When Is It Time to Replace Your Heat Pump?
Heat pumps are remarkable in that their expected lifespan can be as long as 20 years, if not more. That’s a whole two decades using the same system! Not only that, but they’re used throughout both the heating and cooling seasons—they don’t get a break for half of the year like a standard central AC or furnace would.
So, when the time finally does come for your heat pump to retire, it might catch you off guard. But don’t let it stop you—replacing your heat pump at the perfect time will help you save hundreds of dollars. Here’s how:
Improve Efficiency by Reevaluating Your Home’s HVAC Needs
When installing a heat pump for your home, one of the first things that a good HVAC technician will do is size it for your home. When we say “size,” what we really mean is to determine the required energy output that’s necessary to cool and heat your home sufficiently. Part of those calculations includes assessing your home’s ability to retain that air, otherwise known as your home efficiency.
If you’ve made significant changes to your home that affect efficiency—such as sealing air leaks, installing indoor air quality systems, or adding or removing rooms—then you can bet that your current heat pump may be over- or under-performing. Starting fresh with a new unit will help get this aspect of your efficiency back in line.
Spend Less on Unnecessary Repairs and Maintenance
When repairs and maintenance are truly needed, they’re far from “unnecessary.” However, even we can admit that there may be a time when Kent, WA HVAC services are no longer necessary for an aging heat pump.
Your heat pump is rated to operate to a certain standard of performance. As time goes on, it will gradually decline—until the necessary repairs or maintenance is applied. But when the heat pump is too old, that standard of performance will have dropped, and there’s no amount of repairs or maintenance that can raise it back up. Your heat pump will no longer be able to run at the efficiency it was once designed to achieve.
There’s also the matter of having to pay for the repairs and maintenance. There will come a time when you have to weigh the costs of repairs versus the cost of replacement and will find that replacement is the cheaper option.
Upgrading to a More Efficient Unit
With nearly 20 years having passed since buying your heat pump, you can rest assured that there will be plenty of new models on the market, complete with higher standards of efficiency, and maybe even better technology. Make sure to keep good records of your current heat pump’s performance so that, when researching a new unit, you’ll be able to purchase one that exceeds the last one in efficiency.
If your heat pump needs replacement—or if you’re thinking of switching to a brand-new heat pump system—you can contact Resicon LLC today for a free consultation.