Understanding when to replace your HVAC boasts many benefits
Unfortunately, even the best things eventually come to an end.
Therefore, sooner or later, you will need to replace your HVAC system. An old, inefficient, and noisy HVAC unit may indicate that you need to replace it. An HVAC system is one of the major investments you’ll make in your home. With that in mind, it’s logical that you want to get the best out of it. However, regardless of timely ac maintenance and ac repairs, your HVAC system will still need to be replaced at one point.
Ideally, your unit will last anywhere between 10 and 15 years before ac repair costs start to creep in. Keep in mind that sometimes the age of your system and how long it has been working hard may necessitate a replacement. To continue enjoying good indoor air quality, ensure that you get timely ac repairs and maintenance. Below are some of the reasons why you should not wait to repair or replace your unit.
An old HVAC unit consumes more energy
Do you remember when your AC system was installed?
According to the Department of Energy, you should replace your HVAC system every 10 to 15 years. While most units are durable, most of their major components deteriorate after the first ten years, depending on how they’re used, repaired, and maintained. Receiving a high utility bill once or twice may not be a cause for alarm. But if you receive high bills that don’t come down, then your AC may be the culprit, and you might need to get a new system.
High repair costs
Because replacing an HVAC unit can be an expensive investment, you may be on the fence on whether to repair or replace your unit. However, if your system is old, a new unit may be a better investment. You will need air conditioning repair from time to time. But, if your unit needs repairs that are more than half the value of a new unit, it may be a good time to replace your old or worn-out air-conditioning system.
Inconsistent temperatures
If you have an old AC unit, it will work harder to maintain a consistent indoor temperature. This may be caused by different reasons, including an inaccurate thermostat, a damaged thermostat, clogged filters, motor damage, or clogged filters.
Inconsistent indoor temperatures may mean that your HVAC system is struggling to supply warm or cool air throughout your home. Keeping such a unit will result in increased energy bills and uncomfortable indoor space. However, air conditioners aren’t created equal, and your home size, layout, and location can affect the performance of your unit.
Coolant leaks
In 2010, AC manufacturers stopped using R22 refrigerants because it’s harmful to the environment. By 2020 all manufacturers stopped manufacturing it. Therefore, if you have an HVAC unit that is more than ten years old, it most likely uses the R-22 refrigerant. This refrigerant is now outdated and very expensive to recharge. You should consider upgrading to a newer AC unit to reduce your carbon footprint and also cut down your monthly utility bills.
Accumulated dust inside your home
Have you recently noticed that your home is still dusty even after cleaning it? Where does this dust come from? If you see the dust settling on your furniture a few minutes after cleaning your home, then your AC unit could have an issue. Although your air conditioning unit is designed to clean the air inside your home, your unit could actually be making your home dusty. Here are a few ways that you can solve this problem:
Clean or replace the air filter
To determine if your HVAC is causing your dusty home, first, check the air filter. HVAC filters should be inspected regularly and cleaned or replaced when dirty. In case you have a shedding pet or a dusty home, you should replace your filters more often. The dust you see in your filter is trapped during the circulation of air in your home. However, when the filter gets clogged, the system is unable to clean the dust efficiently, and more dust is left inside your home. When replacing your filter, you may want to consider filters with a high MERV rating. These filters are able to trap even the smallest particles, and they can last longer.
Plug leaks in your ductwork
Dust in your home could also be a result of leaky ductwork. If you have an old air conditioning unit, small gaps may develop in dusty areas in your home, like the basement or attic. These gaps may cause dust to flow past the filters and into your home. Therefore, it’s important that you also inspect for leaky ductwork.
If you have an old air conditioning unit, it may not be powerful enough to cool your home and keep the indoor air free from dust. If this is the case, you should highly consider replacing your HVAC unit.
Unusual smells
Normally, you may determine that you need air conditioning repair services if you notice some strange smells coming from your unit. If you notice a rotten egg smell, an animal may have died near your condenser. Other smells like urine, stale socks, or ammonia may indicate the presence of mold in your system. In case of such smells, an ac repair technician can help repair your unit.
There are other smells that may indicate that you need to replace your unit. The two main scents are gunpowder and sulfur. These smells signify electrical problems. For instance, something may have blown out or got fried. Therefore, if your unit fails to turn on and you get a whiff of these scents, you will need to contact a technician to replace your unit.
Strange sounds
Your HVAC system will normally produce a soft sound as it forces air through the vents. However, there are other signs that may indicate that you need to contact a professional HVAC technician to provide maintenance or repair. Some of the sounds that you should watch out for include:
Banging, rattling, and cranking sounds
You may hear these sounds if your unit has a problem with the motor or blower assembly. A rattling sound can also indicate that a certain component is coming loose. If this is the case, you should get the problem repaired as soon as possible before the part disconnects or breaks completely. In case you hear a loud banging noise when you switch on the blower, you should immediately switch it off and reach out to a professional because something may be disconnected or completely broken.
Clicking sound
Normally, you will hear a clicking sound when you turn your unit on and off. However, in case the clicking sound comes from outside the compressor or control panel, most likely, a relay is defective. Sometimes, an electrical control can cause the relay to fail.
Screeching noise
A screeching or squealing sound coming from your blower may be a sign of a motor bearing issue or a damaged belt. While belts aren’t expensive to repair, you should have them replaced before they break. If you wait for them to break, your unit will not turn, and you may incur expensive repairs.
Increased efficiency
An ineffective HVAC system does more than just reducing the indoor air quality and making your house hot; it will also end up costing you a lot of money over time. So, repairing your HVAC as soon as possible can help save a lot of money on your electricity bill every month. And instead of the system working overdrive to maintain good indoor air quality and keep your home warm, it will easily reach the needed temperature.
Preventive maintenance of the system will ensure you avoid any HVAC emergency at tiresome times. And while it will help ensure that your home is comfortable every time, it will save you money, time, and the headache that comes with emergencies. Therefore, it is essential to hire an experienced person who has the knowledge and training to repair your unit.
Smart device integration
The HVAC units have existed from as early as the 1800s, but later, new standards were set for minimum energy efficiency of building designs. The standards set were considered a significant milestone in the history of HVAC units.
The new heating and cooling systems can solve more problems than the traditional systems cannot. For instance, building owners will not have to waste their time fiddling with the unit to know where or how much air can be brought to every house section. Also, these systems have intelligent sensors that can expansively regulate outside sources and inner functionality for the system to maintain its efficiency.
Long-term savings
Everyone loves saving money, but did you know that you can save a lot of money every year by properly maintain your HVAC unit? The HVAC unit of your home uses almost half the energy in your home to function. So, it perfectly makes sense to maximize its efficiency.
An inefficiently running unit uses more energy to function than the one that is working perfectly. Therefore, you might want to repair any system that is not functioning correctly if you’re going to lower your electricity bill and save money.
Additionally, if you are waiting for your unit to be repaired, it means that you are tying up your money in extra expenditures that you are incurring on the repair. Unfortunately, the problem is only getting worse the more you wait, and it will even cost you more. Therefore, you must get any problem fixed as soon as possible to free up the money you are tying up and use it somewhere else. You can maybe save that money towards a home improvement project to increase the value of your home.
Increased home value
Investing in and properly maintaining your HVAC unit can ultimately increase the value of your home. According to many pieces of research, most homebuyers prefer a house that has a properly functioning HVAC unit. And if your home has a low functioning system, it means that the future homeowner will have to pay a lot of monthly bills towards electricity.
With a properly functioning unit, you can save up to twenty percent on electricity bills. So, with this type of improvement, you will increase the value of your home and its chances of selling fast.
Improved health
Your HVAC might be an essential part of your home; however, it can sometimes pose a significant health threat if not well maintained. Problems can come up, including rapid temperature changes, increased humidity as well as carbon monoxide poisoning.
Therefore, to make sure you reduce the health risk associated with an inefficient HVAC unit, it is essential to maintain it properly. HVAC unit problems that can impact your health are faulty ducts, dirty filters, and strange smells.
HVAC equipment shortage
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a significant shortage of HVAC parts and equipment. This is because manufacturers were affected in one way or another. For instance, some of the raw materials used in the manufacture of this equipment are currently unavailable. This includes things like motors and control boards from India and China. Raw steel, copper, and raw aluminum from different parts of the world are also difficult to source. Therefore, if your unit isn’t performing optimally and you can’t find original parts to repair it, you may consider replacing your system to improve indoor air quality.
The bottom line on replacing your HVAC Unit
If you have recently noticed that your HVAC unit may need repair or replacement, contact a team of professional technicians. Keep in mind that your unit can last for a long time, and you can prolong its lifespan by getting regular ac maintenance. Therefore, as you go to the warm weather, ensure that you get a quick tune-up to replace worn-out parts and make minor fixes.
If you’re unsure if you should replace or repair your HVAC unit, your experienced technician will inspect your unit and give you a detailed assessment. This will help you to make an informed decision.
