Image

McCutcheon Air Conditioning and Heating Blog

Font size: +
2 minutes reading time (493 words)

Beware of Home warranties that claim to cover your HVAC

Don’t fall for insurance companies that offer policy’s that supposedly will repair or even replace your AC when it fails. They never replace the system – they will just keep sending people out to patch it up and keep it barely running.

According to Angies List “Historically, home warranty service companies have been one of the "worst graded" categories on Angie's List. Members misunderstanding or disagreeing with what their warranties cover and the quality of repair work are cited in the majority of complaints.”

Read the fine print. Some home warranty companies claim to cover major appliances but will in fact only cover a small portion of the total repair cost. They will also most likely send an Less than quality contractor out for the work.

The average cost of a basic coverage plan ranges from $350 to $600 a year, plus $50 to $75 per service call. However, consumers frequently expect more from these plans than they deliver. Home warranties aren’t insurance policies. They’re service contracts.

Some reasons not to use a Home Warranty Program:

  • Don’t assume your policy will replace a faulty component. The warranty company may insist on repairing it instead.
  • You may not be able to call your favorite service provider. Home warranties usually require you to use a contracted servicer.
  • Home warranties rarely cover the entire cost. Claims may be rejected because of “pre-existing problems or insufficient maintenance”.
  • When your AC breaks down in the middle of the summer you will wait a lot longer for it to be repaired because the HVAC contractors who work for the home warranty company will always take care of their own customers first. Also, most established air conditioning companies refuse to work with home warranty companies because there are very low margin, pre-determined, diagnosis and repair payment rates.
  • The warranty companies have relationships with parts suppliers and usually want to provide the parts used for the repairs. The problem is they typically buy the cheapest part they can get…parts a technician would not put in his own AC unit because; “you get what you pay for”.
  • Repair vs. Replace: There are conditions where repair is just impractical and if dealing directly with the customer, my advice as a technician would be to replace the equipment for improved comfort, efficiency, and plain common sense. The home warranty company however will only replace a unit that is unrepairable (very rarely is a unit unrepairable). Even when deemed unrepairable, they provide the cheapest, least efficient “pieces” of new equipment, not complete new “systems”.
  • If you think that in the event of a catastrophic failure of your HVAC equipment you’ll be covered for a whole new central air and heating system…you’re probably in for more frustration and disappointment than you bargained for.

Find a good HVAC contractor to provide your maintenance and minor repairs as necessary, and when replacement time comes, you’ll get to choose the right system for you, your budget, and your needs.

×
Stay Informed

When you subscribe to the blog, we will send you an e-mail when there are new updates on the site so you wouldn't miss them.

Why not buy an AC System online and save a few buc...
HVAC Companies that offer to buy your old equipmen...
Comment for this post has been locked by admin.
 

Comments

25 October 2024
AC Blog
If your air conditioner is screaming or hissing at you, it probably isn’t full of ghosts, but it’s definitely trying to tell you something… If you live in Florida, you’re probably in a committed relationship with your AC, and you want that relationsh...
23 July 2024
AC Blog
Ensure your air conditioning stays safe from power surges. Invest in a high-quality surge protector from Sean McCutcheon's Air Conditioning and Heating, Inc. It could save you hundreds of dollars in repair or replacement costs. What is a surge protec...
28 March 2024
AC Blog
You’ve probably heard by now, that Smart Thermostats can reduce your HVAC-related energy consumption by a lot, but energy savings are just the beginning… Before we get into all the bells and whistles, let’s begin by defining our terms… There are 3 ba...
23 January 2024
AC Blog
When it comes to replacing your old air conditioning system in the (usually) balmy Sarasota area, you can turn that old “get it while it’s hot” idiom right on its head… Here in the Suncoast, heating and air conditioning companies are less busy in the...
21 April 2023
AC Blog
In addition to its stated aim of curbing inflation, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) which was signed into law in August of 2022, is the largest federal investment to fight climate change in U.S. history. It accomplishes this by offering tax credits...
26 May 2017
AC Blog
We are delighted to hear that Gold Star Father Kris Hager will be attending our Memorial Day lunch. Kris is the chairman of Gold Star Fathers of Florida, Inc. and he regularly speaks at events honorin...
15 May 2020
AC Blog
Maverick: Maverick with Sean McCutcheon from Sean McCutcheon’s Air Conditioning and Heating, a proud member of this community. Sean: 17 years we’ve taken care of this community and we’re going to cont...