Nobody thinks about heat pump repair and installation until it’s too late. After all, there are a lot of things that can go wrong with a heat pump system, like the age of your heat pump, how efficient your heat pump is, and if your heat pump is worth repairing. So how do you know when to throw in the towel and upgrade or when should you stick in there and keep fighting? There are a few things to consider, like the age of the heat pump, the extent of the damage, the energy efficiency levels, and the freon it uses, just to name a few. When we complete heat pump repair and installation, we give you all the facts to ensure you make the proper decision for your home. There’s nothing worse than spending money on costly repairs just to have to replace something shortly after. We pride ourselves on our integrity and always putting our customers first.
Should I Repair Or Replace My Heat Pump? We get this question a lot, but there are many variables that can help determine whether you should repair or replace your heat pump. Let’s start with age.
When your system is less than 5 years, it is most likely under a manufacture parts warranty, so there’s no need to replace it unless it has sustained significant damage.
When it’s less than 10 years, it is usually worth fighting to keep the system going. There are two exceptions, both of which we will go into further detail below. If your system requires major repair or your system is still a Freon (R22) system, you should replace your system. Simply put, if you have a R22 and a medium or greater repair, many parts for R22 systems are no longer available and an appropriate repair for your system may not even be possible.
The average life span for properly installed and maintained heat pumps in this area is 12-15 years. As experts of more than 20 years, we’ve seen anything from entry-level equipment, poorly installed last less than a year to lightly used but well-maintained heat pumps in use for up to 30 years. If your system is over 10 years old, it’s worth looking into a repair. Simply having a heat pump estimate can help you budget for the replacement. We would recommend a replacement for any system with a major repair and most systems with medium repairs.
If you’ve made it over 15 years, consider yourself lucky. You have outlived the average life expectancy! At this point, it is worth seriously considering replacement even with a minor repair. We will also strongly recommend a full system replacement on any medium and major repairs.
Minor repairs on heat pumps include components and repairs that will typically cost less than $500 to complete. These include capacitors, contactors, and wiring among other repairs. Unless the system is R22 or over 15 years old these repairs are usually worth having done. However, it is possible that once these repairs are done other larger repairs may be found. Most of the larger components will not function if these parts break. This is why we recommend not doing these smaller repairs on much older equipment. Many times, we have completed minor repairs only to find a major repair was required.
Medium repairs on heat pumps include components and repairs that typically run from $500 up to $1500 or more to complete. These can include motors, control boards, heating elements, and valves among other repairs. If your heat pump is less than 10 years old it is usually worth having done.
With major heat pump repairs, consider this, there are only three major components in a heat pump. These repairs can run from $1500 to $3000 or more. The three components that comprise major repairs are the indoor evaporator coil, the outdoor condenser coil, and the compressor. If any of these three components fail outside of the system’s warranty it is recommended to replace the entire system. The failure of any one of these three components can cost up to half of what it would cost to replace the entire system.
SEER is a relative number the represents how efficient a system can be. The higher the number, the more efficient the system. Much like gas mileage in a car, this number represents how efficient a system can be under ideal circumstances. Improper use and maintenance can and will lower efficiency.
10 years ago it was normal for 10 SEER systems to be installed. Most of these systems are no longer running good as new. Currently, the minimum system that can be installed in our area is a 14 SEER. Upgrading from an older 10 SEER to a new 14+ SEER can give you serious savings in electricity.
Why replace your system if you are going to sell it? We get asked this question a lot.
A lot of home buyers and realtors are very savvy these days. If the house has a dated heat pump or a heat pump in need of repairs, they will either ask that the system be replaced before sale or credit be given towards the purchase of a new system. Therefore, if you are thinking of selling your house in the next 5 years and your system is at least 10 years old, you should consider updating your system. We have never heard of a situation where a well-maintained system under 5 years was asked to be replaced by a buyer. On the other hand, it is very common to hear requests for systems over 10 years old to be replaced before sale. Instead of dealing with aging equipment for the next few years only to have to replace at the time of sale, replace it now and enjoy the energy savings. Some warranties will even transfer to the new owner. Contact us for more information on heat pump repair and installation.