A few facts – however obvious they might be – to get us all rowing in the same direction:
- You’re on the Optimum Air website
- We’re always looking for new customers, the lifeblood of ours and any other business
- Today is no exception…we’d love for you to choose us even for a small job so we can demonstrate our short- and long-term worth
And now for a few counter-intuitive facts:
- Very frequently, we present completely unbiased information in our blogs, the kind you’re free to use to cement your decision to choose us or take the information and run to our nearest competitor
- Today is one of those days…as in, this blog is presented to help you prevent big and potentially costly mistakes…period.
There, we’ve said it. We’ve stated that the following information is meant to inform and not bias you in any way. We hope you read it in that light.
Installing a New AC System
Here’s a very common occurrence. You desperately need a replacement AC system, but don’t have or don’t want to spend the money you think it will take. So, you see your neighbor having theirs replaced and discover they’ve hired a moonlighter. Not an HVAC professional, per se, but someone who’s a jack of all trades, comes highly recommended, works dirt cheap, and could start your system as soon as they’re finished with your neighbor’s.
“Any downside?”, you ask. “None at all,” your neighbor tells you, and you can’t believe how much we’re saving!”
But here’s the thing – whatever you save up front could end up costing you that and much more later on.
Here are just a few examples of how that can happen:
- The moonlighter didn’t pull a permit – oops! And eventually that comes to your municipality’s attention. Brace yourself for that bill.
- There was no time to properly size the system. He replaced your 3-ton unit with one of the same size, especially after you told him the old system worked just fine up until a few months ago.
- The problem is, an incorrectly sized system – too small or too big – will cause it to wear out faster, spike your energy bills, and eventually present you with a heap of repair issues.
- Your current system runs on one thermostat. You don’t think to ask if one is enough, and the installer doesn’t have time to make suggestions…he has four or five customers waiting their turn. The truth is, when there’s only one thermostat, it’s always a good idea to add one or more zones, each with its own thermostat. That way, you’re bound to save a large sum of money on both energy costs and repair problems.
Oh yes, and then there’s that little matter of an HVAC license. Did you even think to ask? We’re not being critical, mind you, but you shouldn’t have to ask. The right installer will share the following with you before any work begins: proof of licensing, insurance, and written warranties.
The moral of the story? Upfront savings are often short-term savings and the kind that don’t last very long. So, do yourself a favor and do plenty of homework in advance before choosing your next AC installer, and make price only one of your deciding factors.
And who knows, you might just wind up hiring Optimum Air – the people are always happy to share information you can use, anyway you like.
