The purchase of a new air conditioner or furnace is one of the larger expenses you can expect during your home’s lifetime. If the system you buy does its job properly, you’ll receive the benefits of reliable household heating and cooling. On the other hand, if your new heating or cooling system doesn’t work reliably and efficiently, you may end up paying the price for decades to come. Here are some of the key pitfalls to avoid when purchasing a new residential furnace or AC.
Buying a System That’s Too Big or Small
Each residential air conditioner and furnace on the market is designed to deliver cooling or heating to a home of a certain size and layout. Unfortunately, many consumers mistakenly purchase a system that’s too large or too small for their home. Potential consequences of this mistake include early furnace or AC failure, unnecessarily steep monthly utility costs and a perpetually uncomfortable building interior.
Failing to Check Your HVAC Contractor’s Background
No matter where you live in the U.S., you probably have access to a number of skilled and reputable heating and cooling contractors. Unfortunately, you also likely have access to disreputable contractors who do such things as install systems improperly or create unsafe working conditions. If you fail to check your contractor’s background through the Better Business Bureau or some other reliable resource, you might not know the difference until it’s too late.
Choosing the Cheapest HVAC Contractor
You might be tempted to automatically hire the cheapest available contractor to install a heating or cooling system, especially if you have a tight budget to consider. However, as with many other types of purchases, cheap often does not equal good. By spending a little more on your contractor today, you may avoid any number of serious AC- or furnace-related headaches in the future.
Not Consulting Multiple HVAC Contractors
Not all reputable heating and cooling contractors charge the same amount of money for their services. If you only consult one contractor, you may end up paying more than you need to for the installation services you receive. Consultation of multiple contractors will give you a much better understanding of the pricing options available in your area.
Ignoring Energy Efficiency
In today’s world, you can find plenty of air conditioners and furnaces with exceptional energy efficiency ratings. Since these high-efficiency options often cost more up front, you may decide to ignore them. However, the long-term utility savings provided by an efficient system can easily outweigh the short-term savings you receive when purchasing a cheaper system that wastes lots of energy.
Not Cementing the Terms of Your Contract
A reputable contractor should be willing to submit a detailed, written contract that clearly lays out the terms of your installation agreement. If you don’t receive this type of written agreement, you have no easy way of guaranteeing the work will get done.
As you can see, a little advance work can save you tons of hassles when it comes to buying new heating and cooling equipment. You can stay up-to-date with more helpful heating and cooling related tips by bookmarking this blog.
