No matter how many times you may get your air conditioning or heating unit fixed, it is inevitable that at some point the technology will change and wear out parts. This leads to a replacement of these systems which can be expensive!
However, the critical thing to figure out is, when to replace your HVAC system and who to hire to do it?
The Total Life of the System
A general rule of thumb is that if your air conditioner is over ten years old, it is probably emitting harmful CFC gas (Chlorofluorocarbons). Apart from that, unlike its newer more modern counterparts, it does not have energy efficient components.
In most cases, without major repairs or replacements of components that are prone to frequent breakdowns it will be financially advantageous not have an endless maintenance routine. However if your appliance has small problems like debris clogging up its condenser unit then this could lead you down a path where throwing money away becomes inevitable because there’s nothing else can do about these issues other than wait until they worsen before fixing them again – which may never happen!
When deciding to replace or repair an AC, many people tend to forget the critical importance of the ducting system. If the ducts are clogged or there are ruptures in the seals, then your cold air will start leaking. This is not AC’s fault at all. On the contrary, buying a new AC will not be able to solve the issue since the Pico Rivera air conditioner replacement will not be able to provide you the kind of relief that you expect and desire from your brand-new AC unit.
You can ask Comfort Time Heating and Cooling in Pico Rivera about an air conditioner replacement to take a look at the condition of your existing equipment, as well as the ducts that are responsible for delivering cold air to the room. Another point to take into consideration will include the quality of the insulation in your office or house.
If you were to improve your home’s ducting and padding, there is a high chance that you might not even need to opt for an air conditioning replacement in Pico Rivera. Conversely, if you were to go ahead and replace your old air conditioning system without taking care of these issues, then you might have to face the same problems all over again. There are various points that you should take into consideration before deciding on getting an air conditioning replacement in Pico Rivera:
Assess the Overall Efficiency of Your Current Cooling System
Older units were not equipped with inverter control technology. This meant that the compressors, as well as various other components, required a lot of energy, both at startup and during operation. However, today’s current crop of highly energy-efficient AC units is more energy efficient than before. It would not be wrong to state that even if your current AC unit is only a decade old, it could still require twice the amount of electricity compared to its more modern and energy-saving counterpart.
The SEER Advantage
The new age units typically operate at or below at least 10 Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). This is the total amount of electric energy required to provide a specific cooling output. As of 2006, 10 SEER was the standard for many AC units. But the SEER values have increased drastically over the past few years, and these days the absolute minimum allowed by federal law is 13 SEER. California goes even further with the Minimum SEER being 14 in California.
In layman’s terms, this means approximately 30 percent less electrical energy consumption. And by extension, that means a thirty percent decrease in cooling bills when compared to equipment that had been installed just a few years ago.
If you live in a 1,800 square foot home, then a new 14 SEER unit will easily set you back by around $3,000 to $4,000, saving you potentially more with the hot temperatures here in Southern California. But it is possible to effectively double your total energy savings by moving beyond 14 SEER units— up to 16 SEER.
Yes, these super-efficient AC units are not cheap since they can cost you as much as $5,000 to $6,000 more from the manufacturers. But that is only the short-term cost of getting air conditioning replacement Pico Rivera since they will also decrease your power bill by 60% over the average 10 SEER AC unit. And there is a bonus here as well. If the group has a SEER above 16, you can also qualify for federal tax relief of $300.
Thoroughly Inspect the Overall Condition of the Ductwork
It does not matter if you have upgraded to a ‘state of the art’ AC unit that you have selected for your Pico Rivera air conditioning replacement; you can still suffer from excess heat and humidity on hot days. This is partly because the mechanical components are only one part of any climate control system.
Sometimes, damaged ducts can easily leak 10% to 30% of the cold air being blown into the system. This is why, before deciding to go for a Pico Rivera air conditioning replacement, it is deemed pertinent to have all the other parts of the entire system thoroughly checked by the proven experts at Comfort Time in the Pico Rivera area.
Consider the Building’s Construction Envelope
If the house is poorly insulated, it will put additional strain on your already aging air conditioner. On the other hand, if you were to resolve the house’s construction-related flaws adequately, then it might enable you to get rid of your larger system and replace it with a smaller, more energy efficient one. Not only will it lower your upfront costs, but your ongoing energy costs will also decrease quite significantly.
The top-notch professionals here at Comfort Time Heating and Cooling will assess and, if required, upgrade the building’s overall envelope. For example, they might seal the cracks and gaps in the vent or duct seals, or they can ensure better insulation in the attic. If the job is done right, it can decrease your energy requirements by 30 percent for heating and air conditioning systems. And when coupled with a more energy efficient replacement unit, you will be able to lower your AC bills by up to 50 percent.
Your HVAC System Already Had Multiple Major Breakdowns
If the heat exchanger, compressor, or even the motor tends to fail with regularity, then the odds are that their repeated replacement with new components could cost several thousand dollars (not including labor fees). If your HVAC system has had way too many significant breakdowns in the past few years or if it frequently requires substantial repairs, the better and more cost-effective option would be to opt for Comfort Time Heating and Cooling performing an HVAC replacement in Pico Rivera.
Make Sure that Your New HVAC System Is Sized Just Right
If you have finally decided to go to Comfort Time for Pico Rivera HVAC replacement, you will be assured to get the correctly sized unit for your home or business.
As a general rule, when considering Pico Rivera HVAC replacement, you should do well to remember that most cooling machines are measured by the ton. In other words, they are regulated by the cooling power of a ‘full one-ton block of ice melting in 24 hours’. If your heating and cooling requirements center around 400 to 600 sq. Feet or so, then a one-ton unit is good enough for cooling and heating purposes (this applies only to AC units that have a built-in heating function). Many people going for Pico Rivera HVAC replacement can opt for smaller groups. This will mean less frequent on/off cycles and higher energy bills.
Conversely, going for units that are too big would mean more frequent on/off cycles. This means that the parts will be subjected to greater wear and tear, not to mention the initial costs of Pico Rivera HVAC replacement. Another problem with an overly large unit is that it will not get a chance to dehumidify the air properly.
Any reasonable contractor should bring with him proper load calculation instruments and software. These instruments should also vector in such critically important data as the total number of windows in your house, the configuration of the attic, the thickness of insulation, and even the building’s orientation to the sun. This will not only produce highly exact tonnage and heating requirements for Pico Rivera HVAC replacement, but in the long run, it will also determine precisely how much cold or hot air each room will need. This is why it is imperative that when you decide to have your HVAC replaced, you should also ask the contractors to include this one-page data printout as well.
Pico Rivera Furnace Replacement: Is It Time for a New Furnace
You will almost certainly have to replace an old furnace if you can smell leaking gas or the system has ruptured in multiple places. Furthermore, if the pilot extinguishes itself every few hours, then simple replacement of parts is not the answer; instead, you will have to go for outright Pico Rivera furnace replacement. Yes, replacement costs can be pretty high, but then the good news is that the new furnace will almost certainly be far more efficient. Which means a substantial reduction in your heating bills, while you will be able to keep your home toasty warm and comfortable on even the coldest winter nights.
Here it is pertinent to understand that Pico Rivera furnace replacement makes excellent sense if your old furnace is already beyond three-quarters of its overall life expectancy. In such a case, repairs would end up costing considerably more than replacement. Add to this the fact that older furnaces, at the end of their service life, barely work and can quickly inflate your energy bills to a great extent. You can check the manufacturing date and make a decision accordingly. The general rule of thumb is that an average furnace can last up to 15 to 20 years max. And then regardless of how well-maintained the unit may be, it will still start giving problems. This means it is time to go for Pico Rivera furnace replacement.
Apart from that, another reason to consider replacing your old furnace is energy efficiency. Old heaters operate on an 80% efficiency ratio. That means that 80% of the energy is transferred to your room, while the remaining 20% goes up the chimney. However, with time, this ratio can become skewed as the layers of soot and grime as well as worn out parts decrease this ratio to unacceptable levels.
When compared to the 98.5% efficiency ratio of the modern furnace today, these old furnaces are little more than energy traps and should be replaced immediately.
Conclusion
Maintaining old equipment is costly and time-consuming. If you’re tired of paying for repairs, it might be worth considering replacing them instead with newer models that use less energy per unit output!
