Everyone loves a bargain and wants to believe that he or she got a “good deal”. There’s nothing wrong with that as long as you’re getting good value as well. You know, apples to apples.

In the heating and air conditioning business, the old axiom “You don’t get somethin’ for nothin’” couldn’t be more true. Since replacing an existing heating and air conditioning system or installing a new system may be more costly than homeowners realize, they sometimes gravitate towards a less expensive proposal. This may prove to be a very costly mistake that may not become evident until a few years later.

Sadly, I’ve had to tell way too many homeowners that their new system— which may only be a few years old—needs major modifications or costly repairs due to a poor installation. Oh, the system’s components may have been the same ones that were included on other proposals, but the new equipment wasn’t installed using proper installation methods. This is the usual reason that a brand new system has problems.

At the risk of repeating what I’ve written about for many years now, don’t be fooled into thinking you’re going to get the same thing when the price is much lower than you’ve gotten from reputable contractors.

There are many installation areas not governed by local building codes. In addition, even though the state of California mandates that duct testing be done, it has no jurisdiction regarding the sizing of the ducts, how the air system is designed or how the ducts are routed. Smaller ducts cost contractors far less to purchase and install - but they will unfortunately have a detrimental effect on any heating and air conditioning system.

How will you know if your new duct system was sized and designed properly? By hiring a contractor who uses proper installation techniques and follows industry-accepted installation guidelines. Wouldn’t you be happier in the long run if you didn’t have to worry about your new heating and air conditioning system for the next 25 years?

Call or an e-mail me if you’d like a free evaluation of any quote you’ve received. I can help you decipher all of the information. I’ll also bring you a free copy of The Homeowners Heating and Air Conditioning Buyers Guide. This brochure is designed to give you the facts you’ll need before you commit to a new system.

Want to learn more about heating and air conditioning? Attend our next action-packed homeowners workshop. We’ll answer any and all questions, so bring your list and your friends, neighbors and relatives. For dates and times and to reserve a seat, call (818) 886-2600. Join us for a couple of hours and you’ll take home some useful information. You’ll also receive a free copy of The Homeowners Heating and Air Conditioning Buyers Guide.

Jim Berry was a heating and air conditioning service technician before becoming a Sales Consultant for Kahn Air Conditioning. Kahn hosts the workshops to help homeowners learn more about residential heating and air conditioning systems. For questions regarding heating or air conditioning, send e-mails to Jim at jberry@kahnair.com. Visit our website www.kahnair.com for our past articles.