When shopping around for the “best deal” on your new gas furnace system, make sure you are truly comparing apples to apples. Getting the best deal and value requires that you do!
Let’s face it. There are not many external differences between gas furnace systems. They generally all look like big, boxy metal cabinets. Once they are installed in your garage, utility closet, or basement, they can easily be forgotten once the light is turned off and the door is closed. The furnace manufacturer’s and HVAC installer’s all claim that they will heat your home in the cold months of the year- nothing much different about that, is there?
The TRUTH is there are very important differences between HVAC systems and HVAC service providers.
As the consumer considering a new heating system for your home, you should dig a bit deeper when you are accepting bids on a natural gas furnace (or any other HVAC system for that matter)? This is a big ticket item after all. You’ll want to uncover some of the important differentiating factors that will ultimately provide the best comfort and value for you.
In my own business it is not uncommon to see competitive bids come in under ours. When we dig deeper, the reasons for this become obvious—we see that the competition may be specing equipment that does not match ours in an apples to apples comparison. The truth is that we see a lot of HVAC companies cutting corners, or simply not proposing comparable systems. This, of course, has the effect of making their bids lower at first.
I want to share a few critical areas that the consumer needs to look at when evaluating furnace systems bids. Here are a few key questions you should be asking as a means to compare furnace system bids.
- What is the warranty on parts of the prospective systems? Heat exchanger, circuit board, blower wheel & chamber, igniter, etc.
- Is there a service warranty? If so, what is it?
- What is the capacity of the unit?
- What is the efficiency rating of the system? The higher efficiency, the higher the initial out of pocket cost. Lower efficiency systems require less on the front-end, but cost more over the long run.
- When can the system be installed?
- Does the installing company actually pull necessary permits (it is easy for them to cut corners when they don’t. You the consumer are put at risk when permits & inspections are not in place!
- Does the HVAC company provide financing.
- Does the HVAC company stand behind their work with a 100% satisfaction guarantee?
Once you have all of the key evaluation specifications and requirements identified, then you are ready to receive your bids as an informed consumer.
As for my own company, Right Now Heating & Air Conditioning, we always compete very favorably when the systems are truly matched apples to apples and we prefer consumers to be educated on this matter.
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Thanks for the reminder that the warranty is also essential to consider when getting a new HVAC unit installed. I’d like to find a good one soon because I recently bought a new bed for my room. Having a new cooling unit there will ensure that my sleep will be as comfortable as possible.