When to Repair or Replace Your HVAC System

Consistent maintenance, repairs, and even necessary replacement of HVAC systems is a priority for homeowners and oftentimes one of the largest investments related to your home. If you’re unsure of whether to repair or replace, the following information can help you with your decision.

A typical HVAC system lasts about 10 to 15 years. This lifespan can depend on how proactive homeowners are with scheduling regular maintenance and keeping an eye out for any repairs needed. Factors including the system’s age, money spent in repairs, safety, and efficiency can help determine whether to repair or replace your HVAC system.

How old is your HVAC system?

First things first! Do you know how old your HVAC system actually is? If you’re a member of Miller’s Total Care Club or have used Miller’s Services before, give us a call to find out how old your system is. If you’d like to check yourself, you can figure this out by taking a look at the unit and finding the plate or sticker with the manufacture date and year. If you can’t find the date, jot down the brand name, model, and serial number. Different manufacturers have different codes, but you can plug the information you wrote down into www.building-center.org which helps users determine the year of manufacture. In addition to this important piece of information, you should know when it was installed. The date of installation is most likely close to the manufacture date.

If you’ve discovered the age of the system to be nearly 10 to 15 years or older, it might be time for a replacement. You’ll need to consider how well it has been maintained in the past and check up on how efficient and safely it’s running.

If the system is less than 10 years old, it may be better to repair rather than replace for now. However, consider the below factors before making your final decision, and make sure to continue seasonal maintenance!

Before we get too far into the different factors to consider, let’s talk money. If you’ve already put quite a bit of money into repairs, should you plan on repairing again? How much is too much on repairs? Take a moment to calculate how much you’ve spent on repairs with your current unit since you’ve purchased it. Now take that number and multiply it with the age of your unit. Is the sum over $5,000? This formula from Lennox suggests that if the sum is over $5,000, then it’s probably time to replace your HVAC system. Newer systems offer more efficiency, more climate control options, and reduced energy costs. So while it may be time for that replacement, it could save you more money in the long run.

Consider These Important Factors When Deciding on Repair or Replacement

Safety:

We all want to make sure our families are safe inside our homes. Having an inefficient or outdated HVAC system could put our loved ones in jeopardy with possible leaks of poisonous gasses, water leaks, and risk of fire.If you see any water pooling around the unit, you’ll want to call Miller’s right away.
Water leaks in systems can be susceptible to bacteria and even mold growth over time causing poor quality air to circulate throughout your home. This could cause air to smell musty or stale. Regular HVAC servicing of even newer systems is extremely important to preventing diminished air quality or exacerbating health conditions.

Efficiency:

Has the air flow lessened or is the air flow not as cold as it once was? There’s a lot of different factors that could cause these issues, and if you are experiencing this problem, you might have noticed an increase in your energy bills. It might be a simple fix or rather a replacement of a worn part, but it could also be something more which could lead to higher repair costs. The math solution above would be good to consider again when deciding to repair or to replace.

If you’re concerned your HVAC system is exhibiting any of the factors explained above, don’t hesitate to contact Miller’s Services to schedule an appointment. One of our service experts can assess your HVAC system, walk you through your options, and answer any questions you may have so you can feel confident in your decision to repair or replace.