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Preventative Maintenance HVAC programs - ripoff or worth it?
Posted on 8/28/24 at 3:55 pm
Posted on 8/28/24 at 3:55 pm
I just figured it was the norm for people to have PM programs on their HVAC, and recently found out that most of my family doesn't. Our program is $35 a month and includes twice yearly cleaning, summer and winter.
Includes other sales BS like "priority" customer service, 10% discount on repair materials...
We've still had two repairs needed for relatively new units in the past year. $300 for a capacitor on one unit, $250 for compressor on another.
Am I getting ripped off? Do y'all just do service calls when the units stop working?
Includes other sales BS like "priority" customer service, 10% discount on repair materials...
We've still had two repairs needed for relatively new units in the past year. $300 for a capacitor on one unit, $250 for compressor on another.
Am I getting ripped off? Do y'all just do service calls when the units stop working?
16
Posted on 8/28/24 at 4:05 pm to thatoneguy
quote:
$300 for a capacitor on one unit,
You got it with no lube on that one.
Posted on 8/28/24 at 4:35 pm to thatoneguy
I think they are rip-off's, but that's because I do my own maintenance. Regardless, $35/mo. seems ridiculous - $420 per year.
My unit is 11 years old - would be $4.620 over the life of the unit so far. Could purchase a couple brand new condensing units for that.
My unit is 11 years old - would be $4.620 over the life of the unit so far. Could purchase a couple brand new condensing units for that.
Posted on 8/28/24 at 4:35 pm to Clames
quote:
$300 for a capacitor on one unit,
You got it with no lube on that one.
Posted on 8/28/24 at 5:04 pm to thatoneguy
My contract is $199 annually and includes 2 cleanings and checkups. My capacitor went out earlier this year and luckily it was under warranty. I asked for a quote for a spare and they quoted me $350 
Just got a spare AMRAD for $30.
Just got a spare AMRAD for $30.
Posted on 8/28/24 at 8:33 pm to thatoneguy
I pay $180 per year for a spring/fall maintenance visit (cleaning, checkup).
Each on its own is more than $100 so yes I’m saving “some” money and it’s worth it to me.
They call me and I don’t ever have to think about it.
Each on its own is more than $100 so yes I’m saving “some” money and it’s worth it to me.
They call me and I don’t ever have to think about it.
This post was edited on 8/28/24 at 8:35 pm
Posted on 8/28/24 at 9:10 pm to thatoneguy
Yall must be using one hour, they overcharge and upsell everything, the more you pay, the more the techs make.
Posted on 8/29/24 at 7:26 am to thatoneguy
I just call them in April every year to come out and clean the 2 outside units, check everything, coils, refrigerant, blow the drain lines out etc.
$250.
$250.
Posted on 8/29/24 at 7:58 am to BeepBopBoop
I just pick a day with decent weather, wait until both units are in the shade, and spend maybe an hour cleaning them myself each year.
Posted on 8/29/24 at 8:04 am to calcotron
quote:
just pick a day with decent weather, wait until both units are in the shade, and spend maybe an hour cleaning them myself each year.
I do the same, typically in the spring except I take it a little further. I also go in the attic, clean the evaporator, blower, and condensate drain line. Start to finish normally takes me somewhere around 3ish hours.
Posted on 8/29/24 at 8:05 am to thatoneguy
Southern air is 15$ a month. I do it… problem is half the time I don’t schedule the “free” maintenance. They love me, easy money.
This post was edited on 8/29/24 at 8:07 am
Posted on 8/29/24 at 8:28 am to thatoneguy
Im $200/year and the owner lives 2 doors down from me. I keep 2 spare capacitors on hand that are cheap as hell to buy yourself at the supply house.
I like to give the business $ in case I ever need to have him randomly walk over and check on something.
I like to give the business $ in case I ever need to have him randomly walk over and check on something.
Posted on 8/29/24 at 8:30 am to thatoneguy
Save that $420 to put towards a repair and clean your condenser coil with a garden hose in April and August yourself.
Posted on 8/29/24 at 9:18 am to thatoneguy
Apologies for the shameless piggybacking here, but this seems as good a place to ask as any...
Do any of you, whether a homeowner or if you do HVAC, think active HVAC monitoring could have some value? Real-time monitoring of as much of the system as possible - amp draw, vibration, numerous temp probes, maybe even refrigerant pressures via service ports, etc. The idea is for the system to detect anomalies and report potential problems before they are problems.
I think something like this would be a good add-on to a PM program. I think it could help replace some emergency truck rolls with cheaper scheduled visits. I think it could save some downtime and electricity.
If anyone thinks this is remotely interesting, I'll be back with details once I have my own systems monitored.
Do any of you, whether a homeowner or if you do HVAC, think active HVAC monitoring could have some value? Real-time monitoring of as much of the system as possible - amp draw, vibration, numerous temp probes, maybe even refrigerant pressures via service ports, etc. The idea is for the system to detect anomalies and report potential problems before they are problems.
I think something like this would be a good add-on to a PM program. I think it could help replace some emergency truck rolls with cheaper scheduled visits. I think it could save some downtime and electricity.
If anyone thinks this is remotely interesting, I'll be back with details once I have my own systems monitored.
Posted on 8/29/24 at 10:30 am to Korkstand
quote:
think active HVAC monitoring could have some value?
Depends on who ultimately is monitoring it. It would have to be smart enough to throw an alarm once it senses something out of spec for it to be really useful imo.
Homeowners don't even change filters remotely on time. Asking them to keep track of pressures/amps is unlikely.
But if it could monitor static pressure and throw an alarm for a filter needing to be changed then that might be helpful. Same for a capacitor that failing--which is quite hard on compressors/fans and sends many older units to a earlier grave.
I think the big problem would be cost. Systems are already expensive and even high-end manus like Trane cheap out on stuff to get the price down. Kinda like adding a $300 soft start, they are great but its another added cost.
Posted on 8/29/24 at 10:49 am to Turnblad85
quote:Yes exactly, that is the idea. Personally I like looking at charts and graphs, but yeah notifications will be absolutely critical to the value.
Depends on who ultimately is monitoring it. It would have to be smart enough to throw an alarm once it senses something out of spec for it to be really useful imo.
quote:Right.
Homeowners don't even change filters remotely on time. Asking them to keep track of pressures/amps is unlikely.
quote:That's what I'm thinking. I believe we can detect weeks or even months ahead of total failure when a capacitor might be failing. Maybe the cap itself gets hot, maybe the motor takes longer to get up to speed or draws more amps. I think we can save some equipment damage and electricity, not to mention downtime and costs, by replacing capacitors right before they fail.
But if it could monitor static pressure and throw an alarm for a filter needing to be changed then that might be helpful. Same for a capacitor that failing--which is quite hard on compressors/fans and sends many older units to a earlier grave.
quote:Yeah.
I think the big problem would be cost. Systems are already expensive and even high-end manus like Trane cheap out on stuff to get the price down. Kinda like adding a $300 soft start, they are great but its another added cost.
So the hardware itself is very cheap. Like $5 for the "brains" of it and $1-2 per sensor cheap. I'll track every cost as I go, but I don't expect the BOM to exceed $100 after outfitting my whole system with probably a couple dozen sensors. The largest cost by far will of course be the time to install. That's why I think working that cost into a PM program might work.
Posted on 8/29/24 at 10:54 am to Turnblad85
I used to for about the first 6-7 yrs after we moved in.
It paid off one time. We flew back from NYC on Dec 31 (Sat night)
On Sunday afternoon, I noticed it was pretty cold in the house. So I called and they came right out. A Dbl 30 amp breaker had failed in the outside panel. replaced it and everything's good.
I had them come out recently to find and fix a condensate drain issue in crawlspace and clean the electrostatic filter. It was expensive. and I probably could have done it myself but just didn't feel like spending 2 hours in the crawlspace on my day off.
I've also fallen prey to the $130 capacitor replacement. I now do those myself. Also replaced the condensor fan. ($400 part)
It paid off one time. We flew back from NYC on Dec 31 (Sat night)
On Sunday afternoon, I noticed it was pretty cold in the house. So I called and they came right out. A Dbl 30 amp breaker had failed in the outside panel. replaced it and everything's good.
I had them come out recently to find and fix a condensate drain issue in crawlspace and clean the electrostatic filter. It was expensive. and I probably could have done it myself but just didn't feel like spending 2 hours in the crawlspace on my day off.
I've also fallen prey to the $130 capacitor replacement. I now do those myself. Also replaced the condensor fan. ($400 part)
This post was edited on 8/29/24 at 10:57 am
Posted on 8/29/24 at 11:50 am to Korkstand
You really don't need a bunch of sensors. A good HVAC purpose DVOM (Fieldpiece, Klein, Fluke, Flir, etc.) will get you inrush current and back-EMF measurements to diagnose the electrical side of things well enough to head off potential issues. There are smart manifolds with wireless gages and temperature probes that can be easily hooked up to spot check a system a few times a year.
Posted on 8/29/24 at 12:00 pm to deathinthedelta
quote:
Yall must be using one hour
Correct. We’re looking at switching away from them and I wasn’t sure if I should get a PM program with a new company. Results seem to be mixed, but I think it may be worth it. Sounds like I’m definitely overpaying now though with one hour
Posted on 8/29/24 at 12:03 pm to Clames
quote:Sure. But if I can get continuous measurements instead of only a few spot checks per year, and get years of service for a cost similar to maybe one year's worth of spot check service calls, shouldn't I do that?
You really don't need a bunch of sensors. A good HVAC purpose DVOM (Fieldpiece, Klein, Fluke, Flir, etc.) will get you inrush current and back-EMF measurements to diagnose the electrical side of things well enough to head off potential issues. There are smart manifolds with wireless gages and temperature probes that can be easily hooked up to spot check a system a few times a year.
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