How to Know it’s Time to Replace Your HVAC System

As the seasons change here in Charleston, South Carolina, summer often brings high humidity levels and warm temperatures, while winter comes with a chill that often requires the use of your heater off and on throughout the season. If your HVAC system can’t keep up, and you’re experiencing any of these problems, it may be time for an upgrade.

It’s Old

Most HVAC systems aren’t meant to last more than 15-20 years, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. If you aren’t sure how old the HVAC system is, take a closer look at stickers or labels that will be affixed to the unit. Most systems include the date of installation, but if you can’t see any dates listed on your equipment, an experienced HVAC technician can probably estimate how old it is. When it’s been running for more than 15 years, it’s probably best to replace the system before you experience a major breakdown.

Older gas and oil HVAC systems can also put you and your family at risk, since cracks in the heat exchanger can allow carbon monoxide can leak out and poison your family.

It’s Inefficient

Furnaces and air conditioners come with efficiency ratings, and many of the units installed in the 1980s and 1990s had lower ratings than the units available now. If you’re spending what feels like a fortune on heating and cooling your home, talk to your neighbors to see what they’re paying in utilities. When your bills are drastically higher than your neighbors’ bills, it may be that you use the heater or air conditioner more often, but you may also be running an inefficient system.

It Requires a Lot of Repairs

If you’re set up on an HVAC maintenance plan, your technician will look for potential problems and recommend repairs as needed. However, if you’re constantly spending money on repairing the furnace or air conditioner, you could end up saving money in the long run by replacing the unit with a new model.

Are you wondering if you need to replace your heating and cooling system? Call 843-628-1775 to schedule an HVAC consultation with our experts at M & B Heating & Air.

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