Protect Your Appliance Investments – Be Proactive
You can save money on AC repair costs in many different ways, no matter what make or model of air conditioner you happen to own, even those window-mounted units you find at your local Walmart. Most homes have a central heating and air conditioning unit, and major repairs can cost a lot of money, from a few hundred to thousands of dollars. Here are just some of the ways you can cut these costs down.
The first place to start is with the warranty. Most major appliances come with a warranty, which can last as little as a year to ten years, depending on the make and model of the unit. While long warranties are reasonable, any time an extended warranty is offered, you should pay extra money for it. It always seems that a product will last just as long as the warranty does, and something breaks down as soon as it expires. Buying an extended warranty may prolong your repair costs for a few years longer and cost under a hundred dollars. Even those window models may come with a warranty, and some local retailers even offer extended warranties.
Another way to cut AC repair costs is to get major appliance insurance. You may think your homeowner’s insurance will cover repair costs, but it doesn’t unless your AC is broken or damaged by something that your homeowner’s insurance covers, fire, flood, or some other disaster; this insurance will not cover a broken appliance. Appliance insurance can cover your AC and all your other major appliances. You could pay little or no out-of-pocket expenses depending on your deductible and premiums.
Preventing problems in the first place is much cheaper than the costs of repairs. Routine maintenance is one of the biggest ways to prevent high AC repair costs. Some of these things you can even do yourself, like replacing filters, checking the air ducts, and maybe even belts. You need to check your warranty to find out what things you can do on your own and your owner’s manual to find out what areas of your unit you have access to. Getting on a routine maintenance program with a licensed service technician is also a good idea. You can’t do things, and a professional can spot problems before they become extensive repairs. Getting into a program can also save you money if you need repairs in the middle of the night or on weekends.
Another idea for saving money is to find out just how old your AC unit is. If you find that it is more than ten or fifteen years old, you may want to consider replacing the whole unit and get one that is highly energy efficient. Older models may have parts that are difficult to find, and this will cost you extra. Newer units will have a much longer warranty, have fewer mechanical parts, and be more energy efficient. Changing over to a new system can not only save you money on AC repair costs but also on your electricity bills.
