(And What To Do Next)
Quick Summary of Signs Your HVAC System Needs To Be Replaced:
- It’s Really Old
- Regular Maintenance Hasn’t Been Done
- Repairs Are Becoming Frequent
- It’s Making Loud Noises
- It Struggles to Reach Set Temperatures
- 4 Reasons Replacing Your HVAC System Is A Good Idea
- How Much Is A New HVAC System?
Do you have a feeling that your HVAC system needs to be replaced? When you get this feeling, you should act on it.
HVAC systems are another appliance like the microwave or dryer. It has a life span. If you are wondering if your swamp cooler needs replacing click HERE.
Procrastinating will likely make whatever’s wrong with it worse.
It can be hard to tell on your own if the problem is an easy fix or not.
Especially with older HVAC systems, what seems like a quick fix could be more severe.
Getting a professional to diagnose it is always recommended.
But how do you know for sure if you need to call an HVAC tech?
Does your HVAC system have some warning signs that it needs to be replaced?
Here are signs that your HVAC system needs to be replaced and what to do next.
1. It’s Old
We’ll start with the most obvious one first.
The older machinery gets, especially machinery that operates constantly every day, it’s going to wear out with age. And this is no different for HVAC systems.
In our experience, 10 years is when these systems really start to show their age.
However, if you take good care of it, have it serviced regularly, etc, it can last much longer.
Our experience has also shown that people who take good care of their HVAC systems are rare.
After 10 years, you should seriously consider how your system is functioning.
Having an inefficient and outdated HVAC can cause homeowners are paying way more in utilities than they need to
This is because on old HVAC system doesn’t work efficiently after 10 years.
HVAC Technology is constantly evolving and changing.
HVAC tech that was brand new a decade ago is highly inefficient compared to today.
This is mainly due to the ongoing advancements in digital technology that’s put into HVAC machines.
So if yours is over 10 years old, there’s a good chance it needs to be replaced.
2. Regular Maintenance Hasn’t Been Done
When’s the last time you had an HVAC tech come over and take a look at it?
If you say “Never” or “only when it broke that one time” then you’re not alone.
Most people only ever call an HVAC professional when their system is not working.
Ignoring your HVAC system will certainly lead to a shorter lifespan.
You take your car to get an oil change every 5,000 miles or so, right?
You should be taking the same action with your HVAC system.
Just because isn’t broken doesn’t mean that it’s working the best it could be.
In fact, most of the HVAC system we inspect aren’t working properly. Very rarely do we ever see an HVAC System that is running optimally.
The harder the system is running, the more expensive your utilities are, and that is a large waste of money for the homeowner.
We’re not saying your HVAC system needs to be looked at multiple times a year like your car. In fact once year is fine.
Having an HVAC tech come over once a year to assess how it’s performing is great for it. They can tune it up where necessary, make sure it’s working efficiently, and make sure everything is safe.
The small issues won’t escalate if you have a pro come check your system once a year.
3. Repairs Are Becoming Frequent
This sign is self-explanatory, but it still is important to go over.
Have you noticed you are suddenly spending money on your HVAC more and more frequently?
It’s probably time to have it replaced.
You might be thinking that this section could have been lumped in with the “It’s Really Old” section, but the reason we didn’t is because an HVAC system doesn’t need to be old to have frequent problems.
New systems could be faulty or have manufacturing issues.
You system could have been damaged from a storm or a critter.
Issues like these can have all sorts of additional repercussions that cost money.
That’s why it’s best to get an HVAC specialist over there as soon as possible.
Continually repairing and replacing parts is more expensive (and time-consuming) over time than just having the system itself replaced.
If your dishwasher is needing a new part every month, you would simply get a new dishwasher. This is the same for an HVAC System.
4. It’s Making Loud Noises
There are important sounds to listen out. You need to call a professional immediately if you hear any of these sounds.
-When you start it up, it makes noises before it actually begins working. Sometimes we call these booting up/starting up noises. This is not normal and should be dealt with as soon as you hear them.
-You hear moan-like and banging noises coming from the furnace. Not good.
-You hear strange noises coming from the outdoor unit. Also not good.
-A loud humming noise is coming from the blower. This is not normal.
Sometimes the noises are being caused by a blower, motor or loose fan and it simply needs to be readjusted. However, in some cases, after replacement the noises might not stop.
There might be another problem with the HVAC system.
Especially if a strange noise is still happening even after you’d had it repaired. That’s not a good sign.
5. It Struggles to Reach Set Temperatures
Home owners will almost always notice when your HVAC system is struggling to reach its temperature goal.
You set the thermostat to 72 degrees (or whatever your desired temp is) and you notice that it takes a really long time for your home to reach that temperature.
In some cases it might never reach its goal temperature.
There are many reasons why this might happen.
Maybe you’re lucky and you really just need to change your air filter.
More common culprits are bad blower motors and bad coils. And even worse is when there’s nothing wrong with your motor and coils.
It might be more cost effective to buy an entire HVAC System rather than do all of the small repairs.
6. 4 Reasons Replacing Your HVAC System Is A Good Idea
If you’re planning on replacing your HVAC system, you’ll soon find out that it’s not cheap.
But as we mentioned above, the benefits (including savings) you receive from a new system outweigh its cost.
Remember, it’s an investment. A very smart investment. Here’s are our top reasons why.
Cheaper Utility Bill
The harder your HVAC system works to reach the desired temperature, the more energy it uses, and the higher your bill will be.
A new HVAC system that utilizes the newest technology will be so much more efficient than your old one.
The less energy it has to exert, the cheaper your utility bill will be.
You might be able to save close to 40% off of your energy bill with a new HVAC system. Even if it saves you 20%, that’s still great!
Conveniences That Come From Modern Technology
The further we progress into the digital era, the more convenient so many things become.
HVAC technology has come a very long way, even in just the last 10 years. “Smart” tech has made its way into air conditioning units.
New HVAC controls and systems have become simplified and more efficient. We are starting to see HVAC systems come with apps so you can set your desired temperature from your phone or computer!
How convient!
Even the refrigerants that are used in HVAC systems have been upgraded in state-of-the-art units.
For example: Freon has been replaced by Puron in many new systems. Puron is better because it can operate at higher pressures and interacts with better with heat.
New systems are built to last longer and work better.
Compressors no longer burn out as easy and all modern components are designed to better handle stress.
Things like dust, allergens, humidity, and mold are handled better with the new HVAC systems.
Your family and your home will be healthier and safer with up-to-date HVAC technology.
An Opportunity To Get A Proper Installation
Do you live in an older home or has your home had previous owners?
If so, you know little (if anything) about how the HVAC system was installed. Obviously, HVAC technology and installation processes are better since your system was installed. But who knows about the credibility or reliably of whoever installed it in the first place.
For all you know, the previous owner paid for an inexpensive, unreliable system to save money. Now you are stuck with an inefficient system.
By getting a new HVAC system installed, you have all of the control.
You can control what’s installed, who installs it, and how it’s installed.
You can have peace of mind with the knowledge that it’s been done right. Installing a new system also allows you to choose the best model for your home. There are different models out there and not all of them are the same.
Some are designed for particular types of homes, climates, etc.
Increases The Value of Your Home
Installing a new HVAC system does wonders for the resale value of your home.
On the flip side, if you’re trying to sell a home with a really old HVAC system, it has the opposite effect. A potential buyer can easily demand a cheaper asking price. They can site how much they’ll have to put in to repairing or replacing the HVAC system.
You’ll definitely be able to sell a home for more if it the HVAC has been updated.
How Much Is A New HVAC System?
This is a questions we are always asked: How much?
The answer is simply: It depends.
Installation costs, square footage, and the size of the HVAC system will determine the price.
The cost of installation can vary from city to city, as well. Also, how complex will the system need to be? That plays a role, too.
On average, somewhere in the range of $5000-$12,000 can be expected.
What does this include? It includes the air conditioning unit itself, the ductwork, and a new furnace.
Other Costs To Consider
When you replace an HVAC system, there’s some costs involved on top of the ones already mentioned.
It’s common for the base to be replaced during a new system install. By base, we’re referring to the pad that they HVAC system sits on.
You’ll know this needs to be replaced if the new unit is a different size than the previous one. The base will also be replaced if the base is damaged or disgusting.
Some home owners need have the insulation in their home upgraded in conjunction with their new HVAC system.
This is because some new system require the insulation to be a specific grade or installed in a specific way.
This usually depends on the size of the home; particularly individual room sizes.
Depending on how old your home is, you may need to upgrade the electrical work in the home.
Things like service panels, wiring, breakers, and circuit breaker boxes may need to be updated with your new HVAC system.
Naturally, the service of an electrician will be required for this. (Some HVAC companies have employees who are licensed electricians as well as certified HVAC installers).
Once a new HVAC system is installed, don’t forget regular maintenance must be done.
Remember what we recommended earlier in this article: an HVAC checkup once a year.
Make sure you buy the extended warranty plan!
Make sure that you inspect the ductwork in preparation for your new HVAC installation.
No matter how new your HVAC system is, deteriorating ductwork will lower the efficiency. Debris and dirt can get built up in the ducts.
They can become detached or develop holes. Just make sure you have your ductwork checked first!
Still Not sure if your system needs to be replaced?
Give Rakeman Plumbing and Air a call! We come and do an inspection of your HVAC system.
We can help you choose the best HVAC system for your home and personal needs.
Only trust the HVAC professionals at Rakeman Air in the Las Vegas Area.
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