A/C Maintenance Contract Question

[Steve Stone]

Two years ago I had a long time local HVAC company install central air in my home. I was very satisfied with the work and the product. It was a very professional job and I didn't mind paying a bit more to ensure a quality job. I'm the kind of person that pays their bills and makes sure they workers have plenty of coffee, etc. and get tips for a job well done. A few months later the owner retired and sold the company to a huge group in an adjoining state. Last summer I tired calling the place 4 times over two months to get them over to give me an estimate on a new oil furnace. I never got a call back. In todays mail I get an offer for an A/C maintenance contract from them. I really don't feel comfortable giving writing a check to a place that can not return a phone call. This is a Lennox A/C unit. Can any good HVAC company maintain this box or do I have to go with a company who has Lennox plastered all over their truck ? Thanks Steve

[Edwin Pawlowski]

Considering how well they treated you when you wanted to give them more business, how will they treat you if a serious service problem comes up? I'd look elsewhere.

Most things can easily be fixed by any competent repair person. There may be some proprietary Lennox parts on it, but most controls, relays, motors, can be had at any good supply house.

[HvacTech2]

Hi Steve, hope you are having a nice day

On 26-Mar-05 At About 22:10:31, Steve Stone wrote to All Subject: A/C Maintenance Contract Question

SS> From: Steve Stone

SS> Can any good HVAC company maintain this box or do I SS> have to go with a company who has Lennox plastered all over their SS> truck ? Thanks Steve

Any company can service it but most lennox parts are proprietary and are quite expensive.

-=> HvacTech2

[HvacTech2]

Hi Edwin, hope you are having a nice day

On 26-Mar-05 At About 22:22:58, Edwin Pawlowski wrote to All Subject: Re: A/C Maintenance Contract Question

EP> From: "Edwin Pawlowski"

EP> Most things can easily be fixed by any competent repair person. There EP> may be some proprietary Lennox parts on it, but most controls, EP> relays, motors, can be had at any good supply house.

Actually most lennox parts are proprietary even the motors. and boy are they expensive!!

-=> HvacTech2

[stretch]

I am a Lennox dealer in Myrtle Beach, SC. Actually, Lennox will sell parts to any contractor who has a parts account with Lennox. If you deal with a Lennox contractor, it is more likely that that contractor have the parts in stock, but you are not tied to them. You can call Lennox at 1-800-453-6669 Iin Dallas TX. Follow the prompts in the voice mail system to get consumer help, or dial "0" for the company operator. There is probably more than one Lennox dealer in your area. They can get you a list and that way you can find a friendlier dealer. Lennox makes fine products, but not all dealers are created equal. I hope you can find a good one. Good Luck!!

Stretch

[jtees4]

You don't feel comfortable with them. That's all you need to make your decision.

[TURTLE]

This is Turtle.

Reply Below

If you get them to put you a new furnace in and call for warranty work. do you think anything is going to be different ?

Good Non-Lennox dealer can service the units just like Lennox dealer can. Now one thing here -- leaving quality of part or equipment out of it here. The part are going to cost you more as to i got a repair control package for a lennox gas package unit and cost me about $160.00 and the same type control for a Rheem gas package unit runs about $95.00 .

Now check to see if you have a Lennox warehouse in your area or if not everything you want will come out of Dallas , Texas and be shipped over nite if you want them in a hurry.

TURTLE

[nielloeb]

Don't get a maintenance contract from anybody! The amount of money you pay for the contract over time is more than what you would pay to fix things on your own when they break.

[Bob Pietrangelo]

The amount of money you spend on Preventive Maintenance you save on your uility bills throught the year. If you are speaking of parts and labor contract you may be right for some. But, preventive maintenance is like changing the oil in your car. Your warranty could be voided if you do not have it done.

Preventive Maintenance will lower your utility bills, make your equipment last longer, find small problems before they become big repairs, and locate any safety issues which may not arise until it is too late.

I can point you to, or mail you copies of many independent studies to prove all of the above statements. Parts and Labor contracts are a gamble. For both parties, the homeowner is paying for something up front in case it does happen, and the insurance company hopes it never breaks. But, if your only adding $100-150 extra to a maintetnance agreement, that covers the service call much less the repair. Today's furnaces are alot more expensive to fix than furnaces made 10 or 20 years ago. They also are alot more tempermental. If it is not within manufacturer specs it could start to cost you more to operate, and have parts start to degrade and breakdown. Maintenance is required every year, p&l agreements are not!

Do you have insurance for your health, your car, your home? Why? Do you change your oil and rotate your tires? Why?

[m Ransley]

Ive had preventative maintenance contracts for 15 yrs, and yes they do save you in maintenance, repairs found at the time, and utilities. Your system gets cleaned and a once over with pressure gauges and the proper electrical tests. Be sure they have all this in the contract. Worth the cost several times over to me.