Air conditioning is critically important in San Antonio, and we know it can be a big expense if something goes wrong. Too many times we’ve seen folks make a do-it-yourself repair to save money who end up calling us for help anyway.
We don’t like to see anyone’s hard-earned money go to waste, so before you skip the call to an HVAC professional, consider these four myths.
Myth: Buying an air conditioning unit and installation services from a big box store will be cheaper than going through HVAC company
You’ll find the same great brands that we provide at stores like Home Depot and Lowes. But when you pay for installation services through a big box store they’re contracting that work out, which means both the store and the contractor are baking their fees into your final bill. You’re paying a fee to the store for no reason!
You’ll pay a lot less if you go to a contractor directly and purchase through them.
Myth: I can save money by buying air conditioner parts online
You might be able to get a deal on parts online, but most reputable contractors will be reluctant to install or warranty their work on a part they aren’t sure they can trust. (If something goes wrong, you might blame the installer when it was really bad equipment.)
Shopping for a less reputable person who will do the work, or having to buy a part through your A/C company anyway means this approach can end up costing you more in the long run.
Myth: I can buy the exact same parts online that an A/C company would use
Most credible manufacturers don’t allow their products to be sold online or to individuals. It’s important to manufacturers that their equipment is installed properly so that improper installation doesn’t hurt their reputation.
(It’s the reverse of the previous example: if something goes wrong you might blame the part or manufacturer, but the problem is really that it was installed wrong.) Therefore, they’ll only sell to licensed folks like us.
Myth: Warranties on parts or labor are useless and doing it myself is cheaper
When you use a reputable dealer, most will register your equipment with the manufacturer. (At North East, we always do this for you). If that part is flawed or fails inside the warranty period (often a period of years, though it varies by manufacturer) and it’s registered, that manufacturer will cover the cost of the replacement part. That’s money you leave on the table when you go the D-I-Y route.
When it comes to labor the same is true. A reputable dealer will honor their installation work and implement a fix at no cost if something is their fault. At North East, we guarantee our labor for 1 year. The neighborhood handyman from Craigslist may not be able to honor that same offer.
The Wrap Up
We know it’s tempting to try to take care of an air conditioning problem yourself. We’ve also seen so many folks waste good time and money by doing so. We believe the best long-term use of your funds is to call a trusted company of licensed professionals. Call North East Air Conditioning at 210-658-0111 or fill out our online form to request an appointment.
