Purchasing HVAC appliances is not an easy decision especially the bigger ones like Furnace, Air Conditioner and Heat Pump. It takes bucks to spend and it is only after that, that you can bring a new unit home. With the thought to hefty investments, homeowners often wonder if they should rather repair the unit and not replace it. While this decision may be correct at some times, it is not so always. And the reason is; dragging a faulty unit that keeps on seeking frequent repairs only makes bad impacts on your budget. This is why some honest HVAC professionals sometimes endorse replacement over repair emphasizing the cost-saving that this offers in the long run. Below we discuss when replacement of your system is better than having it repaired but before that check out this formula.

Professionals say; in order to calculate whether to go for repair or not, make the multiplication this way; the age of Air Conditioner * First-time repair fee. If the sum exceeds $5000, try no more repairs on the same system and rather replace it. Otherwise, you are good to go to call a repair tech.

5 factors to decide for an Air Conditioner Replacement

How many years?

Sow what is the age of your unit? Units which are over ten years start to cause frequent repairs and also have lost significantly on efficiency. So if your system has crossed 10 years and a serious repair need has recently arisen, choose replacement!

Look out for noise and dust

Systems older than 10 years become noisier and dustier. With time, you must want to increase your comfort level and not decrease it. So instead of compromising with noise, debris and still very little comfort, make some good money out and get a quote for a quieter and comforting unit.

Check for consistency

An inconsistent unit means it is not doing enough to dehumidify the space and as a result causing the production of mold and mildew. If this is the case with you, and the Air Conditioner, in addition to being old, noisy and costly is also not doing enough to dehumidify, consider a replacement to an upgraded model.

Leaky Freon?

Getting a fix for a leaky Freon and its refilling costs at least $500 including labor cost and this may become more expensive depending on the cost of Freon. So with such a scenario, instead of having a refill and leak fix, after which, the system will still remain that old system, consider an in-time replacement.

Bloating Bills

HVAC systems as they get older, start to cause a rise in energy bills and the graph only raises with time. So if the system is old, noisy, inconsistent, leaky and after all that, causing hike in monthly energy bills, any wise would replace instead of repairing.

So what are your plan? Are you using a decade-old Air Conditioning system and are still confused between repair and replacement? Try out that calculation formula given above, consider the factors mentioned here and there you go; the best decision has been taken.

A sudden shutting off of an Air Conditioner in the middle of summer can lead to a whole lot of discomfort provided that summer is the season when an HVAC specialist is also not easily available and any serious issue means a long wait for quotes and visit from the technician. The frozen evaporator coil is one common issue that takes place in summers and most homeowners, even though they can solve it, don't know how to do it. Although we highly endorse seeking professional help but truth be told, professional help is not always needed and also there is time when you can't wait for professional help to come. So the best way is to learn some DIY techniques.

Here you go! If the evaporator coil is found covered with ice, here are the steps which you are supposed to perform.

1. First thing first, Turn Off!

The first thing to do is to shut the system off and that too completely. Turn the AC off from the Thermostat. Doing so is important for the next steps and it also ensures that further damage does not take place.

2. Thaw the ice with the system's fan

The next step to follow is to run the "fan-only" mode and let the fan run for some time. It will take air through the evaporator coil and the air will help thaw the ice build-up.

3. Check the blower for debris

The blower fails to push warm air towards the coil if it is filled with dust and debris. The third step, therefore, is to check if the blower is clean. Blowers are a little complex and need to be cleaned by professionals but as said earlier, you may fail to find urgent help so DIY would be the only option. In order to ensure no blunder is made, thoroughly watch some youtube tutorials on how to DIY clean the blower. Follow as directed and you are good to go. 

When it comes to purchasing an HVAC system, homeowners often have been overwhelmed with the great number of choices. Every HVAC system is designed to provide maximum indoor comfort year round. Before setting the mind on any system, homeowners must be aware of all its ins and outs.

In case you want to buy the HVAC system for a new property or to replace a unit in the existing property – Our in-depth guide will help you out to make a better purchasing decision. Let’s have a glimpse at some of the significant types of the HVAC system. 

One reason why HVAC professionals emphasize on tune-up is that this reduces the possibilities of repairs. Unmaintained appliances have to go for frequent repairs. In addition to increasing repairing frequency, the efficiency level drops significantly and the energy bills rise as well. So as a result, you have to pay more for insignificant comfort. When it comes to Air Conditioner, a spring tune-up can actually save you from 3 most common AC repairs that homeowners have to go through frequently in Summer.

- Damaged evaporator coil

The evaporator coil damage can result in preventing the refrigerant from cooling the air or can result in freezing the coil. This one damage becomes the core reason for damaging other components as well. With a spring Air Conditioner tune-up, a professional technician can inspect such damages in the evaporator coil saving you from hefty repairs later in the middle of the summer.

- Leaking condensate line

During a tune-up, a technician also inspects the condensate line to make sure there's no blockage or leakage in the line. While this might seem an unimportant inspection, this saves from very hefty repairs that result as the leakage from condensate line damages the attic, cabinets, kitchen and other parts. Once a tune-up takes place in Spring, such damage is fixed in time.

- Electrical Components 

As the unit remains unused for long, the electrical components are often damaged by insects or animals. If the damage is not massive, the unit may work as it is turned on but will soon become problematic. Getting a spring tune-up ensures safety for the unit and your family as well. The most common types of HVAC accidents include fire because of damaged electrical components. 

- Emergency Breakdowns 

Above all other benefits is the benefit of protection from a sudden breakdown. In the middle of summer, as the unit fails, it becomes difficult to deal with the failure provided that the technicians are not available and the services become expensive. A Spring tune-up let's a professional see the possibilities of breakdown and he can identify them well in time.

Why should you avoid unprofessional tune-up if you have a new unit

If you have a new unit and it is still on warranty, abstain from performing DIY tune-up or taking service from an unprofessional technician. Doing so will keep the appliance at risk while will also cancel the warranty.
And if your unit is old, it is even more important to avoid DIY or unprofessional tune-up as it will deteriorate the efficiency even more. Also, since you shall not be able to inspect possible threats, the possibilities of breakdown and repairs will still remain there.

If you are living in Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Barrie, London, Etobicoke or anywhere else in the GTA, we are here to serve you for your Air Conditioner tune-up needs. With over 15 years of experience, we serve homes and homeowners with the best of the best HVAC services.
Call today: 1-855-245-4328

While many people out there would try to convince you to call a professional for every single HVAC repair and maintenance need, we won't. Because, the truth is, there are several issues that you can fix on your own and that too very easily. All that is needed is proper knowledge and proper precautions and there you go! \