You may know enough about HVAC systems to know that if you are continually having repairs done on your system, it is time to replace it. You may not, however, know all the other circumstances in which replacing your HVAC system is a smarter option than repairing it or replacing a single part.
How can you tell when your unit should be replaced, and when it can be repaired? One way to know is to ask the professional opinion of an HVAC expert. You can also continue reading to learn three reasons why you should request HVAC installation for a new unit!
1. A carbon monoxide leak in your home could be lethal
The odorless, tasteless, poisonous gas that has earned a reputation as being a "silent killer" may be slowly taking over your home, and you wouldn't even know it. If your central heater or boiler isn't effectively burning the gas that powers it, it could produce carbon monoxide, which can then leak into your home.
Exposure to carbon monoxide can be fatal in high amounts. Having a carbon monoxide detector in your home that can alert you of deadly levels of the gas may save your life. If, however, your HVAC system is emitting low levels of the gas, your alarm may not detect it. In this case, the carbon monoxide won't kill you, but it will make you very ill.
Symptoms of low-level carbon monoxide poisoning are similar to those of food poisoning or the flu. They include:
- Severe headaches.
- Dizziness.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Fatigue.
- Stomach pain.
- Shortness of breath.
2. Your system May be too old to run efficiently
If your HVAC system is more than 12 years old, chances are that it is running less efficiently and giving you more and more trouble every day.
This is because most HVAC units are not meant to last more than 10-15 years at most! While some units may make it the full 15 years, if maintained religiously, they will likely start to experience some expensive issues at around 12 years of age.
New HVAC installations may seem more costly upfront, but when compared to the costs of repairs on an aging system, or the increase in your energy bills from an inefficiently running unit, it will benefit you, in the long run, to replace your system as soon as possible.
3. Replacing the compressor or blower motor is too expensive
Compressor or motor failure in your HVAC system is a pretty good indicator that it’s time to replace it. How do these critical components fail? And why can’t they be repaired or replaced themselves?
The truth is that it is possible to replace a burned-out compressor. This is hardly recommended though, because the price of parts and labor to replace a compressor is almost as much as the price for a new AC unit.
The same is true of a blower motor- it can be replaced, but it may cost less to replace the entire unit. There are many things that could cause either of these significant HVAC parts to fail, but the most common causes for either of them are old age and poor HVAC maintenance.