The Pros and Cons of Getting Maintenance Plans from HVAC Companies

As a homeowner, it makes sense to have a relationship with an HVAC company in your area. You can ask them to come to your home twice a year, at a minimum. They can look at your furnace in late autumn to make sure it’s working okay before winter starts. They can look at your air conditioner in the spring to ensure that it is in good working order before the weather gets too hot. 

If you hire an HVAC company, Denver homeowners, then they will also probably ask you when they’re looking at your air conditioner or furnace if you want to set up a yearly maintenance plan with them. It’s worth thinking about. Let us discuss some pros and cons of getting one of these plans

Your Air Conditioner and Furnace Yearly Maintenance Come with It

When you talk to the HVAC company representative who comes to your house, you should know something about them. Assuming they represent an honest, trustworthy company, then they will tell you if there is anything going on with your furnace, air conditioner, or ductwork that needs repairs, cleaning, or maintenance. However, the company trains them as salespeople, too.

These individuals will do any work you tell them to do, but do not let it surprise you if they also try to sell you some product or service. Assuming you don’t need a new furnace, replacement ductwork, or anything along those lines, they will probably try to sell you the company’s maintenance plan at a minimum. 

The maintenance plan might cost you a few hundred dollars in most instances. Some HVAC companies also have higher and lower-priced ones. 

If you agree to get the maintenance plan, there’s no denying that it has some benefits. For instance, the cost of your yearly air conditioner and furnace maintenance should come with it. During this annual check, the HVAC company employee will look at the furnace or air conditioner, test it, and possibly do a little light cleaning as well. If they find anything wrong, they will tell you about it, and you can decide whether you want to pay for the technician to do a repair, deeper cleaning, or replacement.  

It’s nice to pay a flat rate and to have the yearly air conditioner and furnace maintenance included as part of that. However, keep in mind that the cost of cleaning for both probably will not come to as much money as you’re paying for the yearly maintenance plan. 

You Get a Discount on Any Repairs or Upgrades That You Need to Make

If you buy the plan, that usually includes a discount on any work you need to have the HVAC company do for you. Usually, you’ll get something like 10%-15% off. 

That might include the cost of a deep cleaning, replacing or repairing some ductwork, replacing the furnace or air conditioner, etc. 

You Get Preferential Service if You Have an HVAC-Related Emergency

As another part of the plan, you will automatically move to the front of the line if you have to contact the HVAC company because of an emergency. For instance, if your furnace or air conditioner suddenly stops working, the HVAC company will come to you before they service any other clients because you have paid for that privilege.

You Might Not Have an Emergency During the Year You Have the Plan

Those all count as pros if you buy one of these plans. There is one con, though, and it’s at least worth considering before paying several hundred dollars to become a plan subscriber. 

You might go through a year without needing major repairs or replacements to your HVAC system. If so, you paid $300-$400, on average, and you only got the yearly maintenance for the air conditioner and furnace. Those might cost about $150-$200 combined without the plan.

If you look at it that way, you’ll see that sometimes, you might pay for the maintenance plan, but you’ll only end up overpaying for maintenance that you could have bought for half the price. That does not necessarily mean it’s not worth it to get one of these plans, though.

If you know you just bought a new house with a newer-model HVAC system in excellent condition, that’s probably when you don’t need the maintenance plan. If you have an older system that might require you to replace a major component soon, that’s when getting the plan makes sense.