmart Willie never returned a single phone call after the initial install.
The Real Cost of Cheap HVAC Work
When you add up the compressor replacement, refrigerant leak repair, and fan motor failure, the homeowner spent more on repairs than they would have if they had chosen a reputable contractor like JBH Heating & Air from the start.
Cheap HVAC installations may look like a good deal upfront, but poor workmanship and skipped steps almost always lead to expensive repairs, higher energy bills, and a shorter system lifespan.
The Takeaway: Choose Wisely
Your heating and cooling system is one of the most important—and expensive—parts of your home. Don’t trust it to someone who makes promises in a parking lot or cuts corners to beat Craigslist Carl’s prices.
At JBH Heating & Air, we install systems the right way, with a focus on quality, efficiency, and long-term reliability. When you call us, you get peace of mind, not surprise repair bills.
If you’re considering a new heat pump or air conditioner, do yourself a favor: choose a contractor you can trust. In the long run, it’s always cheaper to do it right the first time.
Don’t have the finances available when your system does fail? We have several financing offers to take advantage of!
