If you’re like most homeowners, you sort of take your HVAC system for granted. You toggle a switch or press a button to switch to heating or cooling depending on the season and your comfort level. But to maintain that comfort, you need to be aware of the top signs that you need HVAC replacement.

Replacing your HVAC system goes way beyond the occasional need for air conditioning repair or heating repair.

The main signs you need HVAC replacement are:

  • Total failure of either the heating or cooling component
  • HVAC system is 15+ years old
  • Spending $$$ on repairs
  • Utility bills increase dramatically
  • Uneven heating and cooling
  • You want to upgrade to a more energy-efficient system

Let’s go over each of those items.

  1. Total Failure of Either the Heating or Cooling Component

We hate to be the bearer of bad news, but sometimes your furnace, boiler, heat pump, or air conditioning unit is beyond repair. There are so many things wrong with it that it would cost more to repair it than to replace it. Or you may have had a total failure of one or both units due to basement flooding. It happens.

  1. The HVAC System is 15+ Years Old

The life expectancy for most HVAC components is 15-20 years. Some cheaper units might give up after only 10 years, while if you take really good care of a unit, it may make it past 20 years old. But for most homeowners, when a system is 15 years old, it’s time to start planning on HVAC replacement. You can start budgeting and be proactive about it or wait until the system breaks down, which it will. Your call.

  1. You’re Spending $$$ on Repairs

Another reason to schedule HVAC replacement is if you’re spending hundreds of dollars on repairs, and repairs are needed more frequently. By investing that money in a new HVAC system, you will have better energy efficiency, which will save you money on your energy bills. A hard and fast rule for repairs: If repairs will cost more than 50% of what a new system will cost, it’s more cost-effective to go with an HVAC replacement.

  1. Your Utility Bills Have Increased Dramatically

We all know that energy costs are going up, and energy companies pass those costs on to homeowners. But if your utility bills are going up dramatically even though we’re not in a brutal heat wave or bone-chilling cold, it means your HVAC system is working harder than it should have.

  1. Uneven Heating and Cooling

A sneakier sign that you may need HVAC replacement is uneven heating and cooling throughout your house. If your house is always a little too hot or a little too cold, or most areas are just right, but the room furthest from the system always has a problem, you need an HVAC technician to get to the roof of the problem. Repairs might be a good fix, but this could be a sign of a larger problem.

  1. You Want to Upgrade to a More Energy-Efficient System

Lastly, you don’t have to wait until your system is on its last legs to schedule an HVAC replacement. We have a lot of homeowners who approach us about it because they want to upgrade to a more energy-efficient system.

This might involve converting from boiler heat to a gas furnace or upgrading to an ENERGY STAR®-certified system. Whatever upgrades you decide on, replacing an older HVAC system with a more efficient one will increase your comfort and save you money on your utility bills.

Related Reading: Federal Tax Credits Make Now a Great Time for New HVAC Installation

Our Cockeysville HVAC Replacement Experts Are Ready to Help!

Interested in upgrading your aging HVAC system? Fill out the contact form to request an HVAC replacement quote or service, or call (410) 989-4378 24/7 for immediate help. We serve Cockeysville, Hunt Valley, Pikesville, Sparks, Stevenson, Timonium, and surrounding areas.