There’s no question that buying a furnace is an expensive proposition. The high cost of heating equipment has driven many consumers to search the Internet in the hopes of finding lower prices than they can get through their local HVAC contractor. While some great online deals are out there, many contain hidden costs that can come back to haunt bargain-shopping homeowners. If you’re considering buying a furnace online, it’s important to keep a few things in mind.
- Many furnace manufacturers will not warranty furnace equipment purchased online. Why? Beca
use they can’t guarantee that the equipment meets their rigorous quality standards and don’t want to be liable if it doesn’t. Without a manufacturer warranty, homeowners face steep repair or replacement costs if their new furnace doesn’t perform as expected. - Homeowners who go ahead with an online purchase often find it difficult to locate a HVAC contractor who will agree to install the new furnace. Some have a strict policy against it. Others will install the equipment, but won’t guarantee the equipment or their labor on the installation. Because they can’t identify the source or the quality of the equipment, many contractors are hesitant to put their company’s reputation at risk. If something goes wrong down the road, the homeowner is stuck with the bill.
- There’s the issue of customer service. Reputable contractors tend to turn down these kind of “install-only” jobs because they want to conduct an on-site assessment of each customer’s home before making a product recommendation. This helps ensure that customers don’t purchase more or less than is needed to meet a home’s heating requirements—and builds a long-term relationship based on trust and service. That’s a worthwhile investment for any homeowner.
If you’re considering buying a furnace, the team of experienced professionals at Marsh Heating & Air Conditioning would love to assist you. We’ve been meeting the heating and cooling needs of customers throughout the Twin Cities area for over 37 years. Let us show you the difference that personal attention and highly-trained service technicians can make. Contact us today to learn more.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about furnaces and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Marsh Heating and Air Conditioning services Minnesota’s Twin Cities. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!