A heat pump is a cooling and heating system wrapped up in one neat package and a great way to cool and heat your home. Heat pumps are durable and reliable, with most having a lifespan of around 15 years if they’re properly taken care of. If you own your own home, you know to look out for signs that your heat pump needs to be repaired, but how do you tell that the heat pump needs to be replaced instead? In this article, you’ll find a few signs that replacing your heat pump is the best option over having it repaired yet again.
Your home is hard to keep comfortable.
If you’ve noticed that your heat pump struggles to keep your home warm or that some spots are muggy while others are chilly, then it might be time to call in a technician to check your thermostat and your heat pump. The technician can then tell you if the heat pump is worth fixing or if you need to replace it and be done with it.
For example, if you’re no longer working outside the house and are instead starting a business at home, then you’re in a prime position to see if your heat pump is indeed keeping your home comfortable. While you’re creating a business plan, brainstorming a new business idea, and setting up your home office, keep an eye and an ear out for problems with your heat pump at the same time.
If in the middle of a brilliant business idea, you have to keep jumping up to check the thermostat because you’re freezing, then you might want to put calling a technician to inspect your heat pump on your list of things to do. After all, no small business entrepreneur wants to freeze in the winter or burn up in the summer because his heat pump is on the fritz and making his home office uncomfortable to work in.
Your unit is 15 years or older.
According to the experts at Energy.gov, if your heat pump is fifteen years or older, and in some cases, 10 years or older, then it’s time to have the unit replaced. These experts estimate that you could save up to 20% on your cooling and heating costs by replacing the heat pump with a new one. If your unit is 15 years or older, it’s time for a technician to check the heat pump and determine if you’re in the market for a new one to properly cool and heat your home.
Your energy bills are higher than expected.
Nowhere in your business plan did you prepare for your small business being operated from home to skyrocket your energy bills. Sure, you’re spending more time in your home office, so your heat pump is running more than it did when you had a brick and mortar job, but before you fire your virtual assistant to save money, check out your heat pump instead. Start with checking your thermostat, and then move onto checking your coils and changing out your air filter. If these things don’t fix the airflow, then it’s time to call in an HVAC technician to inspect the heat pump and probably replace it as well. Sometimes, heat pump repair isn’t feasible, and replacement is your best option.
You’ve neglected your heat pump for too many years.
Even the best heat pump will wear out if you don’t have it maintained the way you should over the years. Ensure that you have a reputable HVAC service come out and inspect your heat pump regularly.
These are just a few of the signs that you need to have your heat pump replaced, not repaired. If you want to be comfortable in your home, replacing your heat pump might be your best option.
