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AC Maintenance Plan Question
Posted on 4/26/23 at 8:45 am
Posted on 4/26/23 at 8:45 am
I had a new unit installed this past October, with a 10 year parts and labor warranty and the installer called me this past week offering a $180 maintenance plan for before the summer kicks off. Do I really need to get a new unit looked at and cleaned this soon? Also with a parts and labor warranty shouldn't that be something they would want to do for free to ensure the unit stays in good condition? I understand no one wants to work for free and I'm not expecting or asking them too but it just doesn't seem beneficial from my perspective to pay this every year. I do want to keep up with it to ensure I get the longest lifespan I can and it will run a lot this summer with my old house. What say you guys and or gals?
9
Posted on 4/26/23 at 9:32 am to yomamak
I'd suggest you look at the contract/warranty. Read the fine print. It will have a lot of nice little provisions that void the warranty, like documented annual maintenance.
Posted on 4/26/23 at 9:59 am to eatpie
quote:
I'd suggest you look at the contract/warranty. Read the fine print. It will have a lot of nice little provisions that void the warranty, like documented annual maintenance.
This - it is very likely the 10-year labor warranty, not the parts, would be voided without an annual maintenance plan - I also had a new system installed 2 months ago with a 10- year labor warranty, and I asked the sales rep that specific question, and the answer was yes - I must have documentation of annual maintenance so as to not void the 10-year labor warranty, otherwise it reverts to a 1 year labor warranty.
As a side benefit with an annual maintenance contract in place, if you do have a problem, most companies put you in a high priority category, and will come and fix your problem before another customer without the maintenance agreement.
Posted on 4/26/23 at 10:09 am to CrawDude
Looks like many are doing the same thing with significant purchases for the home.
I was elated to get a Generac with a 10 year warranty...but when explained how it worked, I was a bit disappointed.
An annual maintenance plan consisting of one visit to my home per year was $245. In order for the 10 year warranty to be honored, I must pay for a maintenance plan each year of the warranty.
It's a boom for the vendors but a big price increase for the customers.
I was elated to get a Generac with a 10 year warranty...but when explained how it worked, I was a bit disappointed.
An annual maintenance plan consisting of one visit to my home per year was $245. In order for the 10 year warranty to be honored, I must pay for a maintenance plan each year of the warranty.
It's a boom for the vendors but a big price increase for the customers.
Posted on 4/26/23 at 10:09 am to yomamak
i recently cancelled my "maintenance plan" with Accumtemp after i realized it was nothing more than a sales call
Posted on 4/26/23 at 10:32 am to jamiegla1
quote:
i recently cancelled my "maintenance plan" with Accumtemp after i realized it was nothing more than a sales call
Honestly, all DYIs can maintain their HVACs doing the same thing the vast majority of techs do when they come to your house with the exception of checking refrigerant pressures, subcool, superheat. And there is a school of thought among HVAC techs that even refrigerant pressures should not be checked with an annual maintenance unless there is a cooling issue that warrants it.
I do follow a professional HVAC forum AOP HVAC-Talk, and least the professionals on that forum do a far more thorough and detailed annual maintenance on HVACs than I’ve ever seen done on my unit. I don’t know what those techs charge as pricing info is not allowed on that forum, but I’d probably be happy to pay it if I could find a tech that does all the things they claim they do on their maintenance visits. Many companies, not all, send their least experienced and trained techs to do maintenance.
Posted on 4/26/23 at 10:33 am to yomamak
I’ll never go without an AC maintenance/service program. Mine gets me priority booking, no service call fees, no weekend/late night fees, plus 20% off repairs (parts and labor), 2 annual cleaning/service/inspection.
I don’t have service agreements for my other major appliances, but AC I don’t mess around with.
I don’t have service agreements for my other major appliances, but AC I don’t mess around with.
Posted on 4/26/23 at 11:02 am to ibldprplgld
quote:
no service call fees, no weekend/late night fees, plus 20% off repairs (parts and labor), 2 annual cleaning/service/inspection.
How much are you paying annually ?
Posted on 4/26/23 at 11:04 am to yomamak
A maintenance plan is only as good as the provider. I had signed up for one for my old system with an outfit based in Denham.
It was not Accutemp. Cleaning the coils only consisted of hosing down the condenser from the outside, despite what was printed in the agreement. They argued it was done with the cover removed and I stated I had the entire job recorded on my security camera.
In short, get somebody who won't cut corners, just for the buck.
It was not Accutemp. Cleaning the coils only consisted of hosing down the condenser from the outside, despite what was printed in the agreement. They argued it was done with the cover removed and I stated I had the entire job recorded on my security camera.
In short, get somebody who won't cut corners, just for the buck.
Posted on 4/26/23 at 11:13 am to Macfly
quote:
leaning the coils only consisted of hosing down the condenser from the outside,
I laugh every time i see or hear somebody doing it that way. It's pretty much pointless to not take off the coil cover.
Posted on 4/26/23 at 11:22 am to jamiegla1
quote:
i recently cancelled my "maintenance plan" with Accumtemp after i realized it was nothing more than a sales call
Accutemp has really disappointed my lately with their sky high pricing and the constant sales pitch. Saying I needed and attic tent, ground for the outside unit, ground for my house and ground for my generator. All combined would have been $1400. Keep in mind this was from the guy there to just do the cleaning and inspection.
Posted on 4/26/23 at 11:26 am to WigSplitta22
Yep and by the time you waste time going around the block with the company, you could have done the job correctly yourself. I have a new system and do that work myself.
Posted on 4/26/23 at 11:39 am to Yammie250F
quote:
Accutemp has really disappointed my lately with their sky high pricing and the constant sales pitch. Saying I needed and attic tent, ground for the outside unit, ground for my house and ground for my generator. All combined would have been $1400. Keep in mind this was from the guy there to just do the cleaning and inspection.
thats exactly why i cancelled. I paid for a yearly inspection of AC and heat. Instead theyre trying to sell me on routing conduit through a separate knockout, 1/2" away from where its already routed. $400 for an AC capacitor. Did it myself for $20.
I really liked them when i started using them. Theyve quickly transitioned to a different business model that i cant stand. I dont think the guys coming to my house believe in that model enough to even sell it. Theyve resorted to fear tactics like "this isnt up to code on new homes" (mine is 20 years old). Very disappointed in them.
This post was edited on 4/26/23 at 11:41 am
Posted on 4/26/23 at 12:08 pm to yomamak
You can do everything they will do yourself
Posted on 4/26/23 at 12:21 pm to WigSplitta22
quote:
How much are you paying annually ?
It’s either $179 or $189.
Posted on 4/26/23 at 12:24 pm to CrawDude
quote:
checking refrigerant pressure
I'm very hesitant to get this done unless I'm having a problem. My parents capacitor went out and I went to their house to meet the tech. He had gauges and all that shite hooked up when I went to check on him and said it was low on freon. Pretty sure it wasn't low as there was no other problem but the capacitor. He had to have let some out to charge them. They're still on the same coils with no other leaks for about 10 years now also.
Posted on 4/26/23 at 1:50 pm to yomamak
quote:
AC Maintenance Plan Question
maint plans are like buying an extended warranty
just a way to make you give them money for nothing and not worth it
Posted on 4/26/23 at 4:14 pm to yomamak
I'll tell you my story about this.
Bought a 2 year old house with a Trane. Unit was under a maintenance plan it's entire life and we took it over. Coil shite the bed at 3 years. Didn't know we had to transfer the warranty. Called out the installer who also maintenance it and was told to get fricked and had to replace a 3 year old coil out of pocket.
Long story short, they aren't worth a frick and if they tell you it gets you anything other than some half retarded wanna be tech coming out and looking at your unit they're lying. Just change your filters yourself.
Bought a 2 year old house with a Trane. Unit was under a maintenance plan it's entire life and we took it over. Coil shite the bed at 3 years. Didn't know we had to transfer the warranty. Called out the installer who also maintenance it and was told to get fricked and had to replace a 3 year old coil out of pocket.
Long story short, they aren't worth a frick and if they tell you it gets you anything other than some half retarded wanna be tech coming out and looking at your unit they're lying. Just change your filters yourself.
This post was edited on 4/26/23 at 4:15 pm
Posted on 4/26/23 at 6:11 pm to CrawDude
quote:
As a side benefit with an annual maintenance contract in place, if you do have a problem, most companies put you in a high priority category, and will come and fix your problem before another customer without the maintenance agreement.
THIS
Posted on 4/26/23 at 6:23 pm to yomamak
My A/C guy did the first on one the house and then he was out often enough fixing the damned thing that he just cleaned it for "free" when he came.
He said it was a dud unit. Glad to be rid of it.
He said it was a dud unit. Glad to be rid of it.
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