The comfort of your home revolves around your most expensive appliance: your HVAC system. In the long hot summer and short cold winter your HVAC system works day and night to ensure you are comfortable! The unfortunate reality is your home comfort system can’t last forever.

Here’s 8 signs it’s time to replace your HVAC system:

1. The Terrible Teens

The average life of an HVAC system is 12-18 years. However, as they system ages they become less efficient, costing you more money over time. If your system has hit the decade mark, you may seriously consider purchasing a new system — specifically a high efficiency system. High efficiency equipment can save you up to 15% on electric and or gas bills! Just because a system can be repaired doesn’t mean it should be.

2. The Limp Along…

We’ve all been there… “if it can just last one more year,” “just get me going for the summer and we will look at it next summer,” then next summer becomes the next, and so on, and before you know it: you’ve replaced every component in a system, and all the while losing efficiency. As utility costs continue to rise, repairing a dying system over and over again is like dropping a hammer on your toe over and over expecting it to hurt less over time.

3. The CATASTROPHIC Failure!

If your compressor, heat exchanger, or motor fails, replacing these components can cost upwards of a $1,000! If your system has a failure like this often times, in the long run you’ll be better off and more comfortable by replacing the system. It’s almost like a domino effect since HVAC systems are closed circuits, as soon as you replace one major component … most of the time, another one is soon to follow.

4. Hot Flashes and Cold Snaps!

Have you ever been sitting in a specific spot in your home that is just not comfortable, whether it’s too hot, too cold, or just seems a little more humid than the rest of the house? It could have been improperly installed. The sad reality is that 60% of homes have ductwork that is incorrectly sized, and improperly ran. A new system, with proper ductwork can make your home feel brand new!

5. The Marathon System!

If your system seems like it is running more than usual, and it’s having to work harder than normal to keep your house comfortable… here’s your sign. It’s probably time to replace. The HVAC system is the largest energy user in your home as is, if it runs longer, its running up that utility bill in no time!

6. What’s That Clicking Noise?

Loud noises can be indicative of a real problem. Never just think, “eh, it will go away.” Loud noises from your HVAC system can cause the catastrophic failures we talked about earlier.

7. CO in your home!

Carbon monoxide is nothing to mess with. Older furnaces are at risk of forming cracks in the heat exchanger, which leads to incomplete combustion, which creates CO or Carbon monoxide. A carbon monoxide detector is the only way to tell if your system has a crack in it. If the crack is large enough to be visible to the naked eye, it’s WAY too large to begin with!

8. Easy there Sparky!

Older systems are more likely to have electrical shorts occur. This could result in your system failing in the most inconvenient time possible. This is why tune-ups are so important! A regular tune-up can help prevent a short from happening in the first place!

Just because your Home Comfort System has hit the decade mark doesn’t mean you need to run out and purchase a new system. But it is a good time to start thinking and saving for your next HVAC system. No matter what the age of the system is, it is a good idea to have a tune-up done twice a year once on your AC and once on your heat. This will help keep energy bills low, and increase the life of your system.

We know the value of a working system here at Yarbrough & Sons if you have any questions regarding your next HVAC system don’t hesitate to give us a no obligations, no commitment informational phone call at (405) 296-3935 or email us through our contact form!

And remember, leave everyone and everything better than you found it.

By Yarbrough & Sons

Published: May 03, 2021