There are certain tell tale signs that indicate when it’s time to consider replacing your heating and cooling equipment. Age definitely plays a huge role but there are other warning signs you should watch out for so you aren’t faced with huge bills. In this article, we will help you decide for yourself when you should replace your HVAC systems.
Heat Pump or Air Conditioner
If your heat pump or air conditioner is more than 10 years old you should consider replacing it. We recommend choosing high-efficiency units which can save up to 20 percent on heating and cooling costs.
Furnace or Boiler
You will want to consider replacing your furnace or boiler if it is more than 15 years old. Consider replacing it with an Energy Star qualified furnace, which is 15% more efficient than a conventional furnace. If you have a boiler, consider replacing it with an Energy Star qualified boiler that is 5% more efficient than a new, standard model.
Warning Signs
If you are experiencing any of these warning signs, you will want to perform a maintenance check:
- Your equipment needs frequent repairs and your energy bills are going up: Your cooling or heating equipment may have become less efficient.
- Some rooms in your home are too hot or too cold: Improper equipment operation, duct problems or inadequate insulation could be the cause.
- No one is home for long periods of the day and you do not have a programmable thermostat: Install a programmable thermostat or have a good contractor install one and instruct you on its use — to start saving energy and money while they’re away or sleeping.
- Your home has humidity problems: Poor equipment operation, inadequate equipment, and leaky ductwork can cause the air to be too dry in the winter or too humid in the summer.
- Your home has excessive dust: Leaky ducts can pull particles and air from attics, crawl spaces and basements and distribute them throughout your house. Sealing your ducts may be a solution.
- Your heating or cooling system is noisy: You could have an undersized duct system or a problem with the indoor coil of your cooling equipment.
If you need any product recommendations or are concerned about the state of your HVAC systems, we’d be happy to give you our expert advice on the best equipment for your household!
