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Comparing air conditioning quotes can be difficult due to the different brands and units.
To make sure you are comparing apples with apples, consider the following: the inclusion of debris and old replaced items removal, warranty periods and terms, the availability of the original installer for service and repair, the amount of deposit required, the installation timeframe, the cost of additional items such as a timer or thermostat, and the level of support and training offered to you.
Ensuring the company has the necessary insurance and licensing is also essential. Considering these factors, you can make a more informed decision when choosing an air conditioning system.
How to check out an air conditioning quote?
You need a new air conditioning system and got a few quotes in front of you, and you’re trying to compare. Unfortunately, they’re different brands and other units, and it is pretty challenging to determine which one offers the best deal. Maybe it’s time to return to the various companies and clarify a few more matters. This allows you to compare apples with apples. Here are 7 helpful tips to assist you in this task.
1. Are you keeping it clean?
Ask the installation company if all debris and old items will be removed as part of the air conditioning quote. For example, if you get a replacement for an older air conditioning, will they take the old air conditioning with them, or will you have to be responsible for the disposal?
Ensure that all the rubbish, all the drilling dust, and everything involved in the works is swept up and going with them. So maybe ask: If you install my aircon system after you leave, I want the place to look like before you arrive.
No packaging left behind, no drill dust, and pieces of electrical wiring. Is this how you understand it too? Make sure you get a YES from the winning air conditioning quote company. Too often, after a tradesperson’s job, the owner finds themself sweeping, vacuuming, and disposing of the packaging and other building waste. Make sure you do not get caught.
2 What are the warranty periods and terms?
The two most important questions regarding the warranty are: What type of warranty do you get, and how long does it last?
Be careful not just to get a product warranty where labour is excluded. For example, you might have a seven-year warranty with one product and a five with the other, but the seven years stops the labour from being included after year three.
So please find out regarding your warranty if the parts and labour are included and for how many years. This allows you to compare product warranties. Also, ask the installation company about their workmanship warranty and get some paperwork. This is the warranty by the actual installation company regarding their work, such as cabling and ducting.
3. If I have a problem, can I call the original air conditioning quote installer?
Ask: Who do I call if I have an issue in years to come? Maybe also ask if your installation company is a service agent for the brand they just sold to you.
If they are, the after-sale service can come from the same company. This is usually good news, as they have solid access to spare parts, generally with higher experience fixing common issues with a particular model.
I always like the people who initially installed it to be also the ones who can service it. So that’s an important consideration regarding your air conditioning quote.
4. How much deposit is expected?
Is there a deposit included in your air conditioning quote before they come out to install your system, and if so, how much? It should not be 50% of the final cost, but more like 10-30% maximum for air conditioning.
To be fair to the installer, you would be expected to pay up the final amount pretty much on the day of the installation, or if it’s a company that you’ve dealt with before, they might give you a few day’s grace, but be prepared to pay very soon after the install. But, again, the reason is that the air-conditioning industry works on low margins, and the cash flow can be tight.
5. What is the installation timeframe?
Installing the system can be a crucial consideration when selecting the eventual supplier. Of course, it’s always a fundamental question because some companies quickly quote and lock you in, but you want to know the installation timeframe as part of the decision-making.
Sometimes it is difficult to get a precise installation date in the middle of summer. This is due to installers being very busy with replacements and repairs. Make sure you get that information locked in before you sign up. A prompt installation date could be why you go with one company over another.
6. What will be the future running costs of this particular air conditioning unit?
Air conditioning does add to your home’s electricity consumption. Make sure you ask: How much electricity will this new unit use per day? What electricity costs per day would you expect?
You want the installer to give you a bit of an estimate on the air conditioning quote, based on the planned running period, e.g. three hours per day, and the unit size. This is important, as some air-conditioning units are more efficient than others.
In a specific example, let’s say; I’m running the unit on a maximum setting of 2 hours a day on average, in the summer months on 20 days per month. If you have this data, your installer can work out the monthly kilowatt hours you’re likely to consume. That way, you know how much the unit will add to the electricity bill. But, of course, these price considerations are simply the running costs; you also need to consider the maintenance costs that need to be incurred.
7. What is the noise level of the outdoor unit?
See if you can compare the noise levels, especially of the outdoor unit, between the various models. Finding a suitable outdoor position for an air conditioning unit can be difficult.
Sometimes it is impossible to avoid an installation close to a bedroom window, yours or the neighbour’s. In such cases, we recommend installing the quietest unit; this could be your key consideration. Noise levels are usually expressed in decibels and listed on the product datasheet.
