Here it has gone up to 199.00 a year --73.251.xx.xx

All such contracts are purely for profit for the company --68.229.xxx.xxx

I do not, my gas furnaces rarely break down and dont need cleaning --74.77.xx.xx

I have them serviced yearly. About $200 and I get a discount when I have a service call too. --24.152.xxx.xx

We've done it some years and others not. That $79, now $179 or $199 contract always costs exponentially more as they always found SOMETHING to fix outside the contract. So no more, we just fix 'em or replace 'em when they break. --173.28.xx.xxx

--174.212.xx.xx

Not knowing anything about capacitators, I just googled them on Amazon and they have them for $15. FWIW. --173.28.xx.xxx

I did my own…not as good as the pros as I don’t check inductance and so on, but I clean both in and out units, check inducer fan for leaks, and monitor any condensate drains and clean them when needed --64.38.xxx.xxx

I've read up on capacitors since a previous HVAC contractor told me and showed me how easy it was to replace them. He has since retired. Back then I would have been able to buy them at Lowe's or Home Depot, but it looks like Home Depot is the only one who sells them and they are not in stock in the store but need to be ordered. Looks like some of the Ace Hardware stores have some in stock. --99.165.xx.xxx

How many times of them checking the freon level does it take before you have to pay them to add freon because of the loss from checking? No need to check it anyway as freon sealed off does not evaporate or leak out unless you have a leak. --76.129.xxx.xx

I change the cap on the outdoor unit as a part of my turnover, within reason. $15 and five minutes of my time cuts down on the trouble calls. Outside of that, I run them until failure. --174.193.xx.xx

No restrictions on buying caps in my area, but I usually buy them on Amazon, but buy a name brand from amazon or you'll get some chinese junk (I've cut them open to review the quality or lack there-of. --73.2.xx.xx

so sell me the da-n part and say thank you for my business. --172.250.x.xxx

In January had a contractor check out Lennox two stage high efficiency gas furnace where cleaned out inside then checked for combustion efficiency along temperature differential between intake and out which was in specifications. Using a washable furnace filter where clean out every few months then let dry then reinstall. It is important to combustion air from outside as much cleaner. Hope to get 15 years out of furnace as insulation is improved the furnace use is less. Common problem is sensor for igniter needs to be replaced. Most furnaces are fixable as long as heat exchangers are good. High efficiency furnaces have two heat excahngers where the secondary extracts more heat. --207.236.xxx.xxx

For those with some bicycle repair skills use a stick or paint stir to verify the fan motor still turns outside, turn off the power to the outdoor unit before opening the curved corner where the wires go into the outdoor unit take a picture of the wiring plugged onto the capacitor, the common and herm must go back correctly, don't squeeze the cap like a car muffler pipe, but it should never slide out risking the wires touch metal - fireworks occur when this happens, just like the house fan - NEVER put your hand in there. --184.59.xxx.xx

For 90% of my units I don't do it. I do find though if you have an oil furnace, you will be doing an annual service on them as the nozzles don't spray as evenly as they do when they are first cleaned. I don't know if the fuel gels up to cause this or what. All I know is that service call is $155 --24.101.xxx.xxx