The summer after we put all new windows in our home we found that our existing window air conditioners no longer fit. This meant that we had to get all new ones, and of course that came with an expense for the units.
I did learn a few things along the way, though, that I can pass on to you to help you save money on your window air conditioners.
Say Farewell to Freon
Unless you plan on upgrading your air conditioning units to central air conditioning any time soon, avoid buying units that contain freon, even if those air conditioners are on sale. The reason behind this is the cost of freon. Legislation now limits the amount of freon available for air conditioners, so the price of freon has been rising steadily and dramatically. If you need to maintain your window air conditioners down the road, you’ll have to pay a premium for the service.
Shop Early
For most items, I recommend shopping off season for the best prices, but window air conditioners are an exception. They never seem to go on sale at the end of the season. This is because most stores today only stock as many items as they think they can sell in a season. This is true now for most seasonal items, including Christmas trees and even patio furniture.
What this means is that the units are often sold out way before the season has ended. If you want a sale, you can shop early. Some stores will put their units on sale in spring to get customers in the door.
Ask for a Bulk Discount
If you have to buy more than one unit at a time, ask the manager for a bulk discount. Do your research, call ahead and reserve the units that you need. You may be able to get that bulk discount or a stocking discount.
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