Whether it happens on the first hot day of the summer, the first cold night of the winter or any time in between, it can be a big surprise when your HVAC system needs to be serviced, repaired, or even replaced. If this happens to you this year there may be another surprise in store: the higher cost.
It’s normal for HVAC manufacturers to raise their prices each year, but this year the prices have gone up at a faster rate than usual. Unfortunately, this means that HVAC service providers have finally had to pass the costs along to their customers.
Let’s explore the reasons for the price increases and what you can do to avoid costly repairs to your home HVAC system.
HVAC Materials and Labor On The Rise
The main reason for the price increases is that the costs of HVAC materials have risen. This includes parts we use to repair your systems and the parts used to build new systems, making repairs and replacements more expensive.
The affected raw materials include:
- Sheet metal used to build the systems
- Lumber used for shipping
- Copper used for housing refrigerant
- Aluminum that make the evaporator coils and fan blades
In addition to the rising costs of raw materials for HVAC equipment, a truck driver shortage is also contributing to the price increases. Equipment and materials are sitting on docks undelivered because there aren’t enough workers to transport them, leading to higher demand and higher prices.
Another factor at play is the national labor shortage at HVAC manufacturer facilities. This has led to a shortage of the parts they produce, resulting in higher demand and an overall increase in price.
The semiconductor chip shortage that has affected thousands of electronics from cars to smartphones has also played a role in impacting HVAC prices. These chips are used in high efficiency units.
Perform Routine Maintenance Regularly
With HVAC costs on the rise, it’s important to have routine maintenance performed on a regular basis. Just like with your vehicle, having things checked out periodically can extend the lifespan of your system, keep things running smoothly and help you avoid the more costly repairs that could pop up from time to time.
When you join the Bell Brothers Comfort Club, a service technician will visit your home twice per year to perform routine maintenance, change your filter, complete a 21-point inspection and much more to make sure everything is running smoothly.
When the time finally comes to replace your HVAC system, we can help you manage the cost with flexible financing options. Special interest rates are available for periods of 12 months to five years. Some of our options include no payments and no interest for 12 months on some purchases.
Traditionally our strategy has been to purchase larger quantities of parts and equipment in the spring and fall to be prepared for the busy season. Due to the equipment shortage, this past year we’ve had to adopt a purchasing strategy that goes above and beyond in order to ensure we have equipment. And unfortunately, we have had to raise our prices this year due to the multiple increases from the manufacturers.
At the end of the day, we don’t want there to be any surprises when it comes to the final costs or your repairs or new HVAC system. We want to be transparent because we take service personally and we value your trust above all else.
