How Can I Avoid High HVAC Repair Costs?

Nothing can bust a budget like the cost of an emergency repair! But HVAC systems are critical, so when it goes down, you have to deal with it. How can you avoid those costly HVAC repair expenses?

A regular schedule of preventative maintenance can make all the difference in keeping equipment running efficiently and avoiding emergency repairs.

Facilities managers know it is far better to prevent an equipment failure than to repair one. So why is it so difficult to get support for appropriate preventative maintenance? Gary Giambatista, VP of Operations for Control Temp Mechanical Services, a division of BRAVO! Group Services, explains, “The accountants typically look at what you’re spending to maintain a building and they always think that they can cut from it. They don’t realize that it’s going to cost them more in the long run.”

Steve Foderaro, Service Manager for Control Temp adds that for those who don’t work directly with these systems, HVAC is easy to ignore until something goes wrong. “They don’t see the air conditioning and heating — it’s not like a piece of furniture.”

Get buy-in for a more stable budget

Facilities managers understand that preventative maintenance saves on energy costs by ensuring equipment is operating at top efficiency. But it also prevents problems that can quickly become costly.

Like an oil change for your car, regular maintenance extends the life of HVAC equipment. “A maintenance program prevents failures by keeping your filters clean, replacing the belts, lubricating all the moving parts, checking the systems — all during off-season so when peak season comes, systems are operational and repaired before problems arise,” Foderaro says.

An easy way to build predicable costs into your budget is with a service contract, billed at a flat monthly or quarterly rate. Control Temp offers three levels of maintenance service contracts to meet customer needs and help take the guesswork out of equipment repair costs.

• Service Contract A — The A service contract agreement is essentially a 100% warranty of your equipment. It covers all maintenance and repairs: labor, parts, materials, service calls, and emergency calls. This agreement offers the highest degree of peace of mind.
• Service Contract B — The B service contract agreement covers full preventative maintenance and inspection for potential repair issues, with notification to the client of those potential problems. This agreement also covers the labor costs for return visits to complete the necessary repairs. This agreement allows clients the flexibility to plan ahead for upcoming repair expenses.
• Service Contract C — The C service contract agreement simply covers preventative maintenance and inspection. A technician will change filters and inspect the equipment only. This level of service ensures you regularly have a professional looking at your systems and helps you plan for additional maintenance and repairs.

For all service contract levels, the cost is fixed. In addition, all of Control Temp’s service contracts come with a service level agreement (SLA) built in. If you have an emergency, we’ll respond in a defined timeframe — and put you ahead of non-contract holders in the response queue.

Being one of our service contract customers also gives you priority billing, providing discounted rates on labor and materials. So no matter which service contract level you choose, you benefit from additional cost-savings for both scheduled repairs and in an emergency.

With Control Temp, you can always expect the highest quality service. Our technicians are all experienced and licensed, able to answer your questions, and ready to help you plan ahead to stay on top of problems before they become major costs!

[cta]Do you know what your next big repair will cost? Take the guesswork out of equipment maintenance. Control Temp and BRAVO! Group Services have the solutions you need. Contact us on our website, by email at news@bravobuildingservices.com, or by phone:

Corporate Office (Green Brook, NJ): 732-465-0707
Control Temp HVAC & Mechanical (Green Brook, NJ): 732-442-5001
Regional Office (Virginia/Washington, D.C.): 703-534-0211
Regional Office (Delaware): 302-322-5959
Regional Office (Arkansas): 405-589-7038
Toll Free: 866-OH-BRAVO[/cta]