Category: Product Education

What if each time you encountered another pesky home repair issue, you were able to breathe a sigh of relief? What if in the face of that troublesome water heater issue, you could feel confident you’d get the help you need? Our customers tell us again and again they love knowing they can turn to our trusted team. George in Litchfield Park is a great example. His water heater was acting up, and our tech Loc was able to save the day. George’s conversation with Robin from Customer Care gives a taste of his experience…

George is just one example. Each and every homeowner gets that kind of attention, including a follow up call to make sure they’re happy. We’d love to give you that trusted care too. Give us a call at 602.733.5000. Let us become your go-to for all things home warranty and home repair.

We’ve made it through the summer heat! Hallelujah. That means, of course, it’s no longer peak AC season. But we still want to talk AC. Why? It doesn’t matter what time of the year it is, the air conditioning system is an especially important home system here in the Valley. In any home purchase, it’s vital to take into account.

When you’re considering a home purchase, we recommend that you be sure to get the full scoop on the AC unit in the home and factor it into your game plan. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the excitement of the purchase and overlook this piece of the picture. Since it’s one of the priciest systems and can have a tremendous impact on potential expenses, we think it’s worth taking a bit of time on.

Assessing the state of the AC system

When considering a property, find out how old the system is and get the scoop on the overall state of the system. The home inspection should help make this clear. If the AC unit is past its prime or in poor condition, you’ll want to plan for significant out-of-pocket expenses. You may want to make the replacement cost a negotiating factor in the purchase, whether that’s by getting the seller to help cover the expense or by reducing your offer accordingly.

This sort of expense should be considered above and beyond the cost of a home warranty. A common misunderstanding and unrealistic expectation for home warranty coverage is that a home warranty company will immediately take on the burden of a massive expense like total replacement of an extremely aged AC unit. We want to be totally transparent — a home warranty will help reduce costs of future repairs, but is NOT likely to cover the entire cost of replacing an aging AC unit, so do keep that in mind.

When it comes to the AC system, it’s more appropriate to count on home warranty coverage for common wear and tear needs (e.g. repair and replacement of components like thermostats, motors, capacitors, filter dryers, fan blades, compressors, coils, boards and valves). Plus, some companies offer seasonal checkups as part of their coverage, which is a big added value to keep your system in good working order.

The life expectancy and cost of an AC unit

In order to consider the AC unit and plan for relevant expenses, it’s of course helpful to know — how long does a typical unit last? And, how much does a new system even cost? Because AC units work so hard in our harsh desert climate, they tend to have a lower life expectancy than in other areas of the country. Most will last roughly 10 years. With regular maintenance, you may be able to extend the life to 15 years. As far as cost, these systems come in all shapes and sizes. Much like a car, there are countless models to choose from. A typical system will run anywhere from $4,000 to $8,000, though more complex systems can run as high as $13,000.

Boosting energy efficiency with new systems

When a system upgrade is part of the conversation, homeowners often ask us about the perks one can expect with a newer system. Two major advantages include performance and utility savings. Switching to a new unit can improve overall comfort within your home by providing more effective heating/cooling and provide quieter operation. Upgrading also can substantially reduce your operating costs and help protect the environment by phasing out the R22 Freon that depletes the ozone. Data shows that you may even able to reduce your electricity bill by 47%-60% (Source: Energy Star and American Standard Heating & Air Conditioning).

Keeping AC top of mind

By taking the AC system into account when you first consider purchasing a home, you can get a better sense of expenses to expect and alleviate a few surprises. If you have questions along the way, be sure to reach out. We’re more than happy to help you!

To learn more about AC upgrades head here, or call 602.733.5000.

School may be back in session, but the summer season is still in full force. While temperatures are still toasty, how can you save energy and money? This segment tackles that question and more. Earlier this year, Steve Higgins, our VP of Field Operations, walked 3TV through questions like:

– How can a programmable thermostat help you save energy?

– Why should you consider using cheaper, thinner AC filters?

– Why do you need to clean the coils on your heating and cooling system?

– What does SEER refer to?

– How can fans help you with cooling and energy savings in your home?
 
KTVK-PHX

Aired: 4/9/2017 7:36:47 AM

Steve Higgins, our VP of Field Operations, walks AZTV through some basics to keep your pool in top shape.
This segment touches on questions like:

• What are some of the best tools to keep the pool clean of debris?
• Why is it important to stay on top of chemicals?
• What does a home warranty cover when it comes to a pool system?
• What options do I have as far as a pool pump?

AZ-TV 7 Cable 13

Aired: 3/30/2017 8:40:33 AM

If your A/C unit is over the hill, it may be time for an upgrade. Upgrading can improve your home’s cooling and reduce your electricity bill by 47%-60% (Source: Energy Star and American Standard Heating & Air Conditioning). The ideal time to upgrade is now, before temperatures really heat up.

Is an upgrade right for me?

An upgrade is ideal if your current unit:

• Is over 15 years of age.
• Uses R22 Freon (this older Freon is being phased out due to environmental concerns).
• Has a SEER rating below 11.

If any of these are true, upgrading will be worthwhile.

What are the benefits of upgrading?

Switching to a new unit can improve overall comfort within your home by providing more effective heating/cooling and quieter operation. Upgrading can substantially reduce your operating costs and help protect the environment by phasing out the R22 Freon that depletes the ozone. Data shows that you may even able to reduce your electricity bill by 47%-60% (Source: Energy Star and American Standard Heating & Air Conditioning).

What are the options in terms of systems and financing?

We offer competitive pricing on American Standard Silver, Gold and Platinum Series systems as well as budget-friendly Heil systems, and we are happy to quote other brands as desired too. We’ll help you secure extra savings through manufacturer rebates, SRP rebates and federal tax credits. We also have 0% and low-interest financing options if you don’t want to pay for the whole enchilada at once.

Tell me more about extra perks from Platinum.

If you choose to purchase a new American Standard Platinum Series system through us, you’ll also land an extra perk — one year of our Complete home warranty coverage for free. (Yep, that’s a full $450 plan!).

I’m interested. What should I do?

Give us a call today at 602.733.5000 to learn more about heating and cooling system upgrade options. We’ll help you assess the current state of your system and gauge whether an upgrade makes sense for you. If it won’t bring benefits in comfort or efficiency, we’ll be straight up and tell you!

This post is an excerpt from our resource Your Guide to Home Warranties. For the full guide with more helpful scoop, head to www.platinumhw.com/yourguide

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When it comes to home warranties, one of the biggest differences between the happy homeowners and the not-so-happy ones lies in expectations. Happy homeowners know that the purpose of a home warranty is to reduce the cost of repairs. They know that some things will be covered and some things won’t. They realize that out-of-pocket expenses are to be expected.

On the other hand, not-so-happy homeowners tend to be misinformed about the purpose of a home warranty. They believe it will eliminate the cost of repairs. Sadly, they soon find — it doesn’t matter which company or plan you choose, a home warranty does NOT eliminate the cost of repairs in your home. There are, indeed, many things that could go wrong that lie beyond the scope of any home warranty coverage.

Knowing the purpose of your home warranty can make a big difference in your overall satisfaction with your home warranty! For more helpful scoop on what you can expect, check out our full resource.

Grab Your Guide to Home Warranties here

Well, we see it all — from happy homeowners who sing the highest praises about their home warranty to homeowners who are super frustrated with their coverages. So, we put together a little guide called Your Guide to Home Warranties.

It’s intended to help you understand what you can expect from any home warranty, determine whether a home warranty is right for you, and get the right coverage. In the end, we want you to help you be a happier homeowner, whether that’s with or without a Platinum home warranty. After all, homeownership is complicated enough. Your home warranty is there to make life easier for you.

Contact us for the latest copy of Platinum Home Warranty’s guide, or ask us any questions about your existing warranty or a new one! We want you to have the best Experience, no matter what!

Your A/C has gone berserk… HELP! You need somebody… but certainly not just anybody. Is it too much to ask for a technician who’s trustworthy, professional, courteous and helpful? Not in our book. Our rock star in-house technician team truly cares about you and your home. In the words of several customers… “John was my tech and he was just awesome. He went above and beyond and took the time to get the job done right. After listening to me describe the problem he went right to work and explained everything he was doing as he went. Experience matters and this guy has it.”

• Scott L., Scottsdale (via Google+)

  “I can’t say enough about Loc. He was amazing, personable and left the area where the water heater is better than he found it.”

• Katie H., Mesa (via Yelp)

  “David has serviced my AC units on both of my properties on a few occasions now and is very professional, friendly and does a great job explaining things… He’s a pleasure to work with.

• Brittney V., Gilbert (via Yelp)

  Want an all-star team bringing you service? Order your home warranty from us today. ]]>

Is a home warranty worth the investment? Erin Holman, a Valley homeowner and real estate agent, shares her experiences.   Making the decision “My husband and I actually debated about whether to buy a home warranty on our house, but we did. Within the first six months, there was a problem with our air conditioning. We are sure glad we did make the decision to get a home warranty with Platinum because we saved thousands of dollars in repair costs.”   The service experience “The speed with which our air conditioning issue was addressed was amazing. They were out at 7 AM the next morning to diagnose the issue and immediately recharge our unit. Then within a week our part arrived, and the unit was working perfectly. No hassles at all.”   The value in a nutshell “It’s the best thing a buyer can do to protect themselves during their first year of home ownership.”   Ready to protect your own home? Head here. Want to learn more? Here’s the scoop.    ]]>

  Andddd…. it’s official. We’ve moved into our new online home. It’s got serious curb appeal and a solid structure too. You — our customers and partners — were top of mind throughout the process of building this new space. We wanted to create a better customer experience for you. Here are a few changes we think you’ll be happy to see.  

1. Improved ordering process – Placing an order isn’t the most glamorous task in the world. Still, we knew we could make it better. The new order process is easier to follow and more pleasing for the eye too. Give it a go here.

2. Clearer online service request – You now have a better way of requesting service through our website too. Just fill out the basic online form, easily accessed from the main page, and we’ll get in touch.

3. Mobile-friendly – On the go? No sweat. Navigating our website from your phone just got much more do-able. (Yes! Finally!)

4. Educational content – We’ve organized some clearer content all about our warranties. Check it out in the How It Works and FAQ sections.

  Knowing that transitions are never perfect, there could be a few glitches as we continue to settle in. If you catch any, reach out to us. We so appreciate your feedback during the exciting transition. Warmly, The Platinum Team]]>