We tend to take our heating and cooling systems for granted. We just flip the switch when we want them on and off they go, with no fuss, muss, bother or worry required.
But all good things must come to an end, and at some point it is inevitable that your HVAC equipment will malfunction and need repairs. Or it may fail completely and need to be replaced. In either scenario significant financial investments may be necessary to make everything right, and this can put quite a dent in your bank account if you are unprepared.
Obviously it would be nice to have some form of insurance to protect you from sudden and unexpected HVAC costs. Fortunately there are two types of “insurance” that do cover HVAC-related expenses. One is called a home warranty and the other is known as an HVAC maintenance plan, and we will introduce you to both so you can compare them for yourself.
Home Warranties
Home warranties for HVAC systems offer financial coverage for various repairs and procedures, which may include plumbing in addition to heating and air conditioning services. They are sold by home warranty companies that act as facilitators, connecting homeowners or commercial property owners with HVAC service providers in the local community.
While warranties do provide coverage for certain services they are more focused on repairs than maintenance and may not cover periodic check-ups or tune-ups. Many home warranties also come with deductibles—and naturally the cheaper the price of the warranty the higher the deductible you’ll have to pay if and when you need to have some work done.
Home warranties cover a lot but they don’t cover everything, so you’ll have to read the fine print carefully before you sign anything.
HVAC Maintenance Plans
Unlike home warranties HVAC maintenance plans are designed to head off trouble before it starts. Generally a good maintenance plan will provide no-cost cleanings and check-up visits from technicians on a twice-yearly basis, which dramatically increases the chances of problems being discovered before they get out of hand.
Discounts on supplies and services calls are also made available to those on maintenance plans, to help keep the costs of repairs under control.
In contrast to home warranties, maintenance plans are offered directly by HVAC repair and installation companies. This lets you to select a service provider you’re already familiar with, or that you know has an excellent reputation in your community.
Expedited, same-day service is the rule rather than the exception for maintenance plan subscribers, who are seen as valued customers by HVAC companies because of their proven commitment to careful maintenance of their heating and cooling systems.
Home Warranty or Maintenance Plan? The Decision is Yours
While HVAC maintenance plans have some obvious advantages over home warranties, everyone’s situation is different and what makes sense for someone else might not be right for you.
Your smartest course of action is to investigate all the available options in both categories. Scrutinize the warranties and maintenance plans offered by various companies and choose the one that best fits your needs—and is offered by a company you know you can trust.
Please continue to follow the Valley Comfort Heating and Air
Conditioning blog for more important information about quality HVAC services and performance. And If you’re in Santa Rosa or the Napa Valley area and need help with your HVAC system, or if you just have questions about the kinds of services and products we offer, feel free to contact us today.