A preowned HVAC unit can sound like a good deal — if (and only if) price is the sole consideration. It’s certainly true that used air conditioners or furnaces can generally be acquired at a lower cost just like any other secondhand item. But it may ultimately prove to be a bad investment, as well as a source of ongoing problems, when it comes to reliability, efficiency, and operating cost.
While a preowned HVAC unit may seem like a money-saver on the day you buy it, read on to learn why preowned HVAC units may not be a bargain in the long run.
- Used units mean old efficiency. The energy efficiency of new furnaces and air conditioners continues to improve. That, in turn, means lower operating costs. However, buying an outdated HVAC component means you’ll be stuck with higher energy consumption, as well as the increased monthly utility bills that go with it.
- What you don’t know may cost you. While the manufacturing date of a used AC or furnace can be determined, that doesn’t tell you how much wear and tear a specific unit has incurred. Some used HVAC components might have operated only a few hours per day, while others may have run almost nonstop around the clock. This raises uncertainty about the condition of costly parts such as the AC compressor and the furnace heat exchanger. Having to replace these critical components will wipe out any savings gained by buying a preowned unit.
- No warranty for you! Many HVAC warranties are valid only for the original purchaser of the unit when it’s new. Even if the warranty can be transferred to another person, the covered unit must still be in the house where it was originally installed — not sold and moved elsewhere. If any issue, minor or major, goes wrong with your used air conditioner or furnace, you may well have to bear the total cost of repair or replacement.
Considering the purchase of a preowned HVAC component? Ask the pros at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning for more of the pros and cons before you buy.
Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area