Heating and Cooling Units: Know Whether to Repair or Replace Yours

If your heating and cooling system is having issues, you may be wondering whether you should fix it or just replace it altogether. HVAC equipment is often expensive when you get it new, but some repairs are equally costly, leaving you wondering what is best for your home. Consider some of the points to think about when deciding whether to fix it or replace it entirely.

Your mind has probably already started to wonder about cost. This is what many people consider first, and as well they should since you could be facing an expense of thousands of dollars either way. Clearly, if a repair will cost only a couple hundred bucks, and a new system would cost thousands, the answer is quite clear. However, sometimes a repair is nearly as much as a new unit, which can complicate matters.

At this point, when considering costs does not help your decision, you have to think about the likelihood that the machine will last much longer without additional repairs. There is no point paying a lot for repairs when something else may break quite soon, requiring you to end up spending more trying to fix the problem than you would buying a new system. You should think about the age of the heating and cooling unit, as one that is older and just starting to need more attention may be better off with a replacement. On the other hand, if it is just a few years old, it should have several more years left if you just get the repair it needs.

You should also take into account how much you like the system. Of course, few homeowners think much of their heaters or air conditioning units. However, if your heating and cooling costs always seem to be lower than your friends' expenses, then you should consider keeping your equipment since it is helping you save money. On the other hand, if it has always been loud when running, and it never seems to run efficiently based on your bills, you should probably start over with a newer, more energy efficient item.

In addition, it is helpful to think about how long you will stay in your house. If you are already considering upgrading to a bigger house in a couple of years, repairs are probably best just to tide you over until you move. Of course, you may have to lower the price of the home when you sell it anyway, if the heating and cooling units are broken and need major repair or even replacement. This may be fine if you do not have the money now for a replacement, and if you do not mind taking a small loss on the sale price in the future, so consider this option if this is the case.

To help make your decision, you should collect price quotes for the repair you need, as well as the cost of a replacement. Then consider the other factors if the price does not help you decide.