Keeping up with the heating and cooling of your home is essential during every season of the year. You don’t want to be too hot or cold, and you want a comfortable atmosphere to combat the temperatures of the outdoors.
Having the proper temperatures in your home means having a properly running HVAC unit. When was the last time you checked your equipment or had your unit repaired? If you’re experiencing any of the signs we discuss in this article, then it may be time for you to consider upgrading your heating and air conditioning unit. After all, it’s better to be safe than sorry!
Signs You Need To Replace Your Air Conditioning System
Some signs of knowing when to replace your HVAC unit may be more obvious than others. There is a multitude of ways to know when it’s time to upgrade your unit.
For starters, your unit may be several decades old. Heating and air conditioning units are not meant to last over 20-25 years old, with 30 years being a stretch. So yes, you’re supposed to get a lot of years’ use out of your HVAC system, but if your child starts to turn older than your system, that’s not a good thing.
Old HVAC units begin to decrease the efficiency of their performance, and the likelihood of them breaking down starts to increase. Plus, as the years pass by, more technological advancement is being made to these systems, creating more energy-efficient systems.
If you have started to notice your energy bill increasing, this could be because of your older unit. HVAC units running for years and years use more energy to heat or cool your home, which means more running time and more money you need to pay the bill. However, modern systems are made with energy-efficient technology that reduces the amount of energy used and the time the systems are spent running.
Another tell-tale sign it’s time to upgrade your unit is if you’re spending a lot of money on repairs. Are you constantly having a technician over to fix your system? If so, the money you are wasting on repairs could go towards a newer system that will not need all these home visits.
Obvious signs that your heating and air conditioning unit may not be running properly is if you hear any weird sounds, smells, or dust is collecting more inside your home. Some noises or smells may just require a technician to tune something up, or it could be a sign of a much bigger problem. However, if you start to see a build-up of dust, then this becomes a health hazard for your family.
A build-up of dust can be harmful to anyone in your family with asthma or other breathing problems. When you begin to see a build-up of dust around your home, this means that the filtration system within your heating and air unit is not functioning right.
Your unit’s filtration system is meant to trap pollutants from seeping into your home and minimize dust since these systems are intended to produce great air for your family to breathe. However, harmful air quality can come from older units breaking down in their performance, which can be bad for your respiratory system.
To ensure your home has excellent air quality and comfortable temperatures year-round (without costing a fortune in energy bills), invest in a newer heating and air conditioning unit!
Keep Your Air Clean
Do you have noticeable bad air quality floating in your home? If so, then it’s time to replace your HVAC system. Sometimes poor air quality can come from not changing your air filters as frequently as you should. If you haven’t replaced your air filter recently, then not only are you harming your health, but you’re harming your system.
Your air filter plays a significant role in the efficiency and performance of your HVAC system. Without changing it frequently, you can cause build-up inside your system to form ice on the coils, damaging your system. It may not seem like a big task, so don’t let it harm more than your breathing. Change your air filters!
What To Look For In A New Air Conditioning System
When you are browsing for a newer HVAC system, you should look at the SEER ratings. SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficient Ratio and will tell you what to expect from the system’s efficiency during each seasonal use.
Choosing a high-quality HVAC system means selecting one that will not run consistently and use just enough power to heat or cool your home without using too much energy. In addition, you want to choose a system with high SEER ratings since this means the system will be higher in efficiency.
You also want to choose the right size of a central air unit for your home that way. Your energy usage can be precisely what it needs to be. Too big or small of a unit can use more energy than it needs to when it comes to heating and cooling your home. The best way to find the right size of a unit for your home is to consult with a trustworthy team that gives honest advice.
Finding The Right Team
Finding the right team to replace your heating and air conditioning unit does not have to be a daunting task. There are plenty of professionals in the Reading area on standby, ready to help, but don’t choose the first one you see.
Compile a list of 4 to 5 different companies in your area to narrow down. Go through each company and look at their reviews to indicate how friendly and excellent their service is. You should go with a company with a high satisfaction rate and an extended portfolio of work experience.
Next is budgeting. Consult with each company on your list to get a ballpark figure of what you’ll be spending. Do not cut out a more expensive company since you should worry more about the quality of your system. The company you work with should have excellent service and feel trustworthy from the start.
Understanding The Cost Of A New Unit
It’s common knowledge that the cost of new heating and air conditioning unit is not cheap. However, since advancements have been made to these systems, the prices have gone up for the installation cost.
But with that in mind, the cost of new air conditioners in Reading, Massachusetts, is more expensive to install than on the back end. This is especially true for ductless systems.
The cost of your new unit depends on a handful of variables. For example, where you live, the type of system you choose, and the size of your new system all play a part in the overall cost.
If you have a whole new central air system replaced or a ductless system added, you should expect to pay somewhere between $15,000 and $40,000 for a newer unit. While this is a lot, there are a few positives to look at your investment.
Purchasing a newer and modern heating and air conditioning system means getting more energy-efficient equipment and an up-to-date system. You should not expect to have high energy bills or money spent on repairs for another 20-25 years once your newer system wears out.
When You Should Get A New Unit
Besides knowing the signs that your old HVAC system is giving out, finding the right time to get a new unit can be tricky. Finding the right time to have a new unit installed consists of several factors:
- Your area’s weather
- Day of installation
- Off-season cost/finances
The weather in Reading, MA, can be unpredictable. Our summers are typically not too hot, but we’ve seen a record-breaking heat that could make its return within the last year. Winters in Massachusetts typically have us bundled in blankets by fires, so preparing for the blistering cold can create a time crunch.
You want to update your unit when you have plenty of time to prepare for the harshness of the summer and the winter. There is a short window between April and May to prepare for the summer and September through mid-October to prepare for the winter.
Of course, you have to have the availability for the installation too. Even though the team you hire to replace your unit should be trustworthy, you should find the right time to have at least one adult at the house during the installation process. Some jobs may have stricter rules or time-off restraints. You will have to find an available time slot that fits both your convenience and the company’s availability, so keep that in mind, too.
Lastly, with the expense of new heating and air conditioning units being costly, you should find the right time you can afford to purchase a new one. One way to do this is during the off-season. The heating and air conditioning off-season are usually two times a year: March-May and September-November.
There may be several promotions and deals going on during the off-season since the business will be slower and temperatures will not be super high or low. So it makes for the right time to have a new installation!
What To Expect In A System Replacement
When you pick out your new HVAC system, it’s time to get ready for the installation. Most heating and air conditioning installations take about 4-8 hours. They can be completed in one day unless something significant happens while your team is working.
Your team will arrive on the day and time you select for the installation. The first thing they will do is begin taking out the older unit and observing your home for any damages. Depending on the newer system and how your older one worked, some ductwork may be added to your house if your newer system requires it.
The heating furnace or boiler belonging to your system may be added to your home if your current system was ductless and did not use one. The furnace or boiler is connected to your central air unit and produces heat during the colder months.
If you install ductless systems into your home, your installation will be less time-consuming and meticulous. As the name suggests, ductless systems do not require the use of air ducts to work efficiently. Instead, these systems are a box installed on your walls and can be put in specific rooms to heat or cool certain areas of your home. Instead of a central air unit that only heats or cools the entire house, ductless systems can do both simultaneously since they heat or cool the rooms they are placed explicitly in.
Whether you are installing a new central air unit, furnace, or ductless system, you should not expect the process to take longer than a day. You should also not have any significant changes in your house unless the addition of an inside component is necessary.
HVAC Maintenance Tips
When was the last time you cleaned your heating and air conditioning unit? Once you get a newer unit, it’s vital that you keep up with the maintenance to ensure its longevity and high-quality performance.
There are a few things you can do at home without the help of a technician to keep your new HVAC unit running correctly for decades. The first is to change the air filter every three to six months. This is a simple, straightforward task that not only helps to keep your system running smoothly but also that your home has pollutant-free air.
While you are replacing your air filter, don’t forget to clean your ducts! This is another simple task you can do yourself since it requires a long hose from a vacuum cleaner and a flashlight.
Cleaning out the air ducts is essential to keep the air in your home clean. Dust can build up inside your system if it hasn’t been cleaned for a while, and depending on the type of vents you have, it can seep out into the air.
To clean the ducts, unscrew the vents and remove any filters in the way. Then, take the hose from a vacuum and begin extracting any dust or debris from the ducts.
Your outdoor compressor is the last piece of equipment you should clean. Of course, you can clean the compressor yourself, but it is also heavily recommended that you schedule a routine check by a technician twice a year, once before the summer months and once before winter.
These routine checks can keep your unit in good standing. Many excellent technicians can spot anything that needs to be repaired before the harsh weather arrives, saving you from having inconveniences to deal with.
To clean your outdoor compressor yourself, it will require a coil cleaner spray and brush. Before you begin cleaning the compressor, turn off the thermostat and power. Then start to clear away any leaves or debris that floated in or around your compressor from outside. Once they are removed, spray down your compressor and coils with a hose before apply the coil cleaner. The cleaner should sit on the coils for at least 15 minutes before you scrub and wipe them down.
If you are hesitant to clean your compressor yourself, you can always have your technician do it for you whenever you schedule your routine check-ups. However, to help save money, doing it yourself is a great option!
Contact Your HVAC And Electrical Professionals
If it’s time for you to upgrade your heating and air conditioning system, call the professionals at 128 Plumbing! We’ve been helping residents in the Reading area for over 29 years to install their newer HVAC unit to ensure their homes are always heated or cooled to their liking!
We’re here to replace your broken or outdated system with a modern one that has the latest in leading technology and can effectively set your home at the right temperature. If your current unit has been facing problems or hasn’t seen a replacement for over two decades, it’s time to upgrade.
Don’t wait until it’s too late! Call our office today at 781-670-3261 to find out how we can install your new HVAC now!
