Now that spring is here, the weather will begin to warm up, and before we know it, we’ll be in the midst of summer and the real heat of the year. When this time comes, you don’t want to find yourself sweltering in your home because your HVAC system isn’t working correctly.
If you’ve noticed any of the below signs of an issue with your heating and cooling devices, now is the time to address them and consider purchasing new appliances.
Power Bills that Keep Getting Bigger
One of the top signs that your HVAC system may be on the way out is if you notice that your power bills keep getting higher and higher when there’s no other apparent reason for such an increase. Rates for energy do rise over time, plus you can have fluctuations in power usage, especially in summer or winter when you use a lot of electricity on heating and cooling, pools, etc., or periods when you’re working from home or have people come to stay for months.
However, if none of these situations are occurring, a sudden spike in your bill, compared to the same period in the previous years, could be due to your HVAC machine sucking up a lot more power than it used to. The appliance may be in decline and becoming increasingly less efficient. This is common with age and when units aren’t regularly serviced.
Strange Noises or Weird Smells Coming from the Machine
Have you recently heard strange noises from your heating and cooling unit? If so, this can signal that you should consider removing it and putting in something newer. While recently-installed HVAC and well-maintained units tend to be nice and quiet, this can change over time due to wear.
Components degrade and wear out, and noises can arise as a result. If you notice your AC making a humming noise, whining, grinding, squealing, or making other sudden, loud, and unexpected noises, turn the unit off ASAP. Get an electrician in as soon as possible to inspect the machine and see what’s happening. It’s quite likely, though, that they’ll tell you there’s a big problem, and you may want to consider upgrading to a new model.
Similarly, it’s worth investigating if you suddenly smell unusual odors coming from your heating and cooling unit. A strange smell can be indicative of issues such as ducts that are full of mold or wires that are melting inside the machine, either of which is a major problem to address. If you smell anything unexpected, switch off the machine and ring an electrician immediately. While occasionally you might notice a scent when dust burns off within a system, which isn’t a big deal, most smells are a sign of a significant and costly issue.
Repairs That Are Too Costly
Another key sign that it’s worth considering putting in a new HVAC system soon is when you find that you have to outlay a lot of money on repairs, and these costs keep getting higher and more frequent. If repairs are too costly, when you run some numbers, you’ll undoubtedly see you’d be better off investing money in a new machine and its installation instead.
If repairs aren’t covered under warranty and are just getting higher, it’s also a sign that the machine may stop working altogether soon and need replacing anyhow. While some minor maintenance and repair work completed occasionally is standard and typically low-cost, if you start to have to pay for significant labor time for an electrician or other contractor as well as for expensive parts, it’s best to start over with a new heating and cooling device.
The Age of the Unit is Getting Up There
You might also realize, when you do the calculations or read instruction manuals or receipts, that your home’s heating and cooling system is pretty old. When these machines become more ancient, they’re much more likely to start having significant issues and may need replacing soon.
There’s no set time when a machine hits its “use-by date” because this does depend on the quality of the brand and product in the first place and overall maintenance. However, those over a decade old are generally in steep decline. In particular, once an HVAC system reaches 15 years of age, you should consider replacing it with a new model that will give you another ten to 15 years of use.
Some other signs that you might need to buy a new HVAC system soon are when the temperature doesn’t get to where you need it to be, when you have poor air quality in your home, and when noticeable leaks are occurring.
Keep a lookout for all of these symptoms of HVAC going downhill so you can better prepare yourself to start searching and paying for a new product.