What if there was a “Black Friday” sale for air conditioners?
It’s time to let homeowners in on the hvac industry’s little secret. There is a good time to purchase a new heating and air conditioning system.
Attention homeowners, there is a good time to buy! And, as contractors we know you aren’t thinking about buying a new hvac system for your home. Who is? It’s typically not high even in the discussion for you when it comes to home improvements. It’s way down list after a kitchen remodel, new carpet, maybe a pool…..you see what I’m getting at. But at some point the dilapidated box outside your home or the one under your house, or the one in the attic will have to be replaced. So listen carefully to this advice, it will save you some bucks!
Your Local Heating and Air Contractors Go From Super Busy to Slow Overnight
Your local heating and air conditioning company has many challenges. They juggle keeping their existing customers happy along with the advent of new ones. This consists of on demand service calls to repair heat or a/c, semi-annual maintenance visits, and new equipment installations. Your typical heating & a/c company is doing everything they can to provide the best customer service, while providing quality workmanship, along with keeping their employees happy. This is an up and down cycle for these contractors. They can go from extremely busy, where their field employees are working 60-80 hour weeks, to very little work at all. Their employees are not getting enough hours and the company needs more work to generate revenue to keep the company running and its employees happy. This is where you, the consumer can take advantage of the situation if you have to bite the bullet and make that unwanted purchase.
The Mild Temperatures of Spring and Fall
The mild temperatures we see during spring and fall is not a great time for most hvac companies. Let’s face it, extreme temperatures cause heating and air conditioning systems to fail. The harder they work the more chance they will fail, or they will not keep your home at the comfort level you desire. So, during mild weather, contractors will do things they normally would not do during the extreme heat of summer or the cold of winter. They will offer installation discounts or special offers such as, “A Free A/C with purchase of a new furnace”. The key point to recognize here is that contractors need to keep their employees busy and revenue flowing. This is advantageous to the homeowner that knows their hvac system is on its last leg. Maybe you had problems last winter or summer? You had expensive repairs performed, and maybe the hvac company told you it’s time to think about replacement. My point here is, to plan ahead. Contractors would love to hear from you during the shoulder seasons of spring and fall. If you wait to your system fails during 95 degree plus weather, you may pay a premium! So, think ahead and save some money! You’ll be glad you did!
Rebates or Incentives from the Manufacturer
The heating and air conditioning manufacturers want to keep production moving to keep them profitable. They suffer the same way the local service contractor suffers. When the temperatures are mild, they are not moving as many heaters or air conditioners. So, what do they do? They offer rebates or incentives on their products. Typically, the manufacturer provides rebates or cash back on the higher efficient equipment. The rebates could range from a couple hundred dollars to in the thousands. Also, during these times the equipment manufacturers may offer special financing like 0% interest or 6 months deferred financing. This can be very helpful to the consumer. Let’s get real, is any homeowner really putting money back for a new hvac system? Probably not, but let’s keep an eye out for these specials, you could save a lot!
If You Know a New HVAC System is in Your Future….
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Homeowner, if you know the time is near for that old clunker to be replaced, remember these key things:
- If you’ve had a major repair or multiple minor repairs on your hvac system recently, starting thinking about it and plan ahead.
- Keep an eye on the weather, “hint hint” the spring or fall
- Look for specials or deals
- Manufacturer rebates
- Take advantage of financing
No one wants to invest their hard earned money into a new heating and air conditioning system, but when the time comes, use this knowledge to your advantage. You’ll often save a few bucks, and you’ll make a local heating and air company happy.