When your A/C breaks down in the middle of a hot southeast Virginia summer afternoon, a quick repair job might seem like the obvious solution. In reality, though, the decision to repair or replace your HVAC equipment involves a number of considerations.
How old is your system? The average air conditioner lasts between 12–15 years, while a furnace lasts for 15–20 years. If your system is nearing the end of its expended lifespan, consider taking a component breakdown as an opportunity to upgrade to a newer system. Even if you don't plan to upgrade now, if you've had the system for 10 or more years, it's worth looking for a replacement while you still have plenty of time to research your options. How often do you need repairs? If you're calling a repair technician two or more times a year, repairs are probably costing you more in terms of money, time, and hassle than a replacement would. Consider that the need for frequent repairs increases the risk your system will break down during a busy period when it's harder to find an available technician. How much will repair work cost? A single high-cost estimate can also sway your decision on whether to repair or replace. To gauge whether the cost is worth it, multiply the system's age by the repair cost. If the result is higher than 5,000, you're probably better off replacing the system. Have you noticed worsening performance? With time, even well designed, well maintained systems gradually lose their ability to keep you comfortable. You might notice problems with hot and cold spots, temperature fluctuations, and excess humidity. HVAC equipment also loses energy efficiency as it ages, so you might see your heating and cooling bills increase every year. A new system will not only perform as designed, but thanks to advancing technology, it will perform better than your old system ever did. If you'd like some help deciding whether to repair or replace your system, talk with us at Russell's Heating & Cooling Hampton Roads in the Hampton Roads area of Southeast Virginia. Our goal is to help educate our customers in Chesapeake, Virginia and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about repairing or replacing and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 757-750-1831. Credit/Copyright Attribution: “geralt/Pixabay”