Whether your air conditioner has busted and is leaving you with a room that is too hot or too cold, or you’ve found that your heater isn’t heating up your hot water like it is supposed too, that is a massive issue that needs to be taken care of as quickly as possible. You can hire a service to get the repair done for you, but you can also mitigate the problem entirely if your HVAC unit is old and unable to work. That’s why we composed this list of warning signs that it is time to replace your air conditioner or water heater.
Because no matter how many times you might try to repair something, eventually it is going to be beyond repair and that means that you will need to replace it. However, what signs should you look for that signal your old HVAC unit is about to bite the dust? Here are a few of them, and if you see one sign (or even more than one) then you need to get your unit replaced.
1. It Has Been Around 10-15 Years
You should get your HVAC system replaced after about 10 years and after no more than 15 years. Even if the outside of your system looks durable, the components inside are what will start to rot away after that time passes. Eventually, repairing and replacing parts won’t be as cost effective as buying a new unit. A general rule of thumb is that if the cost to repair your AC unit is more than half the cost of buying a new one, the repair isn’t worth it. Instead you need to make a much better investment and just replace your system.
2. Your Energy Bills Are Going Up, And Your Comfort Level Is Going Down
While the seasons and the weather that you are dealing with might have a slight impact on how your bills look at the end of each month, your energy costs should be the same month to month. However, if you see that your energy bills are constantly rising and you have no idea why, then that could be a sign that you need to replace your HVAC system. Because eventually the efficiency level of your system is going to break down, and that means that it will have to work harder to cool the same general area. If you find that your room is too hot or too cold, but never ever just right, then that could be the effect of age. While you can call on a repair service like S & L AC, Heating Repair, and Air Duct Cleaning or another company to do some maintenance and replace some broken parts, eventually you will need to get an upgrade.
3. The Air Quality In Your Home Is Lacking
If you have noticed that more dust is both in the air and on other surfaces in your home, that is another sign of your AC unit starting to slow down. Your HVAC system is designed with proper filtration in mind, and when it works effectively it should be removing dust, dander, pollen, and other irritants from your home. However, if you have noticed that there is more dust in your home and your air quality has dropped dramatically, then you might need to do one of two things. Either check your filters and make sure that they are fully clean, or replace your AC unit entirely.
4. Things Take Longer To Heat Up Than Normal
If you are standing in the shower or constantly placing your hand underneath the tap before your water gets hot to see if it is the correct temperature, you need to check your heater. Just like your AC might have trouble effectively heating and cooling a room if it is too old, your heater might have the same problem if it is too old. If your heater is constantly taking a long time to get up to your desired temperature, even if the conditions are optimal outside, then you need to get it checked.
5. Sounds and Smells Coming From The HVAC System
An HVAC system that is well maintained and in the prime of its life is going to operate rather quietly. You might hear the occasional hum or movement, but for the most part it should be silent. As your system gets older and the components that make up the system start to break down, then you might hear more grinding, squeaking, and other sounds as the system starts up. Additionally, if your HVAC system starts to produce weird smells, it could simply be dust burning off if you haven’t used it in a while. But wires melting away and even mold in the ducts can cause some unusual smells, and you should get your system checked out right away. Running a damaged HVAC unit can put you and your family in danger, and you should try to make sure that you keep on top of anything that doesn’t look right.
Don’t Be Afraid To Get A Replacement
Whether you want to keep your HVAC unit because you think installing the new air conditioner unit will be less expensive than repairing it, you don’t want to go through the hassle of selecting a new one, or you just believe in keeping things around until they fully breakdown, there is a lot of stigmas and worries over replacing an HVAC unit.
But you shouldn’t ignore the warning signs that it’s time to replace your air conditioner and should have your unit inspected before it comes to your unit fully breaking down. If you need to replace your unit, know that the cost to do so might be less than your repair bills, and you will get a brand new unit in return. A new unit means lower energy bills, less time spent working on maintaining the unit, and much better air quality for your home. This results in everyone being healthier, so look for the signs and if you need to make that replacement, then do it. It will only benefit you and everyone else who breathes your home’s air.
