When Is the Best Time to Replace Your Heating or Cooling System?
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Many homeowners wait until their home heating or cooling system has permanently broken down before considering replacement. They figure they may as well get the most out of their system while they still can, and that by doing so, they’re saving money.
That’s not necessarily true, and it’s often better to replace a system while it’s still running rather than waiting for a catastrophic breakdown.
First, many systems break down when they’re under the most stress—the coldest and hottest days of the year—which means you may lose your system when you need it most. This can lead to higher installation costs since a new unit isn’t usually something that can be ordered and replaced on the same day. As a result, you’ll likely end up paying for expedited service, rush delivery, and after-hours labor rates.
Secondly, you’ll be competing with all the other homeowners in the same predicament to get on the schedule at times when HVAC companies are extremely busy, which means you almost always experience a lag time between a free estimate and an installation date.
Why pay a higher rate for an avoidable emergency situation when you can plan your installation, avoid catastrophic breakdown, and lower your overall costs?
If you are waiting for your home heating or cooling system to die, you will want to keep the following four factors in mind when getting ready to purchase:
1: The right size: Just like Goldilocks’ bed, you don’t want a unit that’s too small or too big, but rather one that’s just right. Too large a system will cost you more to operate than it should, while too small a system will struggle to keep up with your needs, and ultimately break down sooner than it should.
2: Check your ductwork: Duct leakage, even in new homes, ranges from 20% to 40% according to the Department of Energy. That means that 20 to 40 cents of every dollar you spend on heating or cooling leaks out of your home. Our highly-trained technicians can inspect your home comfort system to make sure it’s sealed up tight, and can offer a cutting-edge solution called Aeroseal Duct Sealing to repair duct leakage.
3: Reputable Contractors: It’s helpful to read online reviews from places such as Google, or get a personal referral from a friend or family member, when choosing an HVAC contractor. Most HVAC companies aren’t out to swindle anyone, but there are dishonest contractors out there. Beware of too-good-to-be-true prices as well, because the price often goes up with add-ons once the project has begun. Referrals and online reputation will help you avoid shoddy workmanship that costs you more money in the long run in the form of higher energy costs and shortened equipment lifespan.
4: Be Efficient: A new heating or cooling system should last you 12 to 20 years, but be sure to choose a system with the best energy usage possible. Even a small reduction in efficiency by as little as 10%, will add up to a lot of money over 20 years.
So, when is the best time to buy a new system? The answer you may not want to hear is: while it’s still working.
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I thought Derek was polite. Courteous knew what he was doing. Got my furnace fixed in one day. I was very appreciative and because of his service I will now only use you guys going forward. He’s a great technician.
I'm always impressed when a service provider takes the time to educate me about the product I bought. Eddie explained the protocols for maintaining my mini-splits
, provided me with the knowledge that he brought to the inspection and showed me how to improve the longevity of the product. In the process he convinced me to extend my service.
Good job -
Eric, our Sanford tech, did wonderful as always. maintaining our beast of a heating system takes skill. He is prompt and kind gets the maintenance taken care of quickly. He doesn’t mind the annoying dogs or the beam that you have to duck under going up and down stairs.
They check in the day before coming and Eric texts when on the way. He is always on time. We have been very happy with the work and the professionalism.
This was my first time using Sanford. Derek was amazing. He diagnosed the problem quickly, showed me the problem, and then quoted me a price which was very reasonable. He had the part on the truck and had the problem fixed within a half hour. From the person I made the appointment with, Irish, to the dispatcher I spoke with for an estimated time of arrival, to Derek, my experience was nothing but positive. I had such a great experience that I will always use Sanford for my heating, cooling, and plumbing needs. Highly recommended!
After Sanford did such an impressive job installing our new Bosch furnace last winter, it was a no brainer as to who we wanted to add a central air conditioner to our house.
They gave us two options and we chose to go with a heat pump. Jason and his team did an incredible job installing the system in just a single day. The quality of their workmanship is second to none and he couldn’t be a nicer person to work with.
Another great job by Sanford !
We had Brian B come to our home to conduct a follow up visit to evaluate our Carrier AC that was installed in February. Just like the three-man crew who did the installation, Brian B did an outstanding job of making sure that everything was working just fine. He answered all our questions and made sure we were confident that our AC would be working fine this summer. Great job.
Extremely happy with the service I received. Mike did an excellent job of servicing my HVAC system. He was very efficient, knowledgeable and took the time to answer all my questions. Also, the office personnel were very helpful and responsive to all my requests and questions regarding scheduling and pricing. I will be using them again and would highly recommend Mike.
Excellent service. Arrived on time. Asked me questions to diagnose any possible issues. Explained several things I did not know about my system.
Eric was very pleasant & thoroughly cleaned & diagnosed my system. Every Sanford employee with whom I have had dealings has been pleasant, attentive, and professional. A friend recommended Sanford to me & I recommend them to you as well. I have been very happy with my equipment & service & know I can contact them anytime with questions & concerns & they will respond in a timely manner. Thank you Eric!
Our tech was great! He was respectful of the space (and rolled with the chaos of small kiddos running around like goons), knowledgeable, and efficient. We’ve used Sanford for years and will continue to do so.
Kyle G. from Sanford was awesome and super respectful. They installed furnace and AC system. He explained everything without being condescending, helped set up the wireless system, checked it and his team cleaned up everything after the job. My standards are pretty high and Kyle not only met them, he exceeded them. Thank you.
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