We understand the urge to price items before settling on one or the other. We do this every time we go to the grocery store—deciding if it’s really worth it to get the name brand ketchup or if the store brand will do just fine. Of course, picking out a new air conditioner or heating system isn’t the same as selecting condiments from a grocery shelf. Why would you shop as though it is?
Many people attempt to save money on air conditioning and heating installations—HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems—by shopping around for the best price. Unfortunately, the best price doesn’t always translate to the best company. Often, we find that “cheap” companies are just that. You may end up with an installation that doesn’t meet your standards, and costs far more to fix than it did to install.
Professional Installation Is Key to Proper Performance
If a self-proclaimed “handyman” offers to install a heating or air conditioning system for cheap, you’re taking a huge risk. Licensed installers train for years to be able to size equipment, make all the right connections, and ensure your unit lasts for a long time to come.
Proper installation is key to the performance of your system. We’ve been in this industry for a long time, and we’ve seen firsthand that most unexpected air conditioning system failures have to do with a system that’s not properly installed.
It May Be Too Small for the Home
The first problem we see all too often from inexperienced installers is that the system tends to be way too small for the home. A homeowner trying to save money might look for a smaller system from an even smaller company, only to be disappointed when the system is unable to provide heating or air conditioning to the entire home.
It Could Be Too Large
The opposite problem is when an air conditioner is too large for your home. A careless installer may not spend time measuring the proper size needed to cool your square footage, and the system can therefore short cycle. When it’s too large, it runs for brief spurts too frequently, and this constant starting and stopping is bad for the system.
You’ll Likely Make a Lot of Repairs and Spend a Lot
Something we see a lot is that the air handler installation is often shoddy, with wires crisscrossing in all directions and an insecure seal on the vent system. Refrigerant may not be properly charged within the system and the refrigerant lines might be more likely to leak with a cheap installation. The condensate lines may also be more prone to leaking, which could mean major water damage throughout your home.
Technicians fix a lot of installers’ mistakes over the years. We’ve seen the worst problems that can occur, and they’re more common than you may think. In the end, you could deal with…
- High monthly energy bills.
- Poor cooling and heating power and discomfort.
- Poor air quality.
- High repair bills.
- A premature system replacement.
Is that really worth what you save? It’s always better to find a qualified contractor in the first place.
Get your new HVAC system in Bosque Farms, NM from Axiom Home Services, Inc.