In this article…
- 5 Questions To Ask Yourself To Know If It’s Time For A Full HVAC System Replacement
- Is It Time To Replace Your HVAC System?
Whether you’ve noticed more dust accumulating in your home or feel your AC just isn’t cooling as well as it used to, the thought of replacing your entire system crosses your mind.
Do I need a simple repair or replace the entire thing? Is it worth it to replace my system? Does it really need replacing?
Replacing your HVAC system is a large investment. The last thing you want is to waste thousands of dollars to replace your HVAC system when you don’t really need to.
You want to be sure that it’s time for a full system replacement and know that this investment will benefit you and your home.
Wright Home Services has been a trusted San Antonio HVAC company since 1979, providing homeowners in the area with high-quality repair and replacement services using the best equipment in the industry.
Along with offering premium products and solutions, our certified technicians are also here to educate you on all you need to know to make the right decision for your project, whether you end up working with us or not.
We’re not here to convince you to replace your system or tell you you need a system replacement just because. We’re here to present you with all the information you need to guide you to the best choice.
So, when it comes to replacing your HVAC system, do you need to?
This article will outline five questions to consider to help you decide whether it’s time to replace your HVAC system, like how old the system is, your future in your home, and more.
5 Questions To Ask Yourself To Know If It’s Time For A Full HVAC System Replacement
Before making any large home improvements, you want to be 100% confident in your decision. You want to know that you’re making the right choice for you, your family, and your home.
With this, you need to focus on what’s most important in factoring in the decision, which means asking yourself the right questions and being honest with your answers.
Let’s look at five of the most important questions to consider before replacing your HVAC system.
1. How old is your HVAC system?
The first question to consider that will help decide whether it’s time for a replacement or not is knowing how old your HVAC system is.
The typical lifespan of an HVAC system is 10-20 years, depending on the quality of the system and how well it was installed.
This means that if your system is 15-20+ years old and you’re noticing signs of deterioration and wear and tear, it’s probably time for a replacement.
With older systems, you may notice your home isn’t heating and cooling as well, there may be increased dust and dander in your home, or it may feel more humid than usual. These are typical signs it’s time for a replacement.
If your system is less than 10 years old, you may need a part repaired or replaced depending on the problem.
Considering the age of your entire HVAC system will be the first determinant of whether you need a replacement.
2. How old is your ductwork?
Along with considering the age of your HVAC system, you also want to evaluate the age of your ductwork.
The ductwork in your home is what helps transfer air from your home to the unit to then be heated or cooled and returned to your home. It is a vital component of your HVAC system, which means if your ductwork isn’t up to par, your home will feel it.
If your ducts are over two decades old along with your HVAC system, you may want to consider replacing both. However, if your HVAC unit isn’t very old but you don’t feel your home cooling as well as it should, the problem may reside in your ducts.
You can repair leaky ducts by sealing them from the inside with Aeroseal, or, for severely damaged ductwork, replacing them to increase the lifespan of your HVAC system.
Considering the age and state of your current ductwork will help determine whether you need your ducts repaired or replaced or a full HVAC system replacement.
3. How long have you been in your home?
After factoring in the age of your HVAC system and ductwork, next you want to think about how long you have been in or owned your home.
If you purchased your home in the 1990s, haven’t had an HVAC replacement yet, and are noticing comfort issues in the home, replacing your old HVAC system will be worth it.
On the flip side, if you’re living in a newer build home and notice heating and cooling problems, you first want to check the age of your unit. If the unit is quite new, there may be an issue with one component of the system.
Reviewing how long you’ve been in your home plus the age of your HVAC system will help you determine if a system replacement is necessary and will be worth it.
4. How much longer will you be in your home?
Before deciding to replace your HVAC system, it’s essential you factor in how much longer you plan to live in or own your home.
If you’ve lived in your home for a few decades and know the HVAC system is ready for replacement, but you plan to move within the next few years, it’s probably not worth it for you to spend $15,000 on a new HVAC system.
Subsequently, if you live in your forever home and know it’s time to replace your HVAC system, replacing it as soon as possible will allow you to enjoy your new, efficient heating and cooling system before prices continue to increase.
Remember, the longer you put off your project, the more it will cost in the future due to inflation of the cost of materials, labor, and installation.
So, if you plan to spend at least another 10-15 years or more in your home, replacing your old HVAC unit ensures you can stay comfortable for the remainder of your time in the home.
5. Do you want to improve air quality and comfort?
The final question to consider if you’re thinking about replacing your HVAC system is if you want to improve your home’s indoor air quality (IAQ) and overall comfort.
One of the largest benefits of replacing your HVAC system is improving your home’s IAQ. This means reducing dust, dander, and allergens in the home, reducing humidity, and improving the overall air quality of your home.
IAQ upgrades can include a UV stick light for your unit to eliminate microbial growth, Aeroseal duct sealant to improve airflow to your ducts, or installing a Solaris IAQ air purifying system.
Replacing your HVAC system provides you with the opportune time to also improve your IAQ with these upgrades. However, a full system replacement is not necessary to add IAQ improvements to your system.
A full HVAC system replacement will improve your home’s IAQ, but installing additional components to help eliminate microbial growth and reduce dust in the home will give your home’s comfort an extra boost.
Learn more about IAQ upgrades from Aeroseal and Solaris!
Is It Time To Replace Your HVAC System?
Now that you know five essential questions to consider if you think it’s time for an HVAC upgrade, you can properly assess the condition of your unit as well as your wants, goals, and needs for the future of your home.
A full HVAC system replacement is no small investment. Before diving in and choosing to move forward with your project, you want to know for certain this upgrade will benefit your home and be worth it.
- If your system is older than 15-20 years, you’re noticing frequent problems with your unit, your ducts need repair or replacing, and you plan to be in your home for many more years, replacing your old system is a good choice.
- If you recently moved into a new home, aren’t having serious issues with your unit, or don’t plan to live in your home much longer, replacing your system will most likely not be worth it.
- If you want to upgrade your home’s IAQ and comfort without a full system replacement, investing in an IAQ upgrade for your ductwork and systems will help improve the efficiency of your system.
Considering these five questions about how old your system and ductwork are, how long you’ve been in the home, how much longer you’ll be in the home, and if you want IAQ upgrades will help lead you to the right answer of if you should replace your system or not.
As a family-owned San Antonio HVAC service company since 1979, Wright Home Services is here to answer all your questions and provide you with the right answers to guide you to the best choice for you and your home.
We aren’t here to convince you to purchase a system when you don’t need one. We’re here to educate you on what to consider and look out for that indicates it’s time for an upgrade.
To help further your decision, you not only want to know what to consider before upgrading your system but also what signs to look out for that indicate it’s time for a replacement.
Check out this article that outlines five signs it’s time to replace your HVAC system, including the age of your system, higher energy bills, increased noise coming from your unit, and more.
Then, you’ll feel even more confident choosing whether to replace your system or not and can find the right HVAC company to work with.
