The heat pump is your home’s cooling and heating system. A heat pump can change the refrigerant flow in the system to keep your home comfortable, either to cool or heat your home. Below are a few signs to look for when deciding to repair or replace the heat pump in your Gardendale, AL, area home.
How Long Do Heat Pumps Last?
Just as with other appliances, your heat pump becomes less efficient as it becomes older. It also requires more and more repairs, increasing in frequency as it ages. It’s possible to continue to repair your heating and cooling system, but there comes a point when it’s wise to invest in a new heat pump than continuing to repair an older one.
Heat pumps last an average of 15 years and can last longer with proper regular maintenance. The closer to the average and the further you get past the average is when you should start thinking about replacing it.
Your Heat Pump Needs Frequent Repairs
Even though a well-maintained heat pump lasts longer and works better than one that hasn’t received regular maintenance, if it needs frequent repairs, then it’s time to replace it. Over time, your heating and cooling system sustains wear and tear that usually takes time off the length of its service life. Minor repairs serve to keep your system going longer, but if you need major work done to keep it going, it may make more sense financially to replace it entirely.
Problems With Humidity
The EPA states that humidity levels within the home should be between 30% and 50%. Keeping humidity levels within this range during the spring and summer months is one of the keys to staying comfortable within your home.
One of the signs that your heat pump isn’t working properly is extra moisture and condensation within the home. If there’s too much humidity within the home, it aggravates asthma, allergies and other health conditions. It also causes foggy windows, rots the wood within your home and creates an environment that allows bacterial growth to thrive, impacting your indoor air quality.
High or low humidity levels within the home aren’t always a sign you need to replace your heating and cooling system though. Sometimes it’s a question of maintenance, or you might need to add a humidifier, dehumidifier or ventilator to your home. If none of the actions to mitigate the humidity issues within your home work, then replacing it may be the answer.
Unequal Heating or Cooling
While hot or cold spots in the home may be a sign you need to replace your heat pump, it’s not always the case. Check that all of the vents are open throughout your home, and make sure they’re not blocked by furniture, curtains or other items. There’s no point in spending money to replace a it when there’s a readily simple fix.
If everything is as it should be and the heat pump fails to keep your home comfortable, then call us to schedule an appointment for maintenance. One of our technicians can then make the determination whether it needs to be replaced.
Energy Bill Spikes
Another sign that it’s time to replace your heat pump is if it’s increasing the amount of energy it takes to keep everyone comfortable. When your heating and cooling system needs maintenance, it becomes increasingly inefficient.
When your system becomes inefficient, it draws more power in an attempt to provide the same level of comfort. If you call a professional technician to provide maintenance to your HVAC system and your utility bills stay higher or start to climb, then it may be time to replace it.
Extra Noise From Your Heat Pump
You want your home to be as comfortable as possible, and that includes the noise levels within your home. You can expect some noise when your HVAC system runs, but excessive noise when you’re relaxing or trying to sleep isn’t something you want nor is it part of its normal operation.
Don’t let your heating and cooling system fail to keep you uncomfortable in you own home. Contact One Source Heating & Cooling today for our heat pump repair and installation specialists in the Gardendale area.
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