Naturally enough, it would seem to be much easier and more cost-effective to get your HVAC unit fixed, rather than replace it. However, there comes a point when you could actually be wasting money paying for a repair, when all the signs are pointing to the need for a replacement.
You may have to face the cost of renting a telehandler or forklift for HVAC installation, and the cost of the unit as well, but it could turn out to be the smarter option in the long run. To help you decide your options, here’s a look at some of the pointers that suggest your HVAC unit needs replacing.
Every unit has a natural lifespan
Some units will last longer than others, so it’s fair to say that not all of your HVAC components will decay at an equal rate. Even the best quality unit will endure a cycle of degradation where parts will simply no longer be worth repairing.
Outdoor units, for instance, will typically last not much more than about 15 years, at most. Even if your unit has been serviced regularly for a decade or more there will still be a point where replacement is the most viable option.
When the repair estimate is too much
Another reliable indicator of when it is time to start again with a new unit is when you get a repair estimate that is somewhere in the region of about half of what it cost originally.
Quite simply, paying about 50% of what you originally paid to buy the HVAC unit in the first place should be a warning that you have reached the point where it is more economical to replace rather than repair.
Think of a number
You can also use a financial calculation to help you decide what to do, repair or replace. As well as sticking to the 50% of original cost guideline to help you make a prudent decision there is also an actual figure that should be viewed as a threshold that shouldn’t be crossed when it comes to repair costs.
In a nutshell, if you are being asked to pay $5,000 or more to repair your existing HVAC system, that should be viewed as the point of no return. In other words, you’re paying money with no realistic prospect of getting a decent return.
The bills keep stacking up
Another obvious pointer to help you choose between repair or replace would be when you add up what you have spent on repairs in the last couple of years, and notice that the bills are starting to add up to a big number.
If that’s the case, it’s time to seriously consider replacing your HVAC unit.
Your energy bills can provide a clue
If your HVAC unit is not operating efficiently and your energy bills are on the rise this can be a reliable indicator that holding onto your existing unit is starting to cost you too much money.
If you notice that your energy bills are heading north, and you think that your HVAC is the culprit, maybe it’s time to start over with a more efficient unit.
Is your model obsolete?
If you have had your HVAC for some while and technology has moved on in the meantime, you will probably discover that certain components are no longer available.
A good example of this would be if your system uses R-22 refrigerant (Freon). This is something that is no longer produced. Once you reach this point in the life cycle of your unit you will be much better off starting again with a new, more efficient unit.
When a repair still doesn’t fix the problem
There is also a potential scenario where you pay for a repair to your HVAC unit, and it seems to be working okay, but results don’t suggest that’s the case.
Classic signs of poor performance include things like weak airflow, and issues with humidity that you can’t fix are also typical red flags to be aware of. Ultimately, if you spend money on a repair and it still doesn’t improve how the unit performs, take the hint, and consider getting a replacement HVAC unit.
Visible or audible clues
As well as mechanical and performance issues that you may not be initially aware of without a technician confirming what’s wrong, you should also look out for obvious visible or audible clues.
If your HVAC unit is making some strange and unexplained noises, or, more concerningly, you notice a burning smell or a yellow furnace flame, these are serious issues that simply can’t be ignored.
If you are seeing or hearing some obvious warning signs, this should be the point where you have to accept that your HVAC unit needs to be replaced.
When your system turns on and off with too much frequency
Last but not least, another obvious pointer to suggest that your HVAC unit needs replacing rather than repairing, will be when you find that your current unit seems to be turning on and off too frequently.
As well as stopping and starting erratically, you might also find that your existing unit is struggling to reach the desired set temperature.
These are all classic pointers that are telling you in clear terms that your existing HVAC unit has reached a critical point in its life cycle. At the end of the day, you can only realistically expect an HVAC system to last somewhere between ten and twenty years.
You can keep your unit in peak condition for as long as possible with regular care and maintenance, but there will always be a point where you have to think that your existing unit has reached the end of its natural lifespan.
Are you seeing any of these classic signs? If so, it should prove more economical to get a quote for a replacement unit rather than shelling out more money to repair an HVAC that is past its best.