The middle of summer is just about the worst possible time to have your heat pump break down on you. Unfortunately, no amount of care and maintenance can keep a heat pump functioning forever. Sooner or later, there absolutely will be a time when you need to replace your heat pump. You need to be able to tell when your heat pump is getting to the end of its lifespan, so that you can have a new one installed before the current one permanently breaks down. If your heat pump can’t get you through another summer, consider replacing it now. Have a look at the following signs that you need a new heat pump.
Constantly Rising Monthly Operating Bills
There’s a difference between monthly heat pump operating costs that are higher due to increased usage and those that seem to be higher than usual for no reason. If your heat pump is costing more to operate from month to month than it should be, it might mean that the system needs to be replaced. Heat pumps that are close to the end of their lifespans have more wear and tear than other systems. This wear and tear will eventually start to decrease the efficiency of the heat pump, forcing it to operate for longer periods of time in order to compensate. Longer operating times mean higher monthly costs.
Repair Issues
There’s no need to worry if you have to repair your heat pump once every few years. That’s pretty normal. What is not normal at all, though, is having to repair your heat pump multiple times a year. Just like the issue above, a heat pump that has been around for a while has a lot of wear on it. Eventually, the various parts of the heat pump will begin to fail in groups by simply wearing out. This is what often causes older heat pumps to need repairs multiple times a year. If you need to repair your heat pump that often, it’s definitely worth it to just replace the entire system. If you think about it, all you’re doing by sticking with the one you have is replacing it one part at a time, anyway. That’s hardly cost-effective, in the long run.
Older Than 15 Years
A heat pump will last between 10 and 15 years, under ideal circumstances. Past that point, the system will start to develop all kinds of issues like those listed above. The longer you try to maintain an old heat pump past the age of 15, the more money you will end up having to spend on its upkeep. If your heat pump is older than 15 years, it’s in your best interests to consult with a professional about whether or not you should replace your system. You’ll probably save a lot more money in the long run by installing a new system now, than waiting for it to break down permanently.
Touchstone Heating & Air Inc. provides a full range of heat pump installation services throughout Macclenny, FL. If you need heat pump installation services of any kind, contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our experts.