With Fall and Winter swiftly on their way, it’s time for Lynnfield, MA, residents to start checking up on their HVACs. Massachusetts is prone to stifling cold weather, and no one wants to be stuck inside a house with no heat.
HVACs are an integral part of any home. They require constant upkeep and replacement after a few decades. If a technician hasn’t been by your home in a while, it’s time to schedule an appointment.
If you find yourself in the predicament of needing to replace your HVAC in preparation for the upcoming cold months, here’s everything you need to know about the kind of system your home should have.
Central Heating And AC
The most standard type of heating and cooling for most homes is central units. It’s typical to purchase a home whose build dates back to the 1970s and find that it started with a central unit.
Most homes have central heating and air conditioning, which means it’s easy to tell if your system is growing old. Central heating and cooling units are meant to last up to 30 years (if maintained properly), or at least between 20 and 25.
Central heating and cooling units come in 2 parts: the indoor compressor and the outdoor compressor. If you’ve ever seen the big unit outside a home shaped like a box, that’s the outdoor compressor to the central HVAC. Inside, there’s the indoor unit connected to the outdoor compressor and the various air ducts leading to the vents that push out the heat or ac.
Since most homes have central ac and heating units, knowing when it’s time to replace them can be easy if you know the signs to look for. It’s important to spot a run-down HVAC so you can replace it as quickly as possible.
Unsure if your HVAC has seen better days? Here are some signs to look for to know it’s time to replace your central HVAC:
- Longer running time than usual
- Increase of dust around the home
- Higher energy bills
- HVAC can’t reach set temperatures
- Smells or sounds
- It’s over 25-30 years old
Are you also calling a technician over frequently to make repairs? If so, the money you’re throwing to keep your current unit running can be put to better use for a newer system.
HVACs are not meant to last longer than 30 years and if your current unit is showing signs of wear, think about installing a new unit to ensure there are no problems year-round.
Signs like dust build-up are important and can become a health hazard for people living in your home. If you see more dust than usual, this can mean one of two things: your air filters are blocked, or your system is not working as it should to trap pollutants and produce clean air.
If you replace your air filter but continue to see dust in your home, call a technician over to observe the issue. It could be that it’s time to upgrade to a newer system that can produce cleaner, safer air for your family to breathe.
Ductless Mini Split
If you are looking for a heating and cooling option different than the normal central units and one that could possibly save you money, you should consider a ductless mini-split!
Ductless mini-split systems perform the same as central units do but operate differently—first, the obvious sign. Ductless systems do not require the use of air ducts to travel heating and air throughout your home. Instead, they are hooked to the refrigerant lines and are controlled by the setting you place them on.
Another big difference with ductless systems compared to central units is that these heating and cooling systems are placed in individual rooms. In contrast, central units disperse heating and air throughout the entire home.
Central heating and cooling systems are set to one temperature, where ductless units can all be different.
If you decide to go ductless, you can place these systems in whichever rooms you please. Boxes will be installed on either the wall, ceiling, or baseboards of the room you choose to install them in, and you control the temperature in every room.
This is great if you have an older home or a recent addition with no heating or ac hooked up like the rest of the house. If you have a predominantly cold room, ductless mini splits give you the ability to warm that particular room while keeping another room cooler at the same time.
Homeowners with ductless systems love the freedom and sense of control that comes with these units, leading to energy preservation. Ductless users can see up to 30% of energy saved per month with these systems, which means you can have cheaper energy bills.
One thing to note about these systems, though, is that they can be aesthetically displeasing. If the thought of a big box sticking off your wall upsets you, try to find a place in the room where it is less visible.
Ductless systems should never be installed near curtains, furniture, or wall hangings for safety purposes.
What if you already have a central HVAC? Are you able to make the ductless switch? Absolutely!
One of the downfalls to installing ductless systems is that their prices are higher for installation than central units because there’s more work involved. Lines and wires will need to be cut so your technician can hook them up to the refrigerant lines for them to work.
But once it is up, it is up! You have full temperature control and money to be saved!
Find The Right Sized System For Your Lynnfield Home
An ideal heating and ac system is more than just the right brand. It is also about finding the ideal size. You never want to choose an HVAC too big or too small because these can lead to efficiency issues.
Knowing which size of an HVAC to put in can be confusing, especially if you’re unfamiliar with HVAC turns, which is why hiring a trusted professional can greatly help. They will come out to your house to measure the size of your property to give you the most accurate estimate of the kind of HVAC they think you will need.
Why is it important to have the right size? Well, an HVAC too small will have to work harder and longer to provide heating and cooling to the house, which will increase your energy bill, and a unit that’s too big will be turning off and on more than it should.
Your home’s HVAC is for more than providing comfortable temperatures; it is responsible for producing clean air for your family to breathe. Having the right-sized HVAC ensures that the air you and your family breathes is top-quality, safe, and pure.
If you decide to go with a central unit, the system will produce air for the entire home, so it should be big enough to give every room the temperature and clean air required for healthy living. If anyone in your family has asthma or other breathing concerns, it’s even more important to ensure the right HVAC is selected for your home.
Know What Your Budget Can Handle
Replacing a whole HVAC unit is expensive to start with, but it can become even more expensive depending on the type of HVAC you install, who you hire, and your location.
The square feet of your house matters too, since the HVAC you select needs to have the power to cover the whole house. The average cost of HVAC installation ranges between $15 to $18 per square foot. While you won’t know the exact cost of the upgrade to start with, it’s best to go on the hunt with a flexible budget based on your income.
Have an amount you would like to stick at, but be able to have some wiggle room to spend just a little bit more. Typically, HVAC companies offer financing and payment plans to help with the cost, which can help you plan and prepare for the payments.
Once you know you are in the market for a new HVAC, you should start adjusting your spending if you need to. Think about things you can cut out or reduce for a while as you prepare to splurge on a necessary item for your home.
Still Unsure? It Starts With Professionals
If the hunt for a new HVAC unit terrifies you, find comfort in working with the right professionals in your area.
Start by researching online to find a handful of trustworthy professionals around the Lynnfield area to help you with this process. It is recommended that you find at least 3-4 companies to start with to have face-to-face consultations with.
When you begin to look for companies, pay close attention to their ratings and reviews. Carefully browse what past clients are saying about their work, so you know if you are getting a trustworthy company. Reviews will tell you a lot about the professionalism and satisfaction other homeowners have seen.
After you have a list of companies, call their office to set up times to go in and discuss more in-depth what you are looking for. When you meet with companies, be sure to discuss the following topics:
- Cost
- Timeframe of completion
- Company services/experience
- Professionalism
When you are discussing these companies, it’s important not to decide until you sit down with each company. You should compare and contrast the information and carefully decide since it will be a heavy investment.
Cost and professionalism are the most important factors when deciding on a company to work with. You should look for the best company in the area who can perform the job for a reasonable price.
Something to be aware of when looking for a company is if they try to push their own line of HVACs to solve your issue. Companies with their own line of HVACs will not be as productive as the top-notch name-brand ones.
HVAC vendors get a say in who gets to sell their products, so if a company carries and promotes high-quality HVACs such as Rheem, American Standard, or Goodman, you are in the right spot!
Sure, company HVACs might be cheaper than name-brand, but you will not get the same quality assurance by selecting the higher-end ones, which is exactly what your house needs.
The technician company you hire to install your system will likely be the company you keep to perform all maintenance checks and repairs. That’s why it’s important to completely trust who you hire and that they have a sense of professionalism in their work ethic.
HVACs are a major investment. Invest in the right company to install your unit!
Let The Best In Heating And Plumbing Work Help!
Are you ready to install the system your house needs? If so, give us a call!
The HVAC professionals at 128 Plumbing have been in the business for over 29 years. We help residents in the Lynnfield, MA, area find the right system for their home’s needs to make sure they stay comfortable year-round, and we want to do the same for you!
Do you find yourself confused by all things heating and air conditioning-related? Don’t sweat it; that’s what we do best!
If you are unsure what you need from us, we can schedule you for a free consultation. You will get to meet the team of experts and hear firsthand how we can handle your heating and air conditioning needs.
If you are ready to get started, call us at 781-670-3261 today. We can’t wait to meet you!
