This is possibly the most common question we are asked, and several factors can persuade the decision either way. Some of the things to consider are the age of the equipment, the repair history of the system, the reliability of the manufacturer and what refrigerant your system uses.

Answers: As your system approaches that 12 year mark be cautious about repairs especially if it has to do with adding refrigerant or leaks. If your system has been well maintained and does not have a history of adding refrigerant by all means, consider repairs less than $750. Some manufacturers have better track records than others, there are certain brands that make me roll my eyes when I walk up on them because I know the outcome.

The big one, if your system uses R-22 the old refrigerant and its leaking it is a liability and the lifespan of the unit is past its typical lifespan. The current cost for a 25lb cylinder of R-22 is $1650.

Our industry is going through constant efficiency changes due to the EPA and multi national agreements that address climate change. Every new benchmark that is agreed upon ends up costing you the customer money, there are new refrigerants being manufactured that are less harmful to the ozone that manufacturers must adopt their equipment to work with.

There are only about 8 mainstream manufacturers left, there may be thirty brand names, but those are just decals. I have had experience with every one of them, 10 years of repairing, getting tech support, filing warranties, dealing with defects, holding manufacturers accountable and holding home owners accountable.

What you should look for: A very good, well trained responsive HVAC company, remember what I said there are only 8 manufacturers, yes equipment is important, I love both my AMANA brand and TRANE brands, but they each fill different needs for me and the consumer, Trane has a long history of dependable, innovative equipment and it has a reputation and a name that people want to pay for.

Many factors go into determining the size of the system. Including the type of house and walls, type and size of windows, insulation, basement and attic conditions, house orientation, and so on. A comfort consultant must visit the house and take detailed measurements. With these measurements, the comfort consultant can perform a performance load calculation in order to assure proper system size. A system that is too large will cool or heat your house quickly, but you may not feel comfortable. That’s because it will satisfy the thermostat before it can adequately remove sufficient moisture from the air during the cooling mode, leaving you feeling sticky and humid. This could even lead to moisture and mold problems. And, the stress of short-cycling (too many starts and stops) will shorten the life of your equipment and increase your heating and cooling bills. On the other hand, a system that is too small just cannot get the job done, especially in extreme weather conditions. The air conditioner will constantly run in the summer and the furnace will do the same in winter. But a correctly sized system isn’t just based on the size of the structure.

Maintenance is generally scheduled to maintain peak efficiency, help keep utility bills lower, extend the life of your HVAC system, and avert failures. HVAC system(s) are usually installed where they normally are not seen, such as in a section of the basement, a closet, on rooftops, behind/side the of the house, or in mechanical rooms, making them easy to ignore but without proper air flow these systems can fail prematurely. The systems are simply taken for granted, until they fail. Decreased efficiency, utility overpayment, discomfort, loss of productivity, premature replacement, and higher repair costs are the result.