How To Buy an Air Conditioner – And Not Get Ripped Off!

§ These 10 Guaranteed Tips will save you time, money, and aggravation.

You don’t need the weatherman to tell you that it is hot in Richmond. And it feels great to come inside from summer’s heat and feel the cool, dry air from your air conditioner. But what do you do when it breaks? You can only take off so many clothes before it is considered illegal.

I cannot tell you how many times I have heard homeowners say, “I will wait until it dies.” The unfortunate thing is that an air conditioner usually “breaks” when it is running the hardest, or when you need it most. And on those 90 degree days, these same homeowners would gladly give their right arm for air conditioning NOW!

And, it is at this moment, as the house begins to heat up, and the extra humidity swirls around you, a homeowner needs to be as calm and cautious, as ever, before they make that decision (hopefully a good one!) that will last for the next 10 to 15 years.

10 Tips On Buying An Air Conditioner

Tip10: Make sure your system is on a maintenance schedule– Customers tell me all the time, “The unit is brand new, I don’t need to have maintenance!” Think about it this way, in one month an A/C unit in the Richmond heat will run the equivalent of 30,000 miles in your car. You wouldn’t dream of going that far without an oil change, let alone a tune-up. Getting a new system serviced twice a year is just as important, if not more so. Dirt is the #1 cause for all system repairs and breakdowns. Make sure your investment lasts as long as you would expect it to.

Tip 9: Get as many estimates as it takes – We are all conditioned to get three estimates and then make our decision. But what if you have picked three “bad” companies, which one do you pick? My point is that you should keep interviewing companies until you find that company that will provide the equipment and services, for a reasonable price, that meet your criteria. It may only take one, or it may take ten, but it will be worth it down the road. Spending the time now in this step, will save you a lot of money down the road.

Tip 8: Important Considerations – The new 13 SEER minimum efficiency standard has gone into effect as of January 2006, raising the minimum efficiency of air conditioners from 10 SEER to 13. Also, the refrigerant of today (R-22) will be gone tomorrow. Under the terms of the Montreal Protocol on ozone depletion, as of 01/01/2010, HVAC manufacturers cannot produce equipment containing R-22 refrigerants. The new environmentally safe refrigerant R-410A alternative is currently being sold at a reasonable price compared to R-22 equipment, and will soon be the industry standard.

Tip 7: Do not pay in advance – Some companies, or “friends in the industry”, will demand that you pay in full prior to installation. Do not do this, no matter how good the deal is. In most companies it is customary for a fractional down payment upon the agreement, with payment in full upon completion of the job. There are also many financial programs available, such as deferred payment plans, or Same As Cash plans, etc., to help offset an emergency installation.

Tip 6: Understand that you will need to make a sacrifice – Equipment, Service, or Price. In all my years as a consumer, I have never found a good quality product that is reliable and durable, that was installed by the highest trained company with a long parts and labor warranty, all for the cheapest price in town! Two out of three is the best anyone can hope for. So what is most important to you? Do you prefer a high-quality, dependable product made with strong, durable materials, built to last a long time, or is it crucial for you to have a reliable, certified, and efficient service company that takes pride in their work and your home to install it? Or you might just want to get the lowest price you can? There are no wrong answers because every situation is different. So be prepared before your decision, which one of these three are you willing to sacrifice?
To get the rest of these amazing tips, go to www.howellsac.com. Click on the 10 Tips on Buying an Air Conditioner on the homepage.
For more information on Howell’s Heating & Air Conditioning, you may contact Jeff Waran at (804)798-1371 or e-mail at jeffw@howellsac.com

Tracy Parrish
Service Manager
Howells Heating & A/C
11216 Air Park Rd.
Ashland, VA 23005
(804)798-1371

Article written by Tracy Parrish, Service Manager for Howell’s Heating & Air Conditioning, Howells’ Heating & A/C is an Employee-owned company that has been serving the Richmond, VA market for over 38 years. Tracy has over 20 years of experience in the HVAC industry. He began his career as a service technician, and moved up to a commercial service mechanic and from there to a Commercial Service Supervisor position. He has been employed with Howell's since 1991 as the Service Manager. He is an approved instructor and proctor for CFC and NATE certification. He is an active member with the Refrigeration Service Engineers Society and currently presides as the President of the Central Virginia Air Conditioner Contractors Association. Tracy has been a driving force for Howells with his involvement on the company's ESOP board. His passions are his family, the open road on his Harley, and the success of Howell's.