Repair vs Replace
United Air Conditioning of Central Florida, Inc.
Repairing vs Replacing Your HVAC Unit
If your air conditioning or heating system occasionally fails, you're faced with a choice: repair the existing unit by replacing parts or buy a new heating and cooling system. Some HVAC companies push a certain solution based on what is convenient or what method earns them the most money. At United Air Conditioning of Central Florida, Inc, we believe that you should decide whether to repair or replace a unit based on what's in your best interest. To help with this important decision, we have provided the following suggestions:
The Three Main Factors to Consider
When considering whether to replace your existing HVAC unit, the three main factors to consider are; the life expectancy, efficiency, and current condition of the unit. Each must be considered carefully before you decide whether to repair or replace your unit. If any of these factors is a problem area, then you should consider replacement, and if two or three are problems, then replacement is almost always your best bet.
HVAC System Life Expectancy
Most heating and AC units last between 10 and 12 years. After that point, they become expensive to repair and break down often. After this time, the parts are sometimes discontinued which causes them to be more expensive if not completely unavailable. Consider the age of your equipment when you decide whether to replace or repair. If a unit is ten years old or older, it's nearing its life expectancy. You can add at least four years to this number if you have consistently had it professionally maintained during this time.
Heating and AC System Efficiency
If you completely restore an aging unit, which is expensive to do, you will still only have the efficiency that it was rated for when it was manufactured, at best. Older units are much less efficient than newer ones due to constant improvements and increasing energy standards imposed by the Government, so replacing your unit can save you money if your unit is old and inefficient. Units are rated by SEER or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating. An easy way to understand these ratings is as follows: a unit that is rated at 10 SEER gets ten units of cooling for a set amount of electricity; a unit rated a 14 SEER gets 14 units for the same amount of electricity, so you get 40% more cooling for the same amount of electricity. Saving up to 60% or more on your electric or gas bill is possible when you replace your unit with high-efficient equipment. In a lot of cases installing a new furnace and/or air conditioning system can pay for itself in energy saving within a relatively short time.
Current HVAC System Conditions
Consider the current condition of your unit when you decide whether to repair or replace it. Factors to consider are the quality of the equipment (reputable brand, builder’s model, etc.), number of breakdowns and how often the unit has been maintained. If your unit hasn’t been maintained, is an inferior quality or has frequent breakdowns consider replacement as a serious option. No matter the skill of the installer or service professional there is little that can be done with a unit that is in very poor condition besides restoring the unit which is almost always prohibitively expensive.
Getting Professional Advice from a Reputable HVAC Company
A reputable company can help educate the consumer so that they can make an informed decision about the replacement or the repair of an existing air conditioner or heater. Repairing your unit may be the cheapest solution in the short term but may be more expensive down the road. If your unit is old, breaks down often and consumes more energy than a newer system, installing a new system can more than pay for itself over time. If not, then simple repairs may be the smarter option. At United Air Conditioning of Central Florida, our technicians can provide recommendations and walk you through your options before you make your final decision.
Matching HVAC Systems and Other Pitfalls
Whenever your condensing unit (the unit outside) goes out, most reputable air conditioning technicians will recommend that you replace your indoor air handler at the same time. Because the two units must be matched so that your new outdoor unit can work at maximum efficiency. Improperly matched units will shorten the lifespan of your new unit. This is just one of the many pitfalls that need to be avoided when replacing a system. Do not make a serious mistake when buying a system. Consult the professionals at United Air Conditioning of Central Florida about replacing your heating and AC system.
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