How Do You Decide to Repair or Replace Your HVAC System?

Middletown’s climate leaves few months when we don’t need either heating or cooling. When something goes wrong with your HVAC system, your comfort depends on making the right decision between repair and replacement. 

Age and Inefficiency

If your system requires expensive repairs near the end of its life span, you’ll usually be better off replacing it. Heat pumps and air conditioners last for around 10 years, while furnaces and boilers run for 15 years. After this time, they’re at high risk for component failure or complete breakdown. The type of system and the repair needed matter, too. If an A/C using the old R-22 refrigerant leaks, it should be replaced with a new model using the more eco-friendly R-410A refrigerant.

Heating and cooling equipment drops in efficiency over time, even with proper maintenance. Recently manufactured systems reach efficiencies up to 20 percent higher than those made 10 or more years ago. When you chose a new system, look for Energy Star-qualified models. These are 5–20 percent more efficient than today’s standard systems.

If you’re not planning on living in the house for more than a few years, however, upgrading usually isn’t worth it.

Performance Problems

If your current system is older and isn’t keeping you comfortable, consider upgrading. Temperature swings, hot and cold spots, and poor humidity control are often caused by an oversized system. These systems produce large amounts of air quickly, so the air in your home doesn’t circulate sufficiently and the system has little time to remove humidity. Replacing the old system with a new correctly sized HVAC system is the only way to solve this problem.

Excess noise is another issue that can be solved by upgrading. The type of blower motors, compressors, and certain other components used in older systems create more noise than newer technology. For example, modern variable-speed motors are quieter and more efficient, and provide more even temperatures than older single- or two-stage motors.

Whether your HVAC system needs repairs or replacement, contact us at C.R. Wolfe Heating & Air Conditioning in the Middletown area for help.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Middletown, New York about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).

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