Understanding the ins and outs of commercial heating maintenance contracts can make all the difference between efficient HVAC system management and unexpected costs piling up. At AirGreen, we work daily with commercial buildings, industrial sites, and office complexes across Montréal, Laval, Longueuil, the South Shore and the North Shore. This hands-on experience allows us to identify our clients’ real needs while protecting them from offers that seem too good to be true. Here’s our in-depth take on the matter.
HVAC Maintenance Contracts: Tempting Promises, Often Disappointing Realities
In the commercial heating sector, many providers offer annual maintenance contracts at rock-bottom prices or with promises of unlimited service calls. But behind these offers can lie several traps:
Vague coverage of service visits
Many contracts advertise included visits without clearly specifying the actual number of interventions, what they cover, or the timeframes in which they’re offered. The result? When a breakdown occurs in the middle of winter, extra fees are charged for an emergency visit — or worse, there’s no availability for days.
Essential components excluded from the contract
Some providers exclude key components like thermostats, heat exchangers, or circuit boards, claiming they are “not covered.” Since these parts are often the most expensive, this cancels out any financial advantage.
Inexperienced technicians
Overly low prices often mean underqualified labor. At AirGreen, we’ve had to take over many installations following poorly executed maintenance jobs that ended up causing higher energy consumption and premature equipment wear.
