Have you considered a maintenance contract for your heating and air conditioning unit? Whether your unit is brand new or approaching old age, there are distinct advantages to having a maintenance contract. If your HVAC installer didn’t explain them to you, let us take the heat off.
First, only you can decide if a maintenance contract is right for you. If you are handy and feel that you can perform regular checks and cleaning of your HVAC unit, then maybe you don’t need to look at the contract. But if you can’t or don’t want to be responsible for keeping your unit in good running condition, then an exploration of the options would be a good exercise. Although a contract has expense attached to it, so does a malfunctioning HVAC unit – and we all know that it can happen at any time, no matter the age or the shape of the unit. A maintenance contract allows you to pay a price up front or a monthly fee, and in return, you get scheduled maintenance calls from an HVAC professional and priority for any service calls you may need. The maintenance calls will keep your unit working to its maximum efficiency by doing the regular system checks that we talked about in our last post. It will also prevent any unwelcome surprises if your unit breaks down or needs service – you will have already budgeted and/or paid for the service and you won’t have to worry about an added expense. If it’s an emergency call, you will also be more likely to have a cool house much more quickly on a sweltering day if you are already a maintenance customer. Ask yourself three questions:
- Will I do regular maintenance duties and checks?
- Is my unit still under warranty?
- Do I have the money to pay if my unit breaks?
If you answered, “yes” to even one of these, then we are impressed. No need to read further. If you answered, “no,” then please consider a contract. It can make your life easier, more predictable, and cooler in a crisis.
