Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is issuing a warning to homeowners: Don't get ripped off by contractors who want to clear the heavy snow off your roof.
Consumers, he said, should insist on receiving a written estimate and should not hesitate to contact the state Department of Consumer Protection if something is awry.
"We are getting reports of possible price gouging by contractors offering roof snow removal,'' Malloy said in a statement. "The best advice is, if possible, to get a price from more than one contractor and always have the contractor put the price in writing."
Jerry Farrell, Jr., the Consumer Protection Commissioner since the administration of Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell, agreed.
"This isn't a perfect situation - rooftops need to be cleared quickly - so a traditional contract between the homeowner and the contractor may not be possible,'' Farrell said. "Even so, get out a sheet of paper and write out what the contractor has told you verbally he is going to do - 'remove all snow and ice from rooftop for one hundred dollars' for instance - and have the contractor sign the piece of paper. You don't want the price to start fluctuating once the contractor is on the roof."
With the cold temperatures, some of the roofs are now frozen - giving homeowners a breather and temporarily keeping any water at bay. But the problem usually kicks back up again when it starts raining. As such, the ice needs to be removed from the clogged gutters.
"As we get more mixed precipitation and melting, those gutters have to be functioning or water could flow into homes and cause damage, so while workers are on the roof, this should be done as well,'' Malloy said.