There isn’t an appliance that works harder in your home than your HVAC system. It keeps you cool when it’s hot outside and warms your family up during winter. It draws the humidity out of your air on a hot day and blows refreshing air throughout every room.
Unfortunately, air conditioning systems aren’t designed to last forever. They have a lifespan of 10 years, though your system may not last as long if you don’t take good care of it.
If you’re wondering when it’s time to think about replacing your HVAC system, here is what you should know to make the right decision for your home.
Your HVAC System Is Getting Close to the 10-Year Lifespan
The older your air conditioning system is, the less efficient it will become throughout its years of operation. Parts will begin to wear out and require more frequent repairs. You may notice your energy bills are increasing without making any adjustments to your AC usage habits too.
Additionally, the older the system, the more difficult and expensive it will be to repair. The parts may not be readily available on your older model. Plus, it’s common for these older air conditioners to use R-22 refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer produced or imported in the U.S.
Your Energy Bills Keep Getting Higher
You may notice your energy bills get higher when you crank up the heat on a cold day or blast the cool air on the hottest summer day. However, if you’re not changing the way you use your AC, it may be a sign that your system is showing its age.
The Repairs Are Becoming Almost as Costly as a Replacement AC
Perhaps you keep making repairs to your aging air conditioner to avoid replacing it. When you add up those costs, you will see that it is more economical to replace your HVAC system.
If your estimated repair costs half of the price or more than what a new unit costs, you might as well replace it. Typically, the more expensive the repairs, the more likely your unit is on its last legs.
Your HVAC System Isn’t Keeping Your Home Comfortable
Among the biggest signs that it’s time to go through with a replacement for your AC is that your home is never at a comfortable temperature. You may find that it takes ages for the air conditioning to cool down to the temperature you set. It may not even reach that thermostat temperature, running constantly and struggling to provide the right level of output. You may also notice that it feels humid inside your home, another sign of a failing system.
Your Home Is Dustier Than Ever
Whether you’re the type that cleans daily or not, you’ll notice an abundance of dust around your home when your HVAC isn’t performing well. Part of what it does is ventilate and filter your air. If you change your air filters often and still see dust all around your home, it’s a sign that your air conditioning system can no longer keep up.
Your HVAC Unit Is Making Weird Noises
Air conditioners make a fair amount of noise when they start up, shut off, and while running. However, those noises are more ambient in nature. They fade into the background so well that you notice when it’s not running.
Likewise, you’ll notice when it starts making odd sounds such as banging, screeching, clanking, or whistling. Sometimes, it may just need a simple repair to get it back in working order. Other times, it may be an indication of a major system failure, and that would mean an AC replacement is the most advisable solution.
How to Make the Decision for Replacing Your HVAC System
In most cases, you won’t need to replace your air conditioner before it reaches that 10-year lifespan. You may even think things are fine when it reaches a decade in operation and is still running.
It won’t be long before things go downhill, and likely, it will happen at the most inconvenient of times, like on the hottest day of the year. The best way to approach replacing your HVAC system is to contact an experienced HVAC contractor in Houston. Make sure they are licensed and insured as the task of replacing an air conditioner is a huge undertaking, and you’ll want to have full peace of mind that it is done right.
They will first come to your home to inspect your air conditioner and give it a full assessment. You’ll then be given options for repairs and their costs compared to the cost of a replacement. If the repairs are minor, you may want to delay the replacement. However, if the unit is older and keeps needing repairs, you’ll want to set up the installation which will bring you peace of mind and a comfortable indoor environment for years to come.
