Should I repair or replace old equipment?
Three main factors to consider are:

Life Expectancy of Current System

When you're frustrated with an equipment break-down, it can be tempting to find the least expensive "quick fix" to get on with your life in relative comfort.  That "quick fix" may be the least expensive now, but it may not give you the most value-or cost you the least-in the long run.

Paying for repairs to an old or inefficient system often simply prolongs the inevitable. It's almost like putting a bandage on a serious injury.   An older system that breaks down once is likely to break down again…and again. That means more emergency service calls or, worse yet, the risk of damage to your home or to other components of your heating and cooling system.

Operating Cost

There's also an ongoing cost factor to consider.  Restoring your old system will only bring it back to its current level of energy efficiency.  After you've recovered from the repair bills and the frustration of system breakdowns, you still won't save on your energy bills.

Even six-year -old heat pumps and air conditioners are considered grossly inefficient by today's energy efficiency standards.   So you could save up to 60% on your energy bills with new high-efficiency equipment. That's why installing a new heating and cooling system can actually pay for itself in energy savings within a relatively short time.

Looking at the Big Picture

When one component of your system breaks down unexpectedly, it's easy to just focus on repairing or replacing that component. But each part of your system works with the others to boost efficiency and reliability, so it helps to keep the big picture in mind.

Replacing your old system with a new higher-efficiency model but leaving your old mechanical thermostat in place, for example, won't allow you to enjoy all the efficiency advantages the new system has to offer.  Plus, you can often save on installation costs if you have several components of your system replaced at the same time.

What do all those ratings mean?

Its easy to feel overwhelmed by the array of efficiency ratings, abbreviations and acronyms used to describe or explain heat pumps and air conditioners! We'll tell you what they all mean and how you can use the knowledge gained to make a more informed choice on your comfort needs.

 

Efficiency Ratings

SEER- Seasonal Energy Efficient Ratio.  This is a system for rating the efficiency of cooling equipment.  It is calculated by dividing the cooling capacity of a continuously operating air conditioner by the electric power input.  The higher the SEER, the less you unit will cost to operate.

 

HSPF- Heating Seasonal Performance Factor, This measurement is similar to SEER, but it measures the efficiency of the heating portion of your heat pump.  Like the SEER, HSPF industry minimums have risen in recent years.  The current industry minimum is 6.80 HSPF.

  

Sound Ratings

In recent years, HVAC equipment has not only gotten more energy efficient, it has gotten quieter.  Although sound does not effect the efficiency of a unit, it can certainly affect your comfort.  If your unit has a low sound level, (you and your neighbors) will hardly notice when it is operating.

 db- Decibel.  A term to describe the relative loudness of a sound.  Typically, heat pumps and air conditioner are between the sound of a human voice(70 db) and a blender(88 db).

 

SRN- Sound Rating Number.  A unit based on ARI tests.   Average sound rating range from 74 to 80 db.  The lower the SRN rating, the quieter the unit.

 

General Industry Terms

HVAC- Heating, ventilating and air conditioning.  This term applies both to the heating and cooling industry and to the products they manufacture.

 

ARI- Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute.  A non-profit, voluntary organization comprised of HVAC manufacturers.  ARI publishes standards for testing and rating heat pumps and air conditioners and ensures a level of quality within the industry.

 

DOE- The Department of Energy.  This is the federal agency that sets the HVAC industry efficiency standards.