How many times has a contractor been blamed for damage they know they didn’t cause? Most just pay up. No proof means it’s easier to cover the cost than fight it.
But one HVAC company didn’t have to eat the loss — because they had proof. Thanks to CompanyCam, they had already documented the job from start to finish.
That photo evidence stopped a potential lawsuit in its tracks. A lawsuit that could’ve cost over $75,000.
Don’t take our word for it. Here’s how Bob Lange, owner of Guardian Heating and Cooling, tells it.
The $75,000 Problem
Bob Lange’s team at Guardian Heating and Cooling was wrapping up a rooftop condenser install on a condo unit, one of nearly 30 in the development. Four months later, he got a call. Water had leaked through the roof and flooded the condo below.
In the past, Bob wouldn’t have had a real way to defend his team. No hard evidence. Just his word against theirs. “I guarantee you, four years ago, I would’ve said, ‘It’s a sheet metal screw. That had to be us. Let’s put it through insurance.’”
The photos he received showed long, four-inch screws piercing the roof. “We immediately thought we were at fault,” Bob said. “It looked bad. A dozen screws straight through the roofing material.”
Damage estimate? Around $75,000.
From Doubt to Proof in Seconds
Bob’s team takes job site care seriously. They leave every space better than they found it, even mopping around condensers on the roof. “We’ll leave the job in better condition than when we arrived,” Bob said.
They also document their work. Photos and videos show the condition of the site after a job wraps. It’s a simple habit with big value. So when the leak was reported, Bob pulled up CompanyCam.
“We went into CompanyCam just for giggles,” he said. “Turns out, our installers recorded a video walking the roof. You could see the roof was spotless. Nothing left behind. They even closed the hatch on camera. I don’t know why they filmed it, but it made things very easy.”
That video showed the job site was clean and undamaged when Guardian left. The condo owner hadn’t been there during the install — or during the leak. But with the CompanyCam footage, Bob and his team were able to help piece together what really happened.
“It turned out some company came out later and put up a satellite dish the homeowner didn’t even know about,” Bob said. “That’s what caused the damage.”
Trust Earned, Business Secured
Guardian estimated the damage at over $75,000. Thanks to that one CompanyCam video, they didn’t have to pay a cent. But the win didn’t stop there.
“We sent the videos to the condo association,” Bob said. “They were so impressed, they signed a contract and made us the only HVAC company allowed in the building.”
What started as a potential lawsuit turned into steady work. “It went from a $75,000 problem to a long-term maintenance agreement.” Bob said.
