Believe it or not, HVAC age is a major factor when assessing energy offenses in the home. Think about it, even if your heating and ventilation gear is still keeping you warm in the winter and cool on those hot, sweltering summer days, its aging innards are probably stealing your hard-earned money right out of your pocket. To stop this outright thievery, you need to date your system. That’s still not quite enough, though. With its age written down, now you need to know whether it’s older than dirt, in which case its future as an economic member of your household appliance ecosystem might be nearing an end, although professionally contracted maintenance will extend its lifespan.
Checking the HVAC’s Age
If you can find the nameplate on your air conditioning system, then you’ll locate a manufacturer’s date with little effort. That’s all very good, but why are you taking precious time out of your day? Well, let’s put it this way, HVAC age is one of those appliance attributes that can invisibly impact your day. Even if the equipment’s performance isn’t stuttering wildly, it’s working harder to keep up with your thermostat settings. That’s a simple enough situation to follow. More work equals more energy, which translates to much more consumed electrical power.
Back with the unit age, it’ll either be on that manufacturer nameplate, which will likely be on the outside section of the HVAC unit, assuming you own a split system. A utility room or attic might also contain the equipment. Take note, the date you’re looking for is sometimes concealed inside the gear’s serial number, which, again, is found on the nameplate. We’d recommend talking to an air conditioning professional if this is an issue. Alternatively, serial number codes can often be located on a manufacturer’s website.
Is my HVAC Equipment too old?
So, you’ve found the nameplate and got the age of the system firmly in hand. So far, so good, but now you don’t know whether the system is entering its prime or about ready to enter its golden years, right? Generally speaking, according to most seasoned HVAC technicians, anything over ten years old is regarded as aging. A warranty check at this point is probably a good idea, too, so do keep your appliance paperwork handy. There’s a good chance this warranty will cover 12 years of service, but that’s certainly not a written-in-stone figure, so scan the details of your warranty with care.
If your nameplate look-see indicates an HVAC age of 15 years or older, a major system overhaul is likely. Put bluntly, you’ll want to consider an equipment replacement if you want to keep your heating and cooling gear cost-effective. Do remember that this equipment is responsible for something like 40% of your total utility bills. If it’s aging and overworking its ancient inner workings, that figure will climb significantly higher.
Avoid high Energy Bills and Dust and Humidity Problems!
Let’s say you own a high-quality brand. Your HVAC age is entering double figures, and it’s still performing well. Unfortunately, machines don’t always behave so predictably. For every unit that works economically at age 15, the next identically branded and equipped system might age prematurely and enter a downward spiraling energy-chomping period that’ll go undiscovered until you receive your next utility bill. Consider an HVAC checkup as soon as the equipment enters its 10th year. This way, you’ll avoid nasty surprises and keep your utility savings high.
By the way, energy savings are the first issue to come to mind, but there are others. For one thing, catastrophic system failures, the kind that somehow tends to happen during the hottest or coldest days of the year, become more possible as your HVAC equipment ages. For another, dust and humidity problems will inevitably grow if the aging equipment is left to deteriorate.
Considering all of the above, call us for an appointment if your heating and ventilation gear is entering its senior years. We’ll do our very best to maintain the system through its dotage. And, should the elderly equipment start impacting your utility bills, we stand ready to efficiently and affordably replace the entire unit. Call us today for your quote.
See also:
HVAC Preventive Maintenance Tips for Fall 2021: A Complete HVAC Guide (florida-academy.edu)