When Is It Time?

We get asked this question a lot, “When is it time to replace my heating and cooling system?”

The best time to replace your heating and cooling system is when it is a planned replacement and you have time to do your research. The worst time to replace your system is when it breaks down during the worst of weather conditions that may leave you very uncomfortable for days and you have to make a rushed decision which may not be in your best interests.

In our industry; we have a general rule of thumb about replacing equipment. We call it The 4K Rule. If you have a repair that is needed; take the cost of the repair/s and multiply the cost of the repair times the age of your system. If the number is greater than 4000 (4K), then you may want to consider replacing the system versus paying for the expensive repair. If the system is in good overall condition, under 15 years old, and the number is less than 4000, consider repairing instead of replacing the system.

Anytime a system has multiple repairs in a year and is over 12 years old, seriously consider replacing it. The average life of a heating and air-conditioning system in our area is 12-15 years. You should get this life (use) out of a system or more, if it has been installed correctly and has been maintained with routine professional maintenance each year.

Something else thing to consider is what is the system costing you each month to operate? Is your operating cost excessively high during the heating and cooling seasons?  This could be a reason to replace a system. Lower your operating costs.

You will save money and gain much more comfort by replacing an older system before it stops operating or starts costing you time, money, and inconvenience. Newer technology has many comfort and air quality benefits over decades old equipment. Newer systems can achieve efficiency ratings over 20 SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating). The SEER rating starts at 13 SEER and goes up from there. The higher the rating, the more efficient the system is. You will have to pay more for the higher efficient systems; but they will pay you back in lower utility bills and increased comfort in most cases.

Bottom Line:  Nobody wants to pay to replace their systems anymore than they want pay for a new roof, but everything has a shelf life and needs to be replaced. When the time is approaching (over 10 years old), start planning and saving for a new system so it won’t be a shock and an unpleasant surprise when you least expect it during the hottest or coldest of weather. Always consult a professional HVAC expert and have them evaluate your system. This includes your equipment, duct work and the tightness, insulation and construction of your house.  Your Professional will perform a heat/cool load calculation to correctly determine the air condition and heating sizing capacity of your home for the new equipment.