There’s nothing worse than when your air conditioning isn’t working, and there’s nothing but heat and humidity in the weather forecast! That’s what happened to the homeowners of this lovely colonial home in Brevard. When they called us here at Blue Ridge Heating and Air, we wanted to make sure they got back to comfort as quickly as possible.
Evaluating A System- Signs It’s Time To Replace Your System
When we go to a home to see what we can do to fix their system, we always want to give our customers the best advice possible. Sometimes, it’s something minor that’s easy to fix, But other times, it can be a more serious problem that warrants a replacement.
A lot of times the homeowners know that it's time for a replacement, but a breakdown or improper temperature will give them the kick start to make the swap. That was the case with our homeowners here.
Problem: Owners of this lovely colonial-style home in Brevard weren’t getting the cooling they needed on the main floor of the home.
Solution: Replace the existing air conditioning system with a new York single stage air conditioner and new gas furnace.
5 Signs it’s time to replace Your System
Your current system is 10 years old or older. Most modern AC systems come with a ten - 12 year warranty, and this mirrors the expected life span of the system. Well-maintained systems can last longer, but as a system ages, repairs become more frequent and expensive. As a system ages, you need to start considering the cost of repairs versus the cost of a brand new system.
Your house isn’t cool enough. If you’re no longer getting effective cooling, and you find wood furniture to get sticky on hot and humid days, you might have a refrigerant leak. This definitely needs an expert to diagnose and fix. It also could be a problem where your system is not sized properly for your home.
Your older AC system is using R-22 Freon. Older AC units used Freon, a refrigerant known to do damage to the ozone layer, and it has been phased out, starting on January 1, 2020. As a result, getting a “Freon recharge” or your refrigerant “topped up” is becoming harder and harder to do, and is getting more and more expensive as well. The newer refrigerants are used under higher pressure, and can’t be substituted in, so if you have an older AC unit still using Freon, you will need to replace your old system.
Your system is starting to need more frequent repairs, or you notice your energy bills are much higher than usual. When AC systems get towards the end of their lifecycle, they start to need more frequent repairs. They may have a hard time keeping up with the outdoor temperature, and start doing something called short-cycling- turning on and off frequently, which keeps the AC from dehumidifying your home, and also increases the wear and tear on the system. This also will mean you’ll see a spike in your energy bill, as the system keeps drawing more and more energy, but is less effective in cooling. This is a clear sign you need to get your system serviced, and that it may need to be replaced.
The system is becoming noisy, or your air quality is dropping. If you’re noticing funky mold and mildew smells in your home and in your AC, that’s a sign of excess moisture in your system. Extra noise may indicate a problem with the fan or compressor is developing. In either case, you should call a certified AC technician, like our team here at Blue Ridge Heating and Air to come see if we can repair your system.
Advantages of Replacement- Efficiency and Lower Energy Bills!
While replacing your AC can be expensive, it has benefits as well. Newer systems use a higher efficiency refrigerant, and use much less energy to deliver the comfort you want. That means lower energy bills each month, and with regular maintenance, new systems will last you many, many years.
When we looked at the existing system at this home in Brevard, we saw they had a refrigerant leak and there were additional parts of the existing system that were reaching the end of their life span. This all indicated that it was a good time to replace the air conditioning. We also spoke to the homeowners about whether due to age, it was also the right time to replace the heating system.
Why Replace Both?
Most AC systems and heaters are put together in pairs and installed at about the same time- just like you tend to get a washer and dryer at the same time. When the AC goes, it’s a good time to do a thorough inspection of your furnace, particularly the heat exchanger.
What is a Heat Exchanger?
This is a metal shield in a gas furnace between the combustion chamber and the blower that helps disburse heated air into your home. Because it is constantly exposed to heating and cooling, over time, metal fatigue sets in and it can develop small cracks. This can allow harmful gasses from combustion-specifically carbon monoxide, to leak into your home. Carbon monoxide is toxic and extremely dangerous, so if there is any sign of fatigue, you need to replace the furnace.
Safety First
As a furnace ages, regular inspections are important to detect any cracks in a heat exchanger and get ahead of them. While you can replace a heat exchanger, unless the system is currently under warranty, the cost and the time required often makes complete replacement of the furnace a better economic option.
In addition, newer systems often have significant improvements in efficiency, meaning you will end up with lower energy bills every month, something every home can appreciate.
Making a Decision That Will Last Years
When we discussed what we found with the homeowners, they agreed that we should replace both the heating and air conditioning. The homeowners chose a York air conditioning system and a York LX gas furnace, with 96% efficiency! This was a big upgrade from their old system and will deliver the comfort they want throughout their home, while using much less energy and lowering those monthly bills!
Replacing both the heating and air conditioning took around 2.5 days, but the results will keep the homeowners comfortable for years. And by keeping the system regularly maintained, this investment will serve them well for a long time to come!
Heating And AC In Brevard, NC
The homeowners were really happy to have the cooling they needed, and will be even happier when their energy bills come in- lower every month compared to their old system. And that’s something that every homeowner can appreciate- more comfort with smaller bills!
If your AC or heater aren’t working like they have been, or if you notice an increase in your monthly energy bills, give us a call here at Blue Ridge Heating and Air! We’ll do a complete evaluation of your system and make sure you won’t be left out in the cold.
