Reliance Protection and Maintenance Plans, is it worth it?

BUYOUT the heater. It is not worth paying for it.

aquariaguy wrote: ↑BUYOUT the heater. It is not worth paying for it.

Thanks, I did buyout the heater.
My question is about the Monthly Protection Plan for the heating and Cooling. Is it worth it to pay $16.95 +hst monthly with them? Is there an alternative? Should I stop paying it?

Not worth it IMO. Remember that's over $200 a year. Or well over $1000 in 5 years.

A single maintenance visit is maybe $135, but I personally don't do it every year.

Maybe if the machines are over a decade old you could consider it, but $16.95 per month still seems expensive. I just try to make sure I change the filters regularly and perhaps blow out the drain pipes.

P.S. If you're in the GTA, www.FurnaceFilters.ca has good prices on aftermarket and OEM filters, and on humidifier pads, and has the added benefit of having a great Italian deli and cheese shop in the same complex.

Quentin5 wrote: ↑Its not, typically in 5 years of renting you have paid for a new heater and it should last 15-20 years.
You could just pay them to take it away and buy your own (probably cheaper) form a big box store, they all install

I would think 10 years average now, 8-12 years

veryboredguy wrote: ↑I would think 10 years average now, 8-12 years

Yeah, I don't think I'd keep a water heater around for 20 years. My last one lasted 14 years before leaking. Mind you I didn't change the anode rod regularly.

EugW wrote: ↑Not worth it IMO. Remember that's over $200 a year. Or well over $1000 in 5 years.

A single maintenance visit is maybe $135, but I personally don't do it every year.

Maybe if the machines are over a decade old you could consider it, but $16.95 per month still seems expensive. I just try to make sure I change the filters regularly and perhaps blow out the drain pipes.

P.S. If you're in the GTA, www.FurnaceFilters.ca has good prices on aftermarket and OEM filters, and on humidifier pads, and has the added benefit of having a great Italian deli and cheese shop in the same complex.

Thanks, I use FurnaceFilters to buy my filters
I agree with you on the protection plan. My furnace is almost 8 years old and I own it, that's why I was asking whether to continue or not with the protection plan. Are there any good alternatives to Reliance?
Honestly, I hate Reliance and I feel they are in business to rob people

If I am reading your post correctly, you are referring to two separate issues.

The first is your water heater - that you have stated you intend to purchase from Reliance.

The second question appears to be whether you should continue with the Maintenance Plus on your furnace and air conditioning. I am calling it Maintenance Plus because that is what it is called by Direct Energy - we are with them.

There was a thread about a month ago on this exact subject - whether to have the furnace and a/c protection plans - or not. Some posters were vehemently against them - others wouldn't be without the plans. We fall into the latter category. It should be easy to find with a search.

We have our furnace and a/c serviced annually - as well as our small gas fireplace. We have a double coated dog who sheds a lot so are very careful to change the furnace filters regularly and use the type favoured by the DE technician who has serviced our furnace for the past few years.

We have had to have the sensor cleaned 5 times - post the furnace cleaning, and a major electrical part replaced once. No charge to us. The furnace is now 9 years old - unfortunately we missed the 10 year warranty offering - so had the 5 years. For the first 5 years we just paid for the annual cleanings and then switched up to the Maintenance Plus at the 5 year mark.

Basically the decision is yours and yours alone.

Cameron-the protection plan plus is a huge waste of momey.. i have had the plandor 3 years as own older furnace. They have never done any maintenance. Last week my furnace wouldn't come on ao I called Reliance and they sent 2 techs.. they spent 3 minutes poking around and checking voltages, thermostat, and such.. they said furnace was no good and passed me off to a salesman to sell me a $5500 new unit...I called a competitor and within 5 minutes he found that the power switch was turned off..flick of a switch and she fired up and ran great...guess what I'm going to do with my so called plus plan... Cameron