It’s the dog days of summer, 92 degrees and muggy as hell, and your air conditioner has started making a funny noise. It’s not exactly a lullaby at night. In fact, it’s the stuff of nightmares.
So you’re wondering, over the first cup of coffee in the morning: Should I have a service (maintenance) contract? The last time you had this thing serviced, the HVAC guy mentioned it to you. He said your system is only three years old. Now’s a good time to ink an agreement that it will be serviced twice a year, and that any repairs are covered. Plus, he said— giving you the old upraised eyebrow— service-contract customers are the first to get a response when the company gets busy. Like now.
So you’re wondering again. Is it a good deal, the service contract? Well, it’s a chess game. If you’re wondering how the other side sees it, which is always useful, there was a piece recently posted on a contractors’ blog. This expert says service contracts are priced too low. (Translation: They are affordable for consumers but contractors may lose money in the long run.) Score 1 for service contracts in the consumer column.
Another minus for contractors (and a plus for homeowners) is the contractor gives up revenue down the road. Say they sign a three-year service contract which says the contractor will replace major parts and do the labor on an AC problem. Of course, the money he’s collecting goes to pay current expenses; down the road, he will be working for free. Score 2 for consumers’ advantage on service contracts.
You Want the AC Doctor
On the other hand, this expert says that maintenance agreements are a winner for contractors, because they generate repeat business. In other words, if consumers like the contractor because he or she shows up several times a year to make sure things are running properly, the homeowner will likely take this contractor’s advice (and sign another maintenance agreement) when the time comes to buy a new system.
From the homeowner’s perspective, we’d have to say it’s a win-win-win. As long as the amount you’re paying is in line with what you would pay anyway to have the AC or HVAC cleaned, tuned, checked, charged . . . whatever it takes— a service agreement almost guarantees that your unit will be taken care of, and that the chance of a failure (like the one that’s keeping you up nights) is low.
The catch is, You need to find a reliable, qualified contractor. Here’s where we can help. Start your [search] engine: http://www.acdoctor.com/get-educated/how-to-qualify-hvac-contractor/
Now there’s a new wrinkle: Remote monitoring of your HVAC system by a third party. [http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150616005959/en/Smart-Home-Leader-Nexia™-Home-Intelligence-Launches#.Vae5anj0jdt]. The advantage with traditional service agreements is that your system is being monitored by someone with a vested interest. He or she wants your future business. Does the remote monitor have the same incentive? Checkmate. We’ll stay with the Human.