INDIANAPOLIS — A survey commissioned by HVAC company Williams Comfort Air and plumbing company Mr. Plumber found that most Indiana homeowners are not properly maintaining their heating, cooling, and plumbing equipment, and do not have enough money set aside to cover emergency repairs to those systems should they break down.
The survey was designed to find out how proactive Hoosier homeowners are at keeping their HVAC and plumbing systems running properly, and whether they are prepared for the often unexpected and costly repairs needed if maintenance isn’t regularly performed.
The anonymous survey, taken by 556 Indiana homeowners, found most Hoosiers are not investing in ongoing maintenance for their air conditioning, furnace, and water heater. Other key findings include:
• 69% percent do not have an ongoing preventive HVAC and/or plumbing maintenance plan;
• 40% have scheduled at least one maintenance visit for their HVAC and/or plumbing system in the last year;
• 30% have never had an HVAC and/or plumbing maintenance visit;
• 65% have less than $1,000 set aside for emergency home repairs;
• 57% said that paying for an unexpected bill over $1,000 would be “very difficult” or “somewhat difficult.”
“Our survey found the top reason people don’t invest in preventative maintenance plans is because they simply don’t want to pay for service unless something is broken,” said Greg Wells, president of Williams Comfort Air and Mr. Plumber. “It may seem counterintuitive to spend money on HVAC and plumbing systems when nothing is broken, but in the home services industry, it usually ends up costing much more when people don’t proactively take care of their home’s core systems.”
Financial experts often recommend setting aside 1% of a home’s value for emergency home repairs, with more savings recommended for those with older homes.
“According to our research, most Hoosiers do not invest in preventative maintenance, and then, unfortunately, are unable to afford the emergency costs that occur when systems fail or have major problems,” Wells said. “We want to help educate the communities we serve that proper maintenance can extend the life of systems — often by years. Certified professional HVAC technicians and plumbers can pinpoint and resolve small issues before they become major, often costly problems.”
To view the complete survey results, visit williamscomfortair.com/knowledge-center/2023-hoosier-home-maintenance-survey/.
The survey was conducted May 11 and 12 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.25%. Williams Comfort Air and Mr. Plumber are MAX Service Group companies.
