A/C Maintenance Contract Question
 

Two years ago I had a long time local HVAC company install central air in my
home. I was very satisfied with the work and the product. It was a very
professional job and I didn't mind paying a bit more to ensure a quality job.
I'm the kind of person that pays their bills and makes sure they workers have
plenty of coffee, etc. and get tips for a job well done.
A few months later the owner retired and sold the company to a huge group in an
adjoining state. Last summer I tired calling the place 4 times over two months
to get them over to give me an estimate on a new oil furnace. I never got a
call back. In todays mail I get an offer for an A/C maintenance contract from
them. I really don't feel comfortable giving writing a check to a place that
can not return a phone call. This is a Lennox A/C unit. Can any good HVAC
company maintain this box or do I have to go with a company who has Lennox
plastered all over their truck ?

Thanks
Steve

"Steve Stone" wrote in message
I really don't feel comfortable giving writing a check to a place that
can not return a phone call. This is a Lennox A/C unit. Can any good HVAC
company maintain this box or do I have to go with a company who has Lennox
plastered all over their truck ?

Considering how well they treated you when you wanted to give them more
business, how will they treat you if a serious service problem comes up?
I'd look elsewhere.

Most things can easily be fixed by any competent repair person. There may be
some proprietary Lennox parts on it, but most controls, relays, motors, can
be had at any good supply house.

Hi Steve, hope you are having a nice day

On 26-Mar-05 At About 22:10:31, Steve Stone wrote to All
Subject: A/C Maintenance Contract Question

SS From: Steve Stone

SS Can any good HVAC company maintain this box or do I
SS have to go with a company who has Lennox plastered all over their
SS truck ? Thanks Steve

Any company can service it but most lennox parts are proprietary and are
quite expensive.


-= HvacTech2 =-


... Misery loves company, but she will rarely foot the bill..

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Hi Edwin, hope you are having a nice day

On 26-Mar-05 At About 22:22:58, Edwin Pawlowski wrote to All
Subject: A/C Maintenance Contract Question

EP From: "Edwin Pawlowski"


EP Most things can easily be fixed by any competent repair person. There
EP may be some proprietary Lennox parts on it, but most controls,
EP relays, motors, can be had at any good supply house.

Actually most lennox parts are proprietary even the motors. and boy are they
expensive!!


-= HvacTech2 =-


... There are some parts on your body you can't replace! - John Bobbitt

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I am a Lennox dealer in Myrtle Beach, SC. Actually, Lennox will sell
parts to any contractor who has a parts account with Lennox. If you
deal with a Lennox contractor, it is more likely that that contractor
have the parts in stock, but you are not tied to them. You can call
Lennox at 1-800-453-6669 Iin Dallas TX. Follow the prompts in the
voice mail system to get consumer help, or dial "0" for the company
operator. There is probably more than one Lennox dealer in your area.
They can get you a list and that way you can find a friendlier dealer.
Lennox makes fine products, but not all dealers are created equal. I
hope you can find a good one. Good Luck!!


Stretch

On Sun, 27 Mar 2005 03:10:31 GMT, Steve Stone
wrote:

Two years ago I had a long time local HVAC company install central air in my
home. I was very satisfied with the work and the product. It was a very
professional job and I didn't mind paying a bit more to ensure a quality job.
I'm the kind of person that pays their bills and makes sure they workers have
plenty of coffee, etc. and get tips for a job well done.
A few months later the owner retired and sold the company to a huge group in an
adjoining state. Last summer I tired calling the place 4 times over two months
to get them over to give me an estimate on a new oil furnace. I never got a
call back. In todays mail I get an offer for an A/C maintenance contract from
them. I really don't feel comfortable giving writing a check to a place that
can not return a phone call. This is a Lennox A/C unit. Can any good HVAC
company maintain this box or do I have to go with a company who has Lennox
plastered all over their truck ?

Thanks
Steve

You don't feel comfortable with them. That's all you need to make your
decision.

This is Turtle.

Reply Below


"Steve Stone" wrote in message
.. .
I really don't feel comfortable giving writing a check to a place that
can not return a phone call. This is a Lennox A/C unit.

If you get them to put you a new furnace in and call for warranty work. do you
think anything is going to be different ?



Can any good HVAC company maintain this box or do I have to go with a company
who has Lennox
plastered all over their truck ?


Good Non-Lennox dealer can service the units just like Lennox dealer can. Now
one thing here -- leaving quality of part or equipment out of it here. The part
are going to cost you more as to i got a repair control package for a lennox gas
package unit and cost me about $160.00 and the same type control for a Rheem gas
package unit runs about $95.00 .

Now check to see if you have a Lennox warehouse in your area or if not
everything you want will come out of Dallas , Texas and be shipped over nite if
you want them in a hurry.


Thanks
Steve

TURTLE

Don't get a maintenance contract from anybody! The amount of money you
pay for the contract over time is more than what you would pay to fix
things on your own when they break.

The amount of money you spend on Preventive Maintenance you save on your
uility bills throught the year. If you are speaking of parts and labor
contract you may be right for some. But, preventive maintenance is like
changing the oil in your car. Your warranty could be voided if you do not
have it done.

Preventive Maintenance will lower your utility bills, make your equipment
last longer, find small problems before they become big repairs, and locate
any safety issues which may not arise until it is too late.

I can point you to, or mail you copies of many independent studies to prove
all of the above statements. Parts and Labor contracts are a gamble. For
both parties, the homeowner is paying for something up front in case it does
happen, and the insurance company hopes it never breaks. But, if your only
adding $100-150 extra to a maintetnance agreement, that covers the service
call much less the repair. Today's furnaces are alot more expensive to fix
than furnaces made 10 or 20 years ago. They also are alot more
tempermental. If it is not within manufacturer specs it could start to cost
you more to operate, and have parts start to degrade and breakdown.
Maintenance is required every year, p&l agreements are not!

Do you have insurance for your health, your car, your home? Why? Do you
change your oil and rotate your tires? Why?

--
Bob Pietrangelo


www.comfort-solution.biz
On Time or Your Service Call is FREE
Preventive Maintenance Specialist




wrote in message
oups.com...
Don't get a maintenance contract from anybody! The amount of money you
pay for the contract over time is more than what you would pay to fix
things on your own when they break.

Ive had preventative maintenance contracts for 15 yrs, and yes they do
save you in maintenance, repairs found at the time, and utilities. Your
system gets cleaned and a once over with pressure gauges and the proper
electrical tests. Be sure they have all this in the contract. Worth the
cost several times over to me.

"Bob Pietrangelo" wrote in message
...
The amount of money you spend on Preventive Maintenance you save on your
uility bills throught the year. If you are speaking of parts and labor
contract you may be right for some. But, preventive maintenance is like
changing the oil in your car. Your warranty could be voided if you do not
have it done.


Do you have insurance for your health, your car, your home? Why? Do you
change your oil and rotate your tires? Why?

Maintenance and insurance are different things.

Genuine preventative maintenance is good, but some service contracts do
little maintenance and are expensive insurance. The people selling them do
it to make a profit. Most people are far better off paying to have the
service done every year and pay for parts as you go, not with costly
insurance.

Read the contract and know what you are getting.
--
Ed
http://pages.cthome.net/edhome/

wrote in message
oups.com...
Don't get a maintenance contract from anybody! The amount of money you
pay for the contract over time is more than what you would pay to fix
things on your own when they break.


Sorry that you have never been able to buy one correctly.
Bet ya got homeowners tho..