According to federal government, homeowners should replace Air Conditioning and HVAC units that are more than ten years old. The reason behind this is that the appliances that come with the endorsement of “energy star” offers more long-term savings when compared to traditional or primitive units. Some estimates record that replacing a decade older A/C unit will save you around 20% energy bills annually.

In this article we will go through certain questions. Your answer to those questions will determine whether you need to replace your HVAC units or they are able to run for a year or two with adequate maintenance.

So, here are the practical tips for air Conditioning replacement:

The Right Time for Replacement

If you are an internet person, you can easily find the guidelines by Energy Star that will show you when and why your A/C units need a revamping.

But if you want to look for yourself, there are many signs that you can observe in your older units that will clearly indicate your unit is not ageing well. When you are sure of those signs, it is time to call the professionals for help.

• If the heat pump or the air conditioner itself is more than a decade older, you should replace it with the one that has earned the endorsement of “Energy Star”. As mentioned earlier, it will save you a lot of money and sweat.

What About the Furnace?

Furnaces can survive a couple of years more than their cooler counterparts. But that does not mean they can go on for perpetuity. If the installed at your home is more than fifteen years old, it has to go and you need to have one with energy efficient stamp. Some estimates show that it is more than 15% more efficient than the traditional furnace.

When the visits by repair companies’ guys are becoming more frequent, it is time to step back and consider about the structural and technical integrity of the hardware installed in your house. Buying a new efficient unit can be more economical when compared to the repairing costs of the older one.

It is also important to note if there is a boom in the electricity bills. It is because you can easily cut off this expense by installing new and efficient air conditioners and furnaces.

There are instances where support systems like air ducts and insulation do not perform well. This also contributes in the malfunctioning or under-performance of the air conditioners. Also, you need to check if the installation is adequate and according to the directives by the manufacturers.

A programmable thermostat can save you a lot of money. It has functions like remote access and smart solutions, such as tuning off the air conditioner when no one is in the house. If you already have such program, use it to get reduction in your monthly electricity bills and improve the health of your hardware.

Malfunctioning auxiliary systems can also cause the air to be too dry during the long spells of the winter and too humid during the summer. In the presence of leaks and fissures, the problems become more acute.

A checklist for a quick look:

• The air conditioner is more than a decade older and is less-efficient when compared to modern energy-saving units.
• Frequent repair expenses and soaring energy bills are stacking up gradually.
• There is noise and struggle in your air conditioning units.
• You are running low on the score points by Energy Star.

Look for Energy Efficiency

It is important for consumers to be aware of the methods that will help them getting the best hardware in the market. For example, there is a scale called SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficient Ratio). It is an indicator that assists customers in determining the best from the best by giving a number on energy efficiency of a particular unit and its operating cost. The higher the number, the better it is. So, always look around for high-SEER units.

In a nutshell, you can make your life comfortable and save your bank account from breaking by going for:

• Periodical air conditioning maintenance
• Replacement of older units with durable trusted brands

Reasons for Replacing Air Conditioning Units

If you are in the market for a new air conditioning unit, it is important to know who recommended it. Is it because during the recent service visit, the technician asked you to get a new one because this one would not cut it or that it has become dangerous?

It is best to step back and take a look at the situation. If your system is not more than ten years older, there is no point it needs an urgent replacement because a technician says so. There are not many instances in which a system had to be replaced all of a sudden. You need to get a second opinion to make a more educated, balanced decision about going for a new one.

Contrary to this, if you need a newer air HVAC unit because the older one is making a lot of trouble lately in both finance and performance areas, it is a good reason to shop for a brand-new efficient unit.

A Note on Manufacturers

Unlike other consumer items where there is a difference between manufacturer and dealer, HVAC dealers are mostly the manufacturers. To make this easier for you to understand, keep in mind that there are only six major manufacturers in the US. Funnily, they operate under more than 150 names with a variety of products and services.

Following is the list of some of the brands that are from same manufacturers with almost identical components but with different labels, logos, and marketing:

• Lennox, Armstrong and Concord
• Trane and American Standard
• Carrier, Payne, Bryant and Terpstra
• York, Lux and Coleman
• Goodman and Amana

When it comes to the makers of the bells and whistles that go into the units of these companies, they are even less.

All of the manufacturers are conglomerates with several divisions and contractors to do the work. There are countless quality assurance programs in place that ensures that no substandard equipment is made.

So, if you need to replace the unit but you are on a fence on which manufacturer would be the best, it is not hard to pick the winner.

In the real world, it all boils down to small and more trivial things, such as fractional differences between the claimed efficiency levels, size of supporting instruments like touch-screen, and the placement of manual controls. At the end of the day, they are not much to think over. As stated earlier, it is a personal choice.

Installation of New Air Conditioning Unit

Getting the air conditioning replacement&best contractor for installation is as important as buying a great unit from a respectable manufacturer. Unfortunately, no matte how futuristic and efficient they are claimed, they do not snap and become one as soon as you open the packaging.

So, before hiring an installer and entrusting him with the job, it is prudent to run a background check on him. It is extremely helpful to you make out about the man before he sets foot in your house.

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