October 23, 2015

Proper installation and regular maintenance can help extend the lifespan of your air conditioner or furnace. However, normal wear and tear is unavoidable.

In fact, the average lifespan of a furnace, if properly installed and maintained, could be around 20 years. On the other hand, with proper installation and maintenance, a heat pump can last for around 14 years, and an air conditioner for 16 years, according to a recent study conducted by American Home Comfort.

It is also important to consider that manufacturing companies nowadays upgrade their HVAC models at frequent intervals. This means that if your HVAC equipment is more than 10-15 years old, it may be using outdated technology. So it would be a good idea to replace your old air conditioner or furnace when it’s nearing the end of its lifespan.

Upgrade from an R-22 System to R-410A

If you are currently using old R-22 HVAC equipment, consider upgrading to a new R-410A system. The old ozone-depleting refrigerant not only lacks efficiency, but it has lately been identified as harmful for the environment. Manufacturing companies are gradually switching to R-410A from R-22. The price of R-410A models have come down considerably over the past few years, making it easily accessible and suitable for almost every budget.

Switch to a New HVAC System

New HVAC units are coming with advanced, high-tech features. So it would be a good idea to replace your older system with a new one. This will help make your indoor environment more comfortable and soothing. This does not mean that your old system was not efficient. However, new models that come with advanced, unique features could be more functional, thanks to the advancement of technology. For instance, some new models come with indoor air quality features that enable you to prevent or control indoor air contaminants, such as, allergens and volatile organic compounds. This helps you improve the indoor air quality and thus experience a more comfortable environment inside your home. Moreover, some new models are more energy-efficient, saving you hundreds of dollars on utility bills.

New Models Come with Noise Reduction Feature

If your air conditioner or furnace produces loud noise, you should call an expert technician to detect the problem. If it is a minor problem, your technician will be able to fix the issue quickly. However, if your HVAC unit is more than 10-15 years old, routine maintenance or repair may not suffice. It may be time to upgrade to a new model that comes with noise reduction feature.

New HVAC Systems Are More Efficient

Any recently manufactured air conditioner or furnace is likely to be more efficient than any older model, no matter how expensive it was at the time when you bought it. For instance, furnace manufacturers nowadays need to comply with the minimum requirement of 80 percent AFUE. In comparison, furnaces manufactured even a few years ago were originally rated at 60 percent to 70 percent AFUE. This means that just buying a new HVAC system would likely help you experience around 20 percent improvement inefficiency.

If the age-related efficiency loss is taken into account, the improvement could be even higher. Moreover, new systems require having a SEER rating of 13, compared to the earlier SEER rating requirement of 10.