Austin Homeowner – Warning signs that your HVAC may need replaced

HVAC units are often the most highly used and most overlooked appliance in our homes. As a result, it can be extremely frustrating when these units fail. Homeowners should take a proactive approach to managing their heating and cooling systems in order to prevent these catastrophic failures from occurring. The following article outlines some of the warning signs that occur when an HVAC system needs replaced.

First, one must consider the age of their furnace and their air conditioner. Most manufactures and the United States Department of Energy state that the useful life for a furnace is approximately 15-20 years. While the average air conditioner lasts 10-15 years. The benefit to varied life expectancies on these units is that they will not need replaced at the same time. Unfortunately, these units are extremely costly when homeowners are not prepared to replace them. It is extremely important, especially when dealing with older units, to weigh the cost of replacement parts versus the cost of replacing the entire system. Even though a faulty part may be replaced, other parts may start going bad as well. As a result, it may be more beneficial and cost effective to replace an older unit if its parts are showing significant signs of wear. This is especially true in air conditioning units because of their outdoor parts. Unlike a furnace where the parts are housed indoors, air conditioners outdoor parts are exposed to the elements and tend to need replacing more frequently. Covering the outdoor unit during the off-season can help eliminate some of the wear and tear on these units; however, it is essential for homeowners to thoroughly inspect their air conditioning unit prior to firing it up at the beginning of the season. It is also beneficial to have preventative maintenance services performed on each unit prior to the start of the season. This helps ensure that the unit does not have faulty parts and that the systems are in peak working order prior to enduring the wear and tear of use.

In conjunction with the age of the unit, homeowners must consider the frequency of maintenance or service calls. It is often said that if a unit requires more than one service call during the season; it is probably time to consider replacing the unit. This is especially true in a system that is at approximately ½ of its useful life. At this point, the homeowner is replacing parts on a system that operates at the same efficiency level for the next 7-8 years. In return, you not only have the cost of the replacement parts, but also the cost of future replacement parts and the cost of a system that operates less efficiently than a newer system. Whereas, replacing the system will start the life cycle over again, it generally provides significant cost savings in energy efficiency.

It is also important for one to consider the noise level emitted from their HVAC unit. In many cases, our systems warn of impending failure with increased noise levels. If there is significant or increased noise levels when the system is operating, it is usually a sign that the system is not operating correctly. While all units emit some noise when operational, the noise level should not be readily apparent to the home owner.

Finally, one of the most common indicators that an HVAC system might be failing is inconsistent temperatures or the inability of the unit to warm or cool the house. If the unit is turned on and the temperature of the room does not start to change within a few minutes, the system is not operating correctly. This could be a result of the unit being too small to handle the size of the home. But more often than not, it is a sign that the system is failing. This generally coincides with higher energy bills, because the system runs longer in order to achieve the desired temperature. Replacing a system in this condition will often result in a more comfortable home, as well as, lower energy bills. Homeowners can also check the effectiveness of their energy usage by visiting www.energystar.gov. There is an Energy Star Home Energy Yard Stick to measure home efficiency. The higher the energy usage – the less efficient the home.

Because Austin homeowners generally operate their HVAC units year round, it is important to understand the warning signs that the unit may be on its last legs. With an average useful life of 10-15 years for air conditioning units and 15-20 years for furnaces, it is easy for a homeowner to overlook routine maintenance and problems until it is too late. Increased frequency of service calls, higher than normal noise emissions and higher energy bills are all indicators of system inefficiency or failure. As a homeowner, one must weigh the cost of repair versus the cost savings of a newer and more energy efficient system. Having regular preventative maintenance services scheduled bi-annually will help homeowners prepare for costly repairs and assist in determining the appropriate time for replacing the unit. Don’t be left uncomfortable this season, contact your local heating and cooling experts to ensure that your HVAC system is in complete working order.