Should I repair or replace my Heating and Air conditioning System? What are the benefits of replacement?

Repairing or replacing an HVAC system can be an intimidating subject for any home owner. If you are considering a major repair on your HVAC system or simply wonder whether it is time to upgrade or not, here is some helpful information to consider.

If your air conditioning or heating system isn’t working or you have had someone
tell you that you need a major repair. Your first course of action should be to
determine if your HVAC contractor is reliable. If you have been with your AC
contractor a long time, and feel that he has always been fair, then this may
not be an issue for you, but if not you might consider having a free second opinion done to determine if in fact the repair that is suggested is actually something you need. The first step to any air conditioning repair or replacement is making sure you have an honest reliable contractor.

If your system is older, you should look at the future costs of repair if you keep
your current system and the future savings if you replace your HVAC system.

A few things have changed in the air conditioning industry in the past few years,
making the purchase of a new system more appealing to homeowners with older
systems. Refrigerant types have changed. As of January 1, 2010, R-22 is no longer an accepted Freon type for air conditioning systems. It is no longer available to purchase an AC system that uses this type or refrigerant. Furthermore, the amount of R-22 produced and available for contractors to use in existing units has gone down, making refrigerant repairs to systems that use this type of refrigerant very costly to homeowners. The new refrigerant type, R-410A, is a more eco-friendly refrigerant type. The introduction of this refrigerant is to help the depletion of the ozone. All new systems now use this type of refrigerant. So if your system is an older system that needs R-22, the costs of repair could be very pricey and be a very good reason to start looking into a new system.

Another change to the heating and air conditioning industry is the new minimum
standards for energy efficiency. The efficiency rating of HVAC is measured by
SEER (seasonal energy efficiency rating). As of 2006, the minimum standard SEER went to a 13 from a 10. Many older systems are even less than that, possibly having a SEER rating of 6. This means if your air conditioner is 10 years or older, replacing it could save you 20% to 50% on your air conditioning energy
costs.

Another benefit to system replacement is there maybe rebates and tax credits available for installing a more energy efficient system in your home. Most power
companies run rebate programs for homeowners who replace their air conditioning systems. A homeowner could receive money back on their power bill of up to $350 in some cases. Homeowners looking to replace their air conditioning system in 2013, the federal government has renewed the tax credit on system replacement with high efficiency systems. If you already replaced your system in 2012, the tax credit is retroactive for that year.

More information on the tax credit can be found at the link here:

https://www.acca.org/archives/industry-resources/government-affairs/hot-air/8196

So homeowner’s should take a look at all of these factors to decide whether they
need a new air conditioning system or not:

• How old is my system? 10 years or older should seriously consider replacement.

• How much are future repairs going to possibly cost me? Will replacing my system now, save me money on repairs over time?

• How much will I be saving in energy costs of heating and cooling my home if I replace it now?

• Will replacing my system now benefit the environment by going with a more energy efficient eco-friendly system?

• What sorts of tax credits or rebate programs are available that could help reduce the cost of a new system?

If you would like more information on system replacement or air conditioning
repair and maintenance, http://www.ahrinet.org/ is a great resource
for home owners to educate themselves on the ins and outs of the HVAC industry.

We hope this article will help you decide if you should replace your air
conditioning system. And please feel free to give us a call or email us if you
need any other information.

Remember, if you are considering replacement of your HVAC system, Airprompt offers free quotes on system replacement and free second opinions on major repairs.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit our website at www.airpromptac.com or call us today at 727-844-7893.