HVAC Maintenance Contracts Are Usually Bad Buys
Last updated November 2025
Most HVAC services push maintenance service contracts. But we don’t think they’re usually warranted.
One reason many consumers consider service contracts is that they’re promised priority treatment if they need repairs. Unfortunately, one of the most common complaints we receive from HVAC customers is that they wait weeks to get a repair appointment from the company they have a contract with. You might get quicker service without such a contract by not being tied to a single company.
If you’re interested in a service contract, compare the prices and coverage for those offered by top-rated companies. Service contracts fall into three broad categories:
- Contracts covering only the labor cost usually of either annual or semiannual planned maintenance visits to check, clean, and adjust equipment.
- Contracts covering the labor costs for planned maintenance visits and for unplanned repairs.
- Contracts covering labor costs for both maintenance and repair visits plus costs of selected parts.
Plans covering maintenance and unplanned repairs are usually so expensive and include so many limitations that they’re bad deals. Plus, the costliest repairs, such as replacing compressors and heat exchangers, aren’t usually covered by most service contracts. You’ll likely do better paying for repairs on your own, as needed.
Among maintenance-only contracts, the most common exclusion is the cost of cleaning air-conditioning coils. Among contracts covering labor and/or parts for repairs, exclusions range from such costly work as replacing a compressor to much less expensive items like capacitors. Request copies of the contract forms for any company you consider and compare the value of what services are provided.
If you need maintenance visits annually—if, for instance, you have old equipment or a very large house—a service contract may be right for you. But don’t pay more for the contract than you would pay for the number of visits it includes at regular labor rates.
If you need maintenance visits less than once a year, paying for them individually may work; the only reasons to get a service contract would be to get priority service on unscheduled repair calls or as insurance for costly repairs. But, again, these promises probably aren’t worth the price of a service contract.
If you want a service contract, choose the company carefully. We get many complaints from consumers who buy service contracts and find that technicians discover something to repair on every visit—at extra cost. Some contractors seem to use service contracts as twice-a-year opportunities to squeeze customers for unnecessary repairs.
