As part of my portfolio career focused on helping other business owners to succeed in business and life, I also work part-time as a Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) advisor for one of the largest commercial and residential HVAC equipment service providers and distributors in Upstate New York.

A common question from clients that pops up from time to time is “When is it time to replace my HVAC equipment?”

There are certain red flags and telltale signs you’ll want to look for when you think it’s time to have a professional check out your HVAC system.

1. Age of your HVAC equipment

If your heat pump or air conditioner is more than 10+ years old, then you’ll want to look into today’s HVAC technology to see what kind of advances in ENERGY STAR technology and other efficiencies are available now to help you justify the cost of investing in a new HVAC system, such as a furnace, geothermal energy, or a ductless mini split system.

When installed correctly, a high-efficiency, ENERGY STAR-rated HVAC product can save you up to 20% or more on your heating and air conditioning bills.

Also, if your furnace or boiler are more than 15+ years old, you’ll want to consider replacing with an ENERGY STAR furnace or boiler. A newer, ENERGY STAR-rated furnace can be 15% or more efficient than a conventional model, while ENERGY STAR-rated boilers can be 5% or more efficient than non-ENERGY STAR-rated boilers.

2. Frequent repairs and increasing bills

As HVAC equipment like furnaces and boilers age, their intricate parts and finely-tuned and lubricated systems gradually begin to wear out and lose their efficiency.

This can translate into increasing costs to maintain the same level of comfort you and your family has grown accustomed to while living in your house or working in your commercial property.

3. Uneven temperatures in various rooms

Having a room that’s too warm or too chilly can stem from a variety of HVAC equipment issues.

Issues like improperly operating HVAC equipment, problems in the ductwork, and inadequate insulation may be the root cause of these temperature problems within the same structure.

A house or commercial building may also experience humidity problems due to poor equipment operation or a possible leak in the ductwork. This leads to air being either too dry in the wintertime, or too humid in the summertime, or both.

4. It’s excessively dusty

In addition to causing humidity problems, a leak in your ductwork can attract particles and air from your attic, crawl space, and basements. These particles are then distributed throughout the property.

What’s the solution?

Ditching the ductwork and switching to a ductless mini split system.

The sooner you make this switch, the happier and healthier you’ll be thanks to cleaner, less dusty air you and your loved ones are breathing in on a daily basis.

5. Noisy heating or cooling systems

These can be caused from a litany of potential reasons, from ghosts to undersized ductwork to issues with your cooling equipment’s indoor coil. Your best bet is to contact your local HVAC equipment service provider.

If you’re in Upstate New York, then make Holbrook Heating and Air Conditioning your one and only call for all your commercial and residential HVAC equipment needs.