Do you need any type of HVAC repair, maintenance or installation service? Certain HVAC services can be fairly expensive, and the last thing you want is to end up paying much more than you should have or struggle to afford to pay for the service when you get the bill. Both of these issues are something that you can easily avoid by getting an estimate before you commit to having any HVAC service performed. Getting a free estimate up front is also important for all of these other reasons.
Ensure You’re Getting a Fair Price
It shouldn’t be all that surprising to learn that not all HVAC companies have the same rates and that the price for the same service can vary quite a bit from one company to the next. Unfortunately, some companies are seemingly more interested in just making a quick buck by overcharging for their services than they are in developing long-lasting relationships with their customers. If you’re not facing an emergency situation such as your furnace suddenly giving out in the middle of winter, it’s always worth the time to get an estimate from more than one company. That way, you can get a much better idea of how much whatever service you need should actually cost so that you can avoid paying more than you should.
Whether you’re looking into getting AC repair service or a new furnace installed, you don’t necessarily want to just go with whichever company and whatever option is the cheapest. As the saying goes, you get what you pay for. That means if the estimate seems too good to be true, it probably is. Not all HVAC companies use quality parts and equipment from top manufacturers.
You may also find that the original estimate wasn’t accurate and that the company tacked on various hidden fees to the final cost. The final cost can always vary a bit from the original estimate since unforeseen issues can end up arising. Nonetheless, any reputable HVAC company should be willing to break down all of the various costs for you when providing the estimate including how much any necessary parts cost as well as what they charge for labor and approximately how long they think the work will take. If they just give you a number without explaining how they got to that figure, there’s really no way for you to know that you’re not being overcharged.
Avoid Paying for Anything Unnecessary
Another reason it’s important to get an up-front estimate is that it can help you avoid having to pay for unnecessary services. One issue that happens far too often is that some companies will try to talk you into paying for a full system replacement when whatever issue your HVAC has can be fixed fairly easily and for far less than the cost of a new furnace, air conditioner, etc. Most HVAC units will last for at least 12 to 15 years as long as they’re professionally serviced every year. If your unit isn’t more than 10 years old and you have someone try to tell you it needs to be replaced, you should definitely get a second opinion. That way, you don’t end up spending thousands of dollars replacing a perfectly good unit that still has at least a few years of life left in it.
There are also situations where you may have a technician tell you that your HVAC system has numerous other issues that need to be fixed in addition to whatever you originally called them out to look at. If you have your HVAC system serviced regularly, it’s fairly unlikely that it will suddenly develop multiple issues at the same time. You’d also usually be able to tell fairly easily if your HVAC had numerous issues since it would usually end up performing extremely poorly or not working at all.
That said, there can definitely be situations where a technician may find that one or two other components are beginning to wear out and recommend that you just fix everything at the same time to avoid having to pay for an additional service call in the near future. Nonetheless, you may still want to get a second opinion and another estimate should a technician tell you that your HVAC has numerous issues that you need to get repaired immediately.
Explore Your Options to Find the Best One
Getting a free estimate is especially important when it comes to an HVAC replacement. Whenever you need to install any new HVAC unit, one of the most important things is making sure that the unit is the correct size for your home. Unless you’ve recently added onto your building or your HVAC has never performed effectively, you usually want to go with a new unit that’s around the same size as what you currently have or sometimes even a bit smaller. That means you should be wary if a company tries to say you need something much bigger than what you currently have.
If your current unit was massively undersized, you’d definitely know since it wouldn’t have worked effectively enough to keep your home fully comfortable even when it was brand-new. While some buildings do have a slightly undersized HVAC system, it’s far more common for a system to be oversized.
Another thing you always want to consider when installing a new HVAC unit is energy efficiency. Generally speaking, you always want to opt for the most efficient unit you can get in your budget or price range. That means you should get estimates for all of your available options so that you can find the one that provides the best value for your money and will be most cost-effective in the long term.
Let’s say that you need to install a new central air conditioner and are trying to decide which option is best. The most basic option nowadays is a 14-SEER unit. If you get an estimate for an 18-SEER unit that’s only about $1,000 more than the 14-SEER unit, you’re better off going with the more efficient 18-SEER AC. That’s because it should end up saving you well over $1,000 on your energy costs over its life compared to the less efficient option.
One final thing you should always do when getting an estimate and trying to decide which company to hire for your HVAC installation is to find out which brands they work with. That’s because some brands are simply more reliable and produce higher-quality, more energy-efficient equipment than others. For instance, Lennox has been a leader in the HVAC industry for over 100 years and produces some of the most energy-efficient equipment currently available. While they aren’t always the cheapest option, it’s almost always going to be worth paying a bit more for the improved reliability, durability and efficiency.
With nearly 30 years of experience, Joyce Cooling & Heating Inc. is one of the most trusted HVAC companies in the Nashua and Canterbury areas. If you need any heating or cooling service, we’ll be happy to provide an up-front estimate to help you budget for the costs. We take pride in offering quality work, exceptional customer service and honest prices. We offer a selection of efficient HVAC equipment from Lennox and can also repair and maintain equipment from all other brands.
To schedule an inspection or consultation and get an estimate for whatever service you need, contact us today.
