Multi-Family Services

This can be a big question. On a per-job basis, installation will usually cost more than repairing. But if a system is old, repairs will be more frequent and can quickly add up to be more than the cost of a new installation.

A good threshold is 15 years. Anything under that, repairs are probably the best option. If it’s older than 15 years, you’ll want to seriously consider a replacement. There are exceptions to both, but this tends to be a good benchmark for deciding when to replace.

If you’re able to plan for this in advance, it can make the decision easier when the time comes.

The biggest considerations here are the budget and timeline.

We won’t beat around the bush: it’s cheaper for us to buy in bulk, and cheaper in terms of labor costs to bulk jobs together, which is savings we can pass along to you. So if you have 200 rental units, for example, tackling 100 at once is going to be far more cost-efficient than 10 at a time.

You may not have that much budgeted, though. This is fine. Many contractors can provide competitive pricing at any level, and we’re no exception. But the more you can bunch together, the more affordable it will be in the long-run.

Related to this, you’ll want to establish your timeline for installations. This is generally tied directly to your budget, and can be important in terms of long-term planning.

At Air Comfort Systems, we’re as flexible as you need us to be. 20 units now, and another 20 in a few months? We can do it. Space it out over an entire year? We can do it. Crunch out hundreds in a limited timeframe? We can do it.

We also pride ourselves on the best installation practices in Southern Maine. This is attention to detail that we take to every job.

Have you ever gotten a call from a tenant whose heating or cooling has stopped working?

Of course you have. Problems crop up at any property. But how you deal with them is the key.

Sometimes the on-site maintenance staff for a multi-family property can take care of an issue. Other times, it goes beyond their expertise.

In those instances, we’re here to help and can provide maintenance or repair services as needed. But what we do for our customers goes beyond this.

This can be the difference between going over budget due to maintenance and repairs, and dealing with tenant concerns in a timely and cost-efficient way.

And for the events that will go beyond even this, like when the first cold spell of the fall happens and you have dozens of service requests, we can provide direct service assistance from our licensed professionals.

We’ve talked about a few of these already, and hopefully, by now it’s clear that finding an HVAC partner with your best interests in mind can reap rewards for years to come. To recap and add to what we’ve already discussed, though, here are some of the ways a good HVAC contractor will proactively provide solutions before your concerns become unmanageable problems.

They’ll work within your budget and timeline to find an installation solution that fits both.

They’ll honor their labor warranty instead of simply disappearing after installation. At Comfort Air Systems, we offer a two-year labor warranty as part of our standard service, which is beyond the industry-standard one year.

They provide and enforce a 10-year parts warranty on newly installed equipment.

They provide training and service support to help you manage the equipment at every stage of its life.

They have the staff needed to handle any size job.

There are ranges of costs for most of this, but we want to be transparent with what you can expect. Below, we’ve listed some common services and the price ranges you can expect.

Diagnostic: $89

Repairs: $200 - Full System Replacement

New Installation: $2,400 - $4,500 per unit

Repairs have the widest range, because small repairs can be fairly cheap, while the largest repairs often make it more cost-effective to simply replace the entire system.

For installation, the range accounts for the different sizes of equipment. For example, a studio apartment doesn’t need the same sizing as a three-bedroom apartment or a clubhouse in your main office.

The range also reflects bulk discounts for numerous installations at the same time. For exact pricing, you’ll want to schedule a free estimate with your HVAC partner.

Lastly, while there generally aren’t too many manufacturer-side HVAC discounts available for multi-family equipment, the tax status of your property may qualify you for incentives that reduce the overall price. Knowing the local, state, and national laws that govern your property can help you in determining if any incentives are available.