Preventative Maintenance Plans a Good Idea?

[jtrammel]

Stud, everyone knows half the lights don't work in an electricians home, plumbers have leaky faucets, and a/c guys tell there wives "honey it's cooling the best it can". You are not comparing apple to apples, we know if we have a problem at anytime, home owners do not, I have been called out on calls were the home owner said they were in the attic getting down Christmas ornaments, and found this big pipe, laying up there, it was the vent pipe.

Yeah, I change my filters every once in a while and if its broke il fix it. Most Homeowners do not know how to change batteries in the stat much less anything else, so its a good idea to have someone who does know what they're looking at maintain it to prevent a break down when its really hot or really cold in the middle of the night as well as safety hazards that may arise. My contract customers also get priority service and 15% off repairs so if something big goes bad (compressor, hx, some motors, some boards, etc) they get a pretty significant savings that will pay for the contract for the year. Of course those items shouldn't break that often but they do break.

[Joehvac25]

I had a situation in my house, I did a CA in the beginning of winter on my boiler, all ok. 2 weeks ago I checked again because I found some soot on the draft hood, I was running 600 ppm co. I think it came down to brushing my chimney and some of the soot landed on the burners and made it run horrible. Point is things can change fast, to the OP do you want to feel safe? I look at it as a safety inspection.

[jtrammel]

I had a situation in my house, I did a CA in the beginning of winter on my boiler, all ok. 2 weeks ago I checked again because I found some soot on the draft hood, I was running 600 ppm co. I think it came down to brushing my chimney and some of the soot landed on the burners and made it run horrible. Point is things can change fast, to the OP do you want to feel safe? I look at it as a safety inspection.

X2

[Hwolfe]

"I'd not sign a contract, have coil cleaning every two years. Today's units are designed to last ten years, that's why the ten year warranty."

Stud[/QUOTE
With warranty vs service check, if you don't have your system service while under warranty and have proof then the manufacturer could say no we are not warranting your system. Have a five year I ran across the other day that was only three years old and the dog had been pissing on the coil. Did we cover it under warranty nope.

[Trehak01]

Stud, everyone knows half the lights don't work in an electricians home, plumbers have leaky faucets, and a/c guys tell there wives "honey it's cooling the best it can". You are not comparing apple to apples, we know if we have a problem at anytime, home owners do not, I have been called out on calls were the home owner said they were in the attic getting down Christmas ornaments, and found this big pipe, laying up there, it was the vent pipe.

I dont know about that. I reprogram my thermostat at lease once a week.

[catmanacman]

If you don't get a ma wait till the season specials and get it checked

[beshvac]

If you don't get a ma wait till the season specials and get it checked

In my area, that is the worst advice you can give anyone. Those are "specials" many companies around here use to get their foot in the door.

The OP should find a contractor they trust who charges a fair price for the maintenance involved. The guys that come out for peanuts HAVE to find something else to bill for.

[jtrammel]

In my area, that is the worst advice you can give anyone. Those are "specials" many companies around here use to get their foot in the door.

The OP should find a contractor they trust who charges a fair price for the maintenance involved. The guys that come out for peanuts HAVE to find something else to bill for.

Yuuuuuup, sorry too much storage wars couldn't resist

[Mr Bill]

The guys that come out for peanuts HAVE to find something else to bill for.

The guys that come out for peanuts are looking to leave with a gold nugget. My Dad used to tell me, "they did not build those casinos on winners", and we did not build our businesses on peanuts. Now if your running an elephant farm, you might prosper with on peanuts.

[Joehvac25]

Usually most company's in the end can be priced nearly the same no matter what the charge up front. Some have a cheaper service call but charge drive time and some are the other way around, some have cheap pm's but sell you parts.

[jtrammel]

Usually most company's in the end can be priced nearly the same no matter what the charge up front. Some have a cheaper service call but charge drive time and some are the other way around, some have cheap pm's but sell you parts.

I like to be upfront with my customers and charge a fair price and not have to sell unnecessary parts to make up for a cheap service/diagnostic charge. I sleep better at night that way.

[Joehvac25]

I like to be upfront with my customers and charge a fair price and not have to sell unnecessary parts to make up for a cheap service/diagnostic charge. I sleep better at night that way.

Same here, Id rather save them money if I can then spend it all.