Saving Money On HVAC Work

Posted on: 22 October 2019

Before the worst of summer hits, it's a good idea to make sure your air conditioner is working properly and set for the year. If you want to get a jump on your annual service and any necessary repairs, there are a few ways to save some money this year and make sure your house is kept cool all year long.

Enter A Service Agreement

If you've ever had a service technician at your house, they might have suggested you sign up for a service agreement. A service agreement gives you a variety of services for an annual flat fee rather than paying every time someone comes out. This typically includes basic maintenance and some repairs, though what exactly you get depends on the contract. A service contract is a good way to make sure you keep up with annual maintenance while avoiding fees and costs from surprise visits.

A service agreement won't necessarily benefit anyone. If you have a newer air conditioner, it will likely be a few years before you'd start saving money with a contract. If you have an older air conditioner that requires more servicing, however, you might spend less on a contract than you do on necessary visits. Since contracts differ, however, it's worth shopping around to see which ones include what you need before choosing one.

Know What Parts You Need

There are a few things that drive up costs during the hottest months of the year, such as the availability of parts and the time it takes to get replacements. Sometimes you may find that while a technician is available to fix your air conditioner, they don't have the parts they need right away. This can result in more than one visit and more money spent on parts and labor. There are a few ways you can cut down on these costs.

First, if you know what parts you need, you can often call ahead to ask if a repair company has the part in stock before asking a tech to come out in person. This usually only works if you know what the problem is, which won't always be the case, but it's a handy step if you do. Second, you can find out what parts you need from a tech visit and then order the parts yourself directly from a manufacturer, which can save you the cut you would have spent ordering through a service tech. The caveat here is that some techs might not want to install parts that aren't purchased through them, so keep that in mind. If you're having trouble finding what parts you need, you can always use your air conditioner's model number to help.

Beyond this, there are also several minor parts and components you should keep spares of at all times, like air filters, thermostat batteries, and fuses. Some items will constantly be out of stock during periods of hot weather, so keeping spares can make sure you can always get many basic repairs done right away.

Get Major Repairs Done Early

If you know your air conditioner needs work but have been putting it off, you can save yourself some money by getting repairs done before summer hits. During periods of high demand, not only will you need to wait longer for a tech to be available, but you'll also probably pay higher costs for labor. Servicing your air conditioner in the offseason will give you better scheduling flexibility, response times, part availability, and labor costs.

Typically, the periods of lowest demand are in fall and spring. Winter also tends to be a busy season as HVAC techs are busy working on heaters, so wait for when the weather is at its mildest to request help. 

For more information, contact an air conditioning service in your area.