An HVAC life expectancy for a unit at a home is finite. Although you can extend this life span with regular maintenance and timely repairs, these methods won’t work forever. To help you get ready, the following are six ways to know when to replace your HVAC equipment.
1. Your HVAC System Life Expectancy is Nearing the End
One thing you’ll want to consider is how long HVAC systems last. Both heaters and air conditioners last approximately 15 to 20 years. However, many of these units lose about 50% of their efficiency after just one decade of service. Thus, if you’ve had your current furnace, heat pump, or AC for more than 12 years, now is probably a good time to start budgeting for a new one. Replacing aging HVAC equipment will reward you with lower energy bills, and it will also give you the opportunity to take advantage of the many recent innovations in HVAC technologies.
It’s also important to note that your HVAC air ducts are a critical part of your HVAC system too. HVAC air ducts have an average life span of just 10 to 15 years. Although your heating and cooling equipment might outlast these structures, it’s best to replace all system features at once. Putting new ducting in when investing in a modern heater or air conditioner will ensure that your air distribution system is streamlined to provide optimum airflow and support.
2. Cumulative Repair Costs Make Replacement the Most Cost-Effective Choice
You should definitely schedule HVAC replacement service if your repair costs are nearing or have exceeded the cost of new equipment. In fact, as a general rule, whenever cumulative repair costs are more than half the estimated cost of replacement, you’re better off putting a brand-new heater or air conditioner in.
3. Your Energy Bills Are Rising But Your Habits Remain Unchanged
HVAC system use can account for as much as 50% of your home energy bill, especially during peak heating and cooling demand. If your energy bills are on the rise but your household size and general habits haven’t changed, these increases are likely an indication of comparable, age-related decreases in HVAC system efficiency.
4. You Have Hot and Cold Spots Throughout the Building
As furnaces, air conditioners, and heat pumps get older, they gradually lose their ability to heat and cool homes uniformly. Another sign your air conditioner or heater needs to be replaced is if you have hot and cold spots throughout the building, your HVAC equipment may have age-related performance issues that cannot be resolved with repairs.
Our technicians can check for other possible causes of hot and cold spots so that you aren’t rushing into replacement prematurely. However, barring a faulty thermostat, leaky ductwork, clogged filters, or low fluid, the development of hot and cold spots is a strong sign that your heater or air conditioner is on its way out.
5. Your HVAC System Is Excessively Noisy, Smelly, or Dirty
As HVAC equipment ages, it often becomes a lot noisier during operation. It can even emit strange smells as well, including burnt, dusty odors and the lingering redolence of mildew and mold. When these developments are paired with decreases in indoor air quality and dust-covered indoor surfaces, they’re a sure sign of age-related decline. This is especially true when noisy, malodorous, and dust-covered equipment has been recently serviced and when HVAC air ducts have been recently cleaned or replaced.
6. Your HVAC Equipment Was Incorrectly Sized From the Outset
Unfortunately, the need for HVAC replacement sometimes arrives long before heaters and air conditioners have reached just their 10-year mark. In fact, this is frequently the case for units that are far too large or too small for their intended service areas. If you selected your last air conditioner, furnace, or heat pump on your own, it may not have enough power to regulate your indoor temperatures efficiently.
HVAC equipment that’s too small for homes works both harder and longer than properly sized models do, and it sustains a lot more wear and tear overall. Conversely, HVAC equipment that’s too large rapidly cycles off and on, and it spends much of its lifetime contending with unresolved humidity problems. It’s also subjected to undue stress and expedited wear.
Even if your undersized or oversized HVAC equipment still turns on and functions, switching it out now could do wonders for your indoor air quality. It can also lower your carbon footprint and your home energy bill while greatly increasing comfort throughout your entire living environment.
We’re proud to provide exceptional home services to residents of Harleysville, PA and the surrounding communities. We offer heating, cooling, and plumbing services as well as oil and propane delivery. If the time to replace your HVAC system has arrived, call HB Home Service Team today!