twice a year hvac tune-up? (furnace, AC, heat, leak)
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What exactly does the twice-a-year HVAC tune-up do? They companies seem to charge about $100-$150 per visit and I'm still not sure exactly what they do ....
So basically since I change the filter every two-three months, I'm paying the guy to tell me that my AC or furnace is working? And if it's broken ... well, he just tells me it's broken and goes along his merry way? Seems like a bit of scam to me.
There is no reason for anything more than making sure coils are not blocked and changing filters. I would not pay for a check-up unless the system has failed.
While checking heat they check for cracked heat exchanger. Cracks could cause carbon monoxide to leak into your house. There are a lot of other things that can be done. Ask the HVAC company what is included in their service. Remember that most of fee you pay is just to get the repair guy and his truck full of parts to your house.
We have a new home (fall 2007) not occupied yet and signed a contract for $200 per year semi annual checkup. They were there a few weeks ago, for three hours. It's a mystery to me, but they checked all of the items noted in previous posts, as well as tighted all electrical fittings, thermostats, belts, etc. Most likely don't need to have this service for a few years, but if we have a problem, our name is at the top of the list and receive a discount for work to repair any problems. For .66 per day I think it is a good low cost insurance policy on the main system in homes.
We have a new home (fall 2007) not occupied yet and signed a contract for $200 per year semi annual checkup. They were there a few weeks ago, for three hours. It's a mystery to me, but they checked all of the items noted in previous posts, as well as tighted all electrical fittings, thermostats, belts, etc. Most likely don't need to have this service for a few years, but if we have a problem, our name is at the top of the list and receive a discount for work to repair any problems. For .66 per day I think it is a good low cost insurance policy on the main system in homes.
If you got them for 3 hrs for $100.00 I would sign a 50 year contract. In todays market that's a bargin. I do all my own work and if I thought I could get someone here, with a truck full of parts, for $100.00 I'd continue to watch old Perry Mason reruns while they did my work.
Since it's a science depending on the competency of your HVAC contractor they are base lining your equipment to tell you when things could go wrong and when your efficiency is being lost. Good service keeps problems from happening when your HVAC co. knows what they should be looking for. It's up to you if you want to pay it......there will be no hard feelings if you decide you don't want to and because of maintenance issues something goes wrong. Would you go a full year without taking your car in for routine maint?
Observation: Some HVAC systems come very close to car prices yet people want to be so lack about taking care of them. You spend more time with your A/C then you do your car in most cases....no one cares till it dies on them
just for future reference 1 year can mean the difference in life or death for a HVAC system if there is a leak......that 100 bucks seems well worth it when the HVAC guy comes and says your units been running without ref. and it's has contaminated everything. it's not a clear cut case with saying I can go several years. Equipment minimum standards have changed and if your old system was less than that standard your going to see a very large unexpected bill if things go wrong.......same reason you buy a 4 year warranty with that laptop....but imagine spending 10 times that and finding out something is wrong that you decided wasn't worth it.
two sides to every story.
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