Repair or Replace Your HVAC System

In this industry we often get the call from people who have reached out to other companies for a repair only to be faced with a high-pressure sales presentation and little, if any, options. Unfortunately, many don’t realize that Google’s search engine now gives results based upon the amount of money spent by the company. When you search Google for goods and services you are no longer receiving the best company for your needs.  Instead, you get a list of companies based upon the amount of money that each company is paying Google for advertisements. The larger, nationwide companies and franchises are spending so much money in advertisements that they must make large amounts of money off of each service call in order to cover the costs. Many times, there primary goal before even entering the house is to sell a new system.

In contrast, some local, family owned and operated companies, have built their reputation on putting their customers first and word of mouth advertisement. If you find yourself facing the need to replace your system get a second opinion. Make sure you have received an opinion from a local company who depends on taking care of their current customers over spending massive amounts of money to get new ones.

Consider all Options

We never enjoy telling our customers that their HVAC system needs to be replaced. That is why it is not typically the first thing you will hear from our team. We prefer to education our customers on the condition of their system and provide them with options so they can make an educated decision on what is best for their home and their finances.

Making the Right Choice

Many times, the question isn’t “Can it be repaired?”, it is “Does it make sense to repair it?” When considering the options we always recommend that our customers consider the following variables: age of current system, efficiency of current system and cost of repair.

Age of Current System

The average life expectancy for an air conditioner is 12 to 15 years while the average life expectancy of a furnace is 15 to 25 years. When things begin to go wrong with an older system it is a good idea to get an estimate on replacing the unit in addition to the estimate for repair.  It may make sense to invest in a new system that is much more efficient than to continue to repair a system that is failing.

Efficiency and Cost of Repair

When we first moved into our new home we had an old Trane furnace and air conditioner. The efficiency was awful, and our power bills were extremely high. The system was well past its life expectancy, but it was working very well.  At that time, it did not make sense to replace it.  Once things began to go wrong, we knew it was time to reevaluate. The capacitor went out and we knew the heat exchanger was soon to follow.  We evaluated the cost of repair, the cost of a new system and the monthly savings we would make on a new higher efficient system. We saw that the new system would pay for itself within the first 5 years.  For us, it was time to replace.  We are so glad we did.  We cut our power bill in half and our home is so much more comfortable.

Remember, it is Your Decision!

Don’t ever let a high-pressure salesmen talk you into making a decision you are not ready to make.  An honest company will not feel threatened by a customer getting a second opinion. Consider all the variables and make the decision that is best for your family. Once you have decided to repair or replace your system the next question is which company to trust to take care of your needs and, if you need to replace it, what brand and model do you go with.  In an upcoming post we will write about choosing the right system for your home. Meanwhile, don’t settle living in a home where you are not absolutely comfortable all day, every day.  Please give us a call if you need help making and keeping your home a comfortable place to live.