Homeowner's guide
Replacing your HVAC system? Read this first.
A new system is one of the biggest checks you'll write for your home. Here's how to tell when it's time, who to hire, and how to keep the system you have running well.
Is it time to replace?
- Age. Most systems last 12 to 15 years. Past that, expect more repairs.
- Repairs keep coming. Two or more service calls a year is a pattern, not bad luck.
- Bills creep up with no change in how you use the house.
- Uneven comfort. Rooms that never get comfortable, or a system that runs constantly.
A simple rule for repair or replace: multiply the system's age by the repair cost. Over about $5,000, replacing usually makes more sense. Example: a 13-year-old system with a $450 repair (13 × 450 = $5,850).
Who you hire matters: local owner or investor-owned?
Private equity firms and large corporations have bought many local HVAC companies, often keeping the old name and trucks. Homeowners report what often follows: higher prices, commission-paid salespeople, and pressure to buy the top system.
How to check who owns a company
- Just ask: "Is the company locally owned? Who owns it?"
- Read the About page for words like "a member of the ___ family of brands."
- Look at recent reviews for "new ownership" or "prices went way up."
The safest move: get two or three quotes, including at least one from a locally owned company.
Checking a quote
Make sure every quote lists the exact model numbers of the equipment and includes an AHRI certificate, which confirms the indoor and outdoor units are a matched system and shows its real efficiency rating. It also lets you compare quotes apples to apples.
Seasonal tips to keep your system running
Small habits that prevent most breakdowns and keep bills down.
Change your filter
Check it monthly and replace it every 1 to 3 months. A clogged filter is the most common cause of high bills and frozen coils.
Get ready for cooling
Clear leaves and grass from around the outdoor unit (2 feet on all sides), rinse the coil gently with a hose, and test cooling before the first hot day.
Keep the drain clear
If water collects near the indoor unit, the condensate line may be clogged. A cup of white vinegar down the line every few months helps keep it clear.
Get ready for heating
Run the heat for a few minutes before the first cold night. A dusty smell for a short time is normal; a burning smell that lingers is not.
Don't panic at frost
Heat pumps frost up in cold, damp weather and run a defrost cycle on their own. Solid ice that doesn't clear in a few hours needs a technician.
Set it and leave it
Big thermostat swings make systems work harder. Pick a comfortable setting and adjust a few degrees when you're away or asleep.
When to call someone
Grinding or screeching, breakers that keep tripping, a gas smell (leave the house and call the gas company first), or a unit that runs nonstop without reaching temperature.
Write down the basics
Take a photo of the label on your indoor and outdoor units. The model and serial numbers tell a contractor the size and age before they ever visit.
This guide is general information, not professional advice for your home. Prices, programs and rules change; confirm details with a licensed contractor and your utility.