How To Compare HVAC Equipment and Make The Best Choice

When you start shopping and comparing HVAC equipment, it’s important to know what to look for and what questions to ask. Just like with anything – a house, car, or heating and cooling system you get what you pay for. To make the best decision, you need to know how to compare your options.

Let’s look at the two different ways you can purchase an HVAC unit. You can invest in high-quality products from a licensed contractor, or shop price only at a big box store. Which is the best option for you?

High-Quality HVAC Products–Are They Really Worth It?

For HVAC equipment including furnaces, heat pumps, and air conditioning units, the two gold-standard manufacturers are American Standard and Daikin. That is especially true in our area of Tacoma, Washington. Their equipment is available only through licensed and approved HVAC contractors. Along with manufacturing state-of-the-art energy efficient products, both American Standard and Daikin provide extensive product training to their distributors which includes the latest product innovations.

One of the most significant advantage for homeowners in choosing this option is the individualized customer care. There is no “one size fits all” HVAC unit, so to get the best system you need a trained HVAC technician to come out to your home and see what system would work the best for you. They will ask you questions such as:

Do you have any existing ductwork?
Are any rooms uncomfortably warm or cold?
How much are you paying for utilities now?

When purchasing a new heating and air system, it’s important to not only look at the cost of the unit and installation, but also the energy efficiency of the entire system and how it will impact your utility bill.

In addition to utility savings, both Daikin and American Standard offer impressive manufacturer warranties along with extended warranty options. The length of the warranty varies for each product.

Big Box HVAC Products–Are You Really Saving Money?

No doubt about it, big box stores are great for DIY projects. Who doesn’t love to stop by Sunday after church to see what’s on sale? That being said, it’s a different story when you’re looking for a new HVAC unit. Yes, these stores do carry good lower end units that could work fine for a few years. But, getting reliable service and repair after the sale is another story.

Besides a spur of the moment decision with a salesman at a kiosk, one of the other main reasons homeowners purchase HVAC units from a big box store like Lowe’s, or Home Depot is they think they’ll save money on financing. Although most shoppers realize the sales rep at the kiosk isn’t an HVAC contractor, they trust the store, so they think they’ll be OK. These stores hire outside contractors who are paid up to 90% and more of the purchase price to install the equipment.

A homeowner would be much smarter to deal directly with a local contractor like Mercurio’s Heating & Air Conditioning who has built an excellent reputation on customer satisfaction.

When it comes to financing, who wants to pay a premium with a big box store? Most established contractors have similar financing options.

Also, when selecting what HVAC system is the best for you and your home, wouldn’t you prefer to talk to a trained HVAC technician, instead of a sales rep?

Where Can You Get Better After-Purchase Service?

If after your purchase you need emergency service or have a warranty issue, would you rather call an 800 number that will put you on hold and transfer you at least three times or your trusted local HVAC contractor?

Once you’re out the door getting reliable and dependable service could be another story. That is especially true if you were told to get the wrong size or model that doesn’t work efficiently in your home. Add to that, what happens if the unit wasn’t installed correctly in the first place? And, who knows where those contractors who installed it are now. But, if you would have gone to a local contractor like Mercurio’s, you would know who installed your system, and where to call to service it.

Selecting the right HVAC system is essential and can significantly add to your quality of life. We are here to help you make the best decision for your home and budget.