Signs You Should Replace Your HVAC System

If you’re like most homeowners today, you probably don’t think about your HVAC system until there’s a problem you can see, hear, or smell. It’s not the best approach to take because you should keep an eye on your system even when it’s working perfectly! If your HVAC is starting to show signs of age, it might be time to replace it altogether. It’s something for you to consider as your system starts to get up there in years.

The signs you should replace your HVAC system are listed below. Read through each carefully. If you suspect they’re the issue you’re experiencing with your furnace or air conditioner, it’s time to take action. The right service provider can resolve your issue in record time and restore comfort to your home and its occupants.

Your Energy Bill Keeps Increasing

There is no other explanation for why your home energy bill keeps rising. You’ve contacted the utility company, and they’ve verified that the increase isn’t on their end. It’s time for you to call a professional to schedule an inspection of your HVAC system. Something isn’t right, and until you find out what’s causing the energy bill to skyrocket, you’ll continue to pay for a less efficient home. Once you’ve had a chance to identify the issue, you can make plans to repair or replace the parts giving you trouble.

Finding ways to stay cool or warm without depending heavily on your HVAC system takes creativity. The following suggestions provide you with ideas that will get you by until the next visit from an HVAC service tech.

Here are some ideas you can implement right away:

• Dress in layers when the temperatures drop. You can take off a layer if you get too warm and still be comfortable. Investing in thicker materials such as wool ensures that you’re nice and cozy even when your furnace isn’t working optimally.
• Wear sleeveless shirts and shorts during the hottest days of the year. You’ll have fewer barriers keeping your skin from breathing. You’ll sweat more, so drinking plenty of water is imperative until you have the AC repaired.
• Locate drafty areas in the home, such as gaps in window and doorframes. Fill in the cracks and crevices, so no air escapes after it’s been heated or cooled. You’ll regulate the temperatures indoors much easier when you don’t have forces working against you.
• Visually inspect the vents and grates in your home to see if they’re opened or closed. If they’re closed, airflow is restricted. You can keep it from being a problem for you by physically inspecting the various areas of the home where vents and grates are present and opening them if they’re closed.
• Invest in better insulation. Forming a barrier between your home and the outdoors helps keep the air you’ve heated and cooled from escaping. When a well-insulated home, it helps keep the utility company from charging you astronomical sums for its services.

In addition to rising home energy bills, HVAC systems often give you physical signs that you need to have them replaced. One of the most notable is the way the machines operate. Although most problems are internal, there may be indicators that you see, hear or smell pointing out an issue with the system.

Strange Noises are Coming from Your HVAC System

If something doesn’t sound right, it’s an indication that there’s something wrong with your HVAC system. You’re no expert, so you can’t diagnose the issue yourself. That’s why it pays to hire a professional to do the work for you. By allowing someone with more knowledge about the subject to inspect and fix the problem that’s causing all the noise, you restore order to your home after a brief bout of chaos.

The Air Quality is Poor

When the air indoors isn’t clean, you’ll notice. It’s harder to breathe, and dust becomes more challenging to control. The filter may be one problem causing the HVAC system to fail. It may not be entirely responsible for the decline in air quality, though. Having a company do a proper inspection of the house is imperative. It alerts you to pollutants and allergens that you may not have known were a problem for your residence before that day.

Your HVAC System is Dated

The average air conditioner has a lifespan of ten years. Anything older than that will likely need replacing. If you notice that your HVAC system isn’t working well and it’s approaching the ten-year mark, it’s time to have a company look at it and recommend your next course of action. You may find it needs for you to replace it with a more energy-efficient model.

The Humidity Levels are Unbearable in the Home

The HVAC system should draw out excess moisture from the home. It can be a big issue for those living in the residence if it doesn’t. Mold and mildew grow quickly in damp conditions. If you don’t address the problem with haste, you’ll have a big mess to clean up in the meantime. Mold spores quickly cause the air quality inside the home to degrade.

Combatting high humidity is easy when you know what to do. Here are some tips for tackling excess moisture in the air indoors:

• Keep your gutters clean. Remove all organic debris from them so that water flows freely. You don’t want standing water to be the cause of your roof collapsing or pests entering the home because it’s so humid. Rodents and insects are drawn to dark, damp places. A clear gutter is a deterrent to pests which is a win-win for you.
• Limit the number of plants you keep inside your home. Although great for purifying the air indoors, too many release moisture into the air. It makes it far harder for you to keep the house cool and mold-free. Keeping plants in an outdoor greenhouse is a great way to grow and appreciate them. Having one or two that you keep inside won’t hurt things, but too many plants can make the home extremely humid and even moldy.
• Invest in a dehumidifier. Running it regularly helps pull out extra moisture from the air. It’s a small investment that gives you long-lasting favorable results. Humidifiers come in different sizes and styles. Some blend into your décor without standing out. You can easily choose the style you like best based on your preferred aesthetic.
• Keep showers shorter. Buy a shower timer or set the alarm on your phone to go off after a few minutes. It makes you mindful about how long you’re running the water and helps you conserve another valuable resource as frequently as you can. Five to seven minutes with lukewarm water is perfectly acceptable. It makes you think about how to keep your bathroom from getting too steamy and possibly moldy in the process.
• Repair broken windows and doors. You won’t let extra heat and humidity into the home that way. It’s important to do this so that cool air doesn’t escape once you turn the air conditioner on for the day. It may not seem like a big deal, but it is if you consider the financial burden of broken windows and doors. Picture tossing money out the window and door each time you exit the home.

Having too much humidity in the home is a recipe for disaster. It leads to rapid mold growth, which can cause breathing problems in people and pets. Protecting your household from airborne threats is imperative, especially if allergy sufferers are at home. Everyone breathes easier when there isn’t mold or other pollutants threatening the air quality indoors.

Your HVAC System Isn’t Keeping Temperatures Consistently

The rooms in your home are neither cool nor warm. Each room seems to have its temperature setting despite having a central control for the HVAC system. You’re encountering a problem due to improperly fitting ducts or even blocked grates. It may be an easy issue to uncover and fix.

If you’re experiencing inconsistent temperatures throughout the home or any of the other problems listed above, it’s time to take care of the issues once and for all. You’ll be grateful for the assistance that only a knowledgeable and skilled professional provides. Staying on top of all maintenance and repairs ensures that your HVAC system works well for the long haul. You’ll risk replacing it a lot less sooner if you’re willing and able to take care of it the way that you’re supposed to by having it cleaned, serviced, and repaired when necessary.

Contact Us with Your Request for a Tune-Up for Your HVAC System

If you’re experiencing any of these problems with your HVAC system, it might be time for a tune-up. Delaware Heating and Air can come out and take a look at your unit to see what’s causing the issues and make the necessary repairs. We offer affordable rates, so don’t put off getting your system fixed any longer than you already have to date. It can cause your system to quit prematurely.

Contact us today to schedule an appointment! We’ll take care of your request quickly so you can avoid feeling uncomfortable for long. It doesn’t matter how hot or cold it is outdoors because you’ll always be comfortable with a working HVAC system. We make sure of that!