Buying HVAC Equipment Online? 3 Risks You Should Consider

Some online retailers now sell HVAC equipment. Some of these items even cost less than they would if you purchased them through an HVAC company. The idea is that if you purchase the equipment online, you may be able to save money on the overall cost of the unit. However, there are also risks associated with purchasing equipment online. Before buying HVAC equipment online, consider the following risks of an online purchase:

• When you purchase online, it is much harder to determine if your equipment is the brand specified on the website, or if the company is selling knock-off products. If the unit is a knock-off, it may not last nearly as long as a name brand unit sold from a certified HVAC dealer.
• Most online products are not sold under warranty. This means that if your product breaks, it will cost a significant amount to repair, even if it breaks within the first year. Some contractors will not even work on units purchased online, which may make it difficult to find someone to repair the unit when it does break down.
• Even if you purchase your unit online, you still have to pay for installation. Many HVAC units cannot be installed by homeowners due to building regulations. Installation costs are present whether you purchase the unit online or not, and a contractor may charge more to install a unit purchased online.
• If you have your unit installed by a non-certified HVAC installer, or do it yourself, it is possible that it may be installed incorrectly. This will cause the unit to perform badly, cost more to operate, or even break down sooner. Since many HVAC contractors will not install units purchased online, it is likely that an under-qualified person will install the unit, which can lead to many problems.

If you would like to discuss the pros and cons of buying HVAC equipment online, contact us at Blanton’s. We can help you find the best price for the highest quality, certified HVAC equipment.