I bought an expensive, brand new furnace a little over six years ago. I got a top-of-the-line heating system in order to increase comfort and trim monthly expenses. I hoped that by spending more for a higher AFUE rating, I would soon recover the cost and save money. The HVAC worker who handled the project recommended that I sign onto a proactive service agreement. The service agreement had yearly inspection, cleaning, and tuning performed every autumn. Because the purchase and installation price of the furnace costed so much, It was necessary to take out a home improvement loan and pay monthly payments. I was hesitant to invest even more money into a maintenance agreement. I was surprised by the heating capacity and energy efficiency of the fancy furnace. It maintained stable temperatures throughout the house, worked quietly, and did an excellent job of filtering out airborne contaminants. As it happens, last January, the furnace mysteriously quit. The weather was down to twenty-three degrees, with a biting windchill, and a blizzard coming soon. There was no way my family could endure without heat until normal service hours. I dialed the HVAC company for emergency furnace repair and was given overtime charges. The HVAC guy who responded told me that my furnace was badly clogged with contaminants and had overheated. The price of the repair was really high, and it wasn’t covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. As I had failed to keep up professional maintenance, the warranty was completely void. I spent far more on the repair than I would have for the service agreement.