How to Tell if It’s Time for an HVAC Upgrade

How can you tell if it’s time to upgrade your HVAC system or install a new air conditioning unit? Namely, when indoor comfort and air quality start to drop. Keep in mind, however, that there are other factors that could be behind a drop in indoor comfort. 

As such, before deciding on an HVAC upgrade, you need to ask yourself these questions: 

Your HVAC system’s heating and cooling capabilities diminish over time. HVAC systems have an average lifespan of 15 years: air conditioning units

average 10 to 15 years and furnaces tend to last 15 to 20. You shouldn’t wait until the end of your unit’s lifespan to get a  new air conditioning unit. As soon as you notice a drop in cooling or heating performance, it’s a good idea to have it replaced as soon as possible. 

Of course, irregular maintenance could be to blame for a drop in your HVAC unit’s performance. Without proper maintenance, your HVAC system will break down much quicker and have a harder time maintaining the desired level of indoor comfort. As a good rule of thumb, HVAC and AC units should be inspected at least once a year, although inspections may need to be more frequent depending on how often you use your HVAC unit. 

Tip: If you want to extend your HVAC unit’s lifespan, you might want to install a programmable thermostat. Households usually run their HVAC units 24/7, increasing the amount of strain on the unit. A programmable thermostat automatically lowers the temperature when you’re asleep or away at work, lowering the overall strain on your HVAC unit and extending its lifespan. 

Routine HVAC maintenance helps prevent breakdowns. Without maintenance, HVAC units experience malfunctions more frequently. Increasingly frequent repairs could be a warning sign your unit is nearing the end of its lifespan and that a new AC unit or  new heating system installation will be needed soon. 

Temperature fluctuations are another sign a replacement may be needed. Keep in mind that other factors might be to blame for hot and cold spots in your home. These include insufficient insulation, drafty windows, incorrect temperature settings and dirty filters. 

If your allergies have been acting up a lot recently, you might need to change the filters. Dirty filters not only lower indoor air quality, they also hamper airflow, and as such could be the culprit behind hot and cold spots in your home. 

How Often Do You Need to Replace Air Filters?

How often air filters need replaced depends on the quality of the filters, the environment inside your home (whether or not you have indoor pets, for example), and how often the HVAC unit is used. In general, standard HVAC filters should be replaced every 30 to 60 days, although some high-efficiency filters can last up to 90 days. 

Humidity and Allergies

In addition to dust and other airborne allergens, high humidity levels can cause allergies to act up as well. Not to mention, high indoor humidity can cause your skin to feel sticky, lowering indoor comfort. This is because excess moisture creates the perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew, which can trigger allergies and aggravate existing respiratory conditions. 

What causes indoor humidity levels to increase? Insufficient insulation and inadequate ventilation are the two most common causes. A pipe leak may also be behind increased humidity, in which case you’d need to have a plumber inspect your pipes and conduct a  plumbing repair. 

Of course, the only way to tell for sure if you need a new heating system installation or HVAC unit is to have a professional technician inspect your current unit. 

One more thing: make sure to vet your technician before hiring them. Here’s a vetting tip: the longer a contractor has been working in the industry, the higher their level of expertise. 

R.A. Biel Plumbing & Heating, a contractor with more than three decades of experience, offers a wide range of HVAC and  plumbing repair services. To get a free estimate on new installations, call us at (505) 327-7755 or leave us a message  here. 

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