Repair or Replace

While there are many variables in any particular home or building, the main decision points regarding the repair or replacement of your air conditioning and heating system are not difficult concepts.

One of the most direct points to consider regarding the replacement of your HVAC system is simply its age. Do you have a system that is more than 10 years old? Even if it still runs dependably, you still might be better off with a new one. The physical life of HVAC equipment, similar to personal computers, can often be longer than its economic life. If they have been well maintained, the air conditioning components can last up to about 20 years and the gas furnace even up to 25, but issues of economic obsolescence apply. Plus, older heat exchangers are more likely to develop cracks or rust holes that could cause carbon monoxide gas to enter your indoor space. In some municipal conservation and incentive programs, we found around the country, 10 years was the age at which systems become eligible for replacement incentives, whether they run well or not. When weighing the costs and benefits of repairing or replacing older equipment with more efficient HVAC equipment, keep the following points in mind. (1) Fuel costs tend to go up more than down over the long run, and (2) The monthly savings continue after you reach the break-even or payback period on the new equipment.