If you have an HVAC service agreement, this price may fluctuate, as you are buying a package with your air conditioning installer, rather than relying on one-time rates. Most HVAC service providers offer discounts for multi-season or long-term contracts, which generally combine servicing your boiler and servicing your air conditioner. In between service calls from an HVAC professional, be sure to clean or replace the air filter in the air conditioning system. In most cases, the HVAC company will charge a standard rate for a regular annual service and maintenance call, and you'll know in advance how much it will cost.
Like your car, your home's HVAC will last longer if given timely maintenance and maintenance. Another advantage of signing a long-term contract is that if something unexpectedly goes wrong, most HVAC service providers ensure that contracted customers receive priority care, without the additional emergency cost. New systems that are still under warranty probably don't need one of these, but it's cheaper than combining separate HVAC service costs. An HVAC system is often the most important appliance in a home and, like all appliances, you will benefit from regular service and maintenance.
Consider installing a new HVAC system if your units are more than 10 years old and the HVAC repair bill would be more than 30% of the cost of a new air conditioner and oven combination. Routine maintenance service is what most HVAC companies offer, and includes the inspections and maintenance mentioned above. If the HVAC system is still under warranty, the manufacturer can pay most or all of the annual service charge. Fixing the problem could be more expensive than a standard HVAC service call, depending on the diagnosis.
An additional benefit of having annual service is the visual inspection performed by an HVAC technician, who will detect potential problems before they become costly problems. If this is the case, the manufacturer may require maintenance by a technician who is explicitly certified for the brand and often the manufacturer will pay part or all of the maintenance costs. Having the HVAC system inspected and repaired annually allows a technician to identify problems when they are minor, when repairs are minimal rather than cost-prohibitive. Before you hire a technician to repair your air conditioner, get an estimate of the costs of servicing and maintaining your air conditioner.