Strategies to Consider When Replacing Your HVAC Unit

What are the strategies to consider when talking with HVAC companies about replacing a system?

change verb \ˈchānj\ : to become different: to make (someone or something) different

Definition of CHANGE

transitive verb

a : to make different in some particular : alter

b : to make radically different : transform

c : to replace with another

d : to undergo a modification of

The HVAC industry has certainly been a very active verb over the past several years; changing and changing and so much as changed in the world of heating and air conditioning systems over the years that it may be worth replacing your unit instead of repairing it. An HVAC system is probably one of the most costly big-ticket items purchased for a home and you will want to select a new operating system wisely. New systems use less than half of the electricity of older ones and they do a much “cooler” job to keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer and new systems will result in more comfort, lower energy bills and better air quality all because of CHANGE.

In talking with several local HVAC companies, because of all the upgrades and improvements to HVAC systems, they say that if your system is more than 8-10 years old, repair is probably not worth the expense, unless of course it is something simple like replacing a fan belt.

In considering replacement or repair, it is important to make sure your contractor assesses the condition of your current equipment, assesses the condition of your existing duct work and your should at the same time take a look at the house insulation to see what the overall quality is. If these items need to be improved this very well could increase the effectiveness of your current system and you might not need to replace.

If you current system is in the range of 8-10- years old, it is using more electricity than a new one would use. An 8-10 year old system is probably a 10 SEER or lower unit. SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) which is the amount of energy needed to provide a specific cooling output. Until 2006, 10 SEER was standard, now 13 SEER is the minimum allowed by federal law. 10 SEER vs. 13 SEER translates to 30% less electrical consumption and 30% lower cooling bills.

It is important to select a local well established contactor. Be very suspicious of cost-saving mailers offering cut-rate prices. Do not use telemarketer solicitations for HVAC unit repair and maintenance. Also ask for references, check their contractor license status, how long have they been in business, check the BBB for any listed complaints.

Do these items will get you on the right road for a good quality reliable contractor.

Make sure you purchase a system that is sized correctly for your home. Ask the contractor to perform a load calculation, which will show you how large of a system you will need and why. Load-calculations take into effect the number of windows in your home, the thickness of the insulation, the attic configuration, the house orientation . Air conditioning is measured by the ton, which is the cooling power of a one-ton block of ice (2,000 pounds) that melts in a 24 hour period. Home HVAC systems are normally 1-5 ton units. The rule of thumb before all of the energy conservation/efficiency improvements was 1 ton for every 400 square feet of home, but this has decreased do to efficiency. Bigger is not better when it comes to systems – over-sized systems cost more and they cool way too quickly which leads to more on-off cycles, then the components wear more and of course the electricity of gobbled up and over-sized units do not run long enough and have the chance to effectively dehumidify the air.

If a contractor wants to increase the unit size because of warm areas in your home, be wary. A warm area in a house cannot be corrected by increasing the size of a unit.

It is also important to remember that replacing the outside AC unit without replacing the furnace or air handler will not correct the issue or give you better heating and cooling. These systems go hand-in-glove and should be replaced as a unit since they are designed to function together.

Look at different equipment manufacturers and their warranties and compare the parts and labor guarantee. Compare bids from at least 3 HVAC Contractors. Make sure all components of your home have been analyzed and all bids have been detailed and ask to see the load-calculations.

A good starting point prior to installing a new system would be to have an energy audit performed on your home. $99 and you will know the facts about where your home is losing energy, through duct work, insulation, your HVAC system, etc., so you will have fist-hand effective solutions prior to entering the HVAC purchase process.