Your HVAC unit works hard throughout the year to keep you and your family comfortable in your New Jersey home. Because it is a mechanical system, it won’t last forever. As it gets older, sometimes all you may need is a simple repair along with regular maintenance to keep it working correctly. But eventually, your HVAC system will become less efficient and may not fully meet your needs anymore, so you begin considering replacement.
If possible, you’ll want to replace your central HVAC unit before it suffers a major breakdown. Scrambling to replace a non-working system during the coldest days of the winter or an East Coast heatwave with high humidity is far from ideal. Typically, the best time to schedule replacement and installation with First Choice Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning is in the spring or fall before extreme hot or cold temperatures are a daily occurrence. These are known as collar times in the HVAC industry and can provide homeowners with several advantages when not dealing with an emergency situation.
How To Tell if Your HVAC Needs Replacement
Fortunately, your system will begin giving you telltale signs that you need to swap it out for a new one. The first one is age. If your HVAC system is more than 10 years old, start looking for various signs, especially with the system’s heating side. With regular preventive maintenance, many HVAC systems can last 20 years, and some may even go beyond that. However, today’s systems are much more energy-efficient, so you’ll begin to see utility savings immediately.
In addition to age, look for these other signs telling you that your HVAC system requires replacement:
- Blowing warm air in summer, cool air in winter
- Weak airflow
- Loud, unusual noises
- Excessive humidity
- Leaks
- Foul odors
- Increasing repairs
- Rising energy bills
Heating or cooling problems also indicate a need for a system upgrade, especially if some rooms are too hot or cold. Before you begin your purchase, please check that you have proper insulation and the ducts are in good condition. If both are fine, you may also want to consider adding zoning to your home to improve indoor comfort further.
If you have an older unit, it may also use outdated technology such as R-22 refrigerant, commonly known as Freon. Newer units use R-410A or Puron, which absorbs and releases heat more effectively. This refrigerant provides other benefits, too, allowing the cooling side of the system to function at a higher pressure. Newer systems can better withstand cracking and other stresses and can control dust, humidity, mold and various allergens.
Why Spring and Fall Are the Best Times for Replacement
Scheduling the installation of a new HVAC system offers several advantages, some of which are obvious. Others may surprise you. Consider the following if you are not in an emergency situation.
You’ll Be More Comfortable During the Process
Several factors affect the length of time our installation technicians will take to replace your old HVAC unit. If the job is a simple change out, meaning all the necessary equipment is already in place from your old unit, the work can take as little as one day, which will get your home back running with efficient AC service.
However, installation can take three to five days to complete if you need ductwork replaced, require rewiring of a thermostat or have other issues. The size of your home also makes a difference. Typically, the larger the house, the larger the unit and the longer removal of the old system and installation of the new one will take. That is a good rule of thumb to remember if you are considering AC replacement.
Every New Jersey home has several weeks in the spring or fall when the occupants use neither the furnace nor the air conditioner. Imagine going through an installation during the hottest days of summer or the coldest days of winter. You’ll be much more comfortable with an installation at times when your system doesn’t require operation.
You Can Schedule Prompt Service
During peak service times, which coincide with the hottest and coldest days of the year, you may have to wait several weeks before we can schedule your installation, as these are the times of year when our technicians work the hardest to repair and replace systems. This means you’ll have to wait in line behind other customers who already have scheduled installations. On the other hand, we’re much less busy during mild spring and fall weather, translating to a shorter wait time.
More Time to Consider Your Options
You’ll have more time to consider your options when not pressured into an immediate purchase because of a breakdown. When shopping for a new HVAC unit, First Choice Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning will perform Manual J calculations on your home to determine an appropriately sized unit. These calculations take into account not only square footage but also other factors, such as the number of windows and doors, southern and western exposure, microclimate, and the like, to come up with recommendations. Once we make those calculations, we will recommend various units in different price ranges. You can take your time to go over the features of each unit to see which one best fits your needs and budget.
Your New System Will Be Less Expensive
You probably didn’t think of this one, but the slow season brings deals from many of the major manufacturers in the form of sales, rebates and more. These deals usually aren’t available during peak times. You may be able to save 10% and maybe even more. That’s a significant amount when you consider the average price of a new HVAC system is $8,000. Planning in advance will also allow you to search for financing at the best possible rate for your purchase.
Look to First Choice Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning for All Your Indoor Comfort Needs
First Choice Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning also provides 24/7 emergency services for plumbing, heating and air conditioning because emergencies never happen at a convenient time. We’ll do our best to get to your home as soon as possible to get your life back on track. Contact our office today to schedule an HVAC installation, consultation, or any other services.
