Why Are Heating Repair Costs So High: The truth about Chicago HVAC Repairs

Here’s the scenario… the furnace goes out in the middle of the night, it’s cold outside, and it’s time to call a Chicago HVAC company. You pick up the phone and dial your local heating and cooling company. Now begins a tale of anger, denial, and finally, acceptance. From the first moments of contact, you already feel like someone is taking advantage of you. The person on the phone tells you that you have to pay $100 just to have a technician come to your home. You are then told that this cost does not go towards the repair. You get frustrated, call another company, and get the same song and dance. Finally you succumb to their demands so you can get some heat in your house. The technician arrives, tells you the problem, and wants to charge you another $300 to fix it. You get angry again, you look at your freezing family, and you agree to the repair. Later that night, when all is well, you go on Amazon and see that the part was only $100. You then go to Youtube and see that the repair seems easy enough, and you call the company the next day to complain. You get nowhere with customer service, you get angry, you rip the company on the internet for unfair prices. It’s a vicious cycle. The fact is, when it comes to heating repair costs, it’s not just the part and the repair that you are paying for.

The Reality of Heating Repair Costs

As a heating and air conditioning company, we have heard this complaint before. We understand that our customers are value conscious and always looking to save where they can. That is why our company is constantly observing industry trends and competitor pricing to guarantee the best value for our customers. Even when this is explained to an upset customer, they often still cry foul. So in the interest of homeowners everywhere, here is a basic breakdown of heating repair costs.

• Certified Technicians: In an age where anyone can buy and learn anything, people lose respect for the skilled trades. Heating and cooling technicians go through rigorous training, obtain certifications, and continue their education throughout their careers. They are experts and are paid accordingly by HVAC contractors. While you may believe that you could do the job yourself (and maybe you could) a trained expert will diagnose and repair the problem quickly and correctly.
• Business Expenses: Reputable Chicago heating and cooling companies are businesses. They must cover the costs that are associated with operating a licensed and insured organization. They must pay for vehicles, materials, tools, rents, fuel, employees, advertising, etc. The list is endless and endlessly expensive.
• Convenience: Ultimately when it comes to heating repair costs, it does come down to service. You don’t call a heating and cooling company to sell you a part, or give you some advice. You call them to come and fix your problem in a timely and efficient manner. We all pay more for convenience and services. When a business has to cover all of the aforementioned costs, it is correct that the end consumer cost is higher than the price of the part and a customers “idea” of what labor is worth.

The Service Factor

In the end, I like to use the following comparison when it comes to the costs associated with repairing heating and cooling equipment: You can go to a restaurant, order a steak and a glass of wine, have some dessert, and go home. You might have spent $100, but it was nice to have someone cook for you, someone serve you, and someone to clean up after you. Not many people would go to the manager and start complaining about how they could get the steak for $10, and buy a whole bottle of wine for what the restaurant charges for a glass. We all understand the idea of service, and that is what we are paying for in the end. The same is true with home services such as HVAC contractors.

How to Save Some Money on Heating Repair Costs

First and foremost, compare prices and companies. You probably are going to have to pay a service call charge to the first company that comes out. Some companies will offer a FREE second opinion. Seek them out, so that you can get an estimate from them as well. The general rule is to get at least three estimates. Finally, you can always find coupons on websites that will significantly lower your overall costs. These heating and cooling service coupons include discounted service call charges, and money taken off of repairs. While prices for repairs can be high, our hope is that you now understand why. At Polar Heating and Air Conditioning, we believe in providing the absolute best value to all of our customers. We typically match or beat competitor’s prices on services and we work with our customers to find the best solution for them. Ultimately, it does become the homeowner’s responsibility to do the work of getting competing estimates and downloading coupons to keep their heating repair costs as low as possible.