Heat pumps are the ideal choice for Florida’s climate. While a heat pump is more expensive than a traditional AC unit, you still save money by not needing a separate heating system. The only real concern is that heat pumps usually don’t last as long as traditional HVAC units due to them having to run throughout most of the year. The one thing you don’t want to do is wait too long to replace an aging heat pump and have it suddenly fail, leaving you with no way to cool or heat your house. The best way to avoid this from happening is to know the signs that it’s time to schedule a replacement.
Heat Pump Is 15 or More Years Old
In Florida, most heat pumps only last for 10 to 15 years due to how hot and humid the weather is for much of the year. Some units end up working effectively for 20 years or more, but it’s fairly rare in our climate. After about 15 years, the chances of a heat pump just suddenly dying in the middle of the summer greatly increase.
One concern with waiting too long to replace your heat pump and having it suddenly die is that you’ll then often need to pay extra for an emergency replacement. If you do run into this situation, you may not have as many options and be forced to install whatever is readily available instead of being able to choose a more efficient, higher-end model.
Even if your heat pump is 15 years old, there’s always the chance that it could have a few years of life left. However, you should definitely have an older heat pump inspected at least twice a year by an experienced technician from a reputable HVAC company. The technician will be able to assess the condition of the heat pump and the evaporator coil and provide you with honest advice on whether the system may soon fail or if you can put off replacing it for a bit longer.
One other reason that we recommend replacing a 15-year-old heat pump is that the majority of units manufactured and installed before 2010 use R-22 refrigerant, more commonly known as Freon. The EPA banned the use of R-22 in 2010, and the production and import of it were then banned in 2020. It’s still possible for HVAC companies to get R-22 that was reclaimed from old systems. However, the available supply continues to dwindle, which has led to the price going through the roof. If you need to recharge a heat pump system with R-22, it will usually cost at least a few hundred dollars. It could even cost close to a thousand dollars, depending on how many pounds of refrigerant the system needs.
Frequent Repair Needs
Needing to pay for various repairs every year or so is a fairly good indication that your heat pump is starting to fail and could give out at any moment. The older a heat pump gets, the more likely it is to develop problems or have different components wear out. It may still be worth paying for a minor repair if it should help the heat pump last at least through the season. Nonetheless, there’s not much point in continuing to spend money on the unit if it’s just going to continue needing more and more repairs in the near future.
Compressor Failure
The compressor is the most important part of a heat pump system, and the system can’t work if the compressor fails. Compressors are fully sealed, meaning it’s not possible for a technician to repair one if it has any damage. A technician can replace a failed compressor, but paying to do so usually only makes sense if the heat pump is still under warranty due to how expensive it can be.
Most HVAC warranties only cover necessary replacement parts and not labor. Even if the replacement is covered under warranty, you’re often looking at spending around $1,000 or more in labor fees for the work. If the unit isn’t under warranty or the manufacturer won’t cover the cost of the replacement compressor, the repair bill can easily run to over $2,000-$3,000.
One issue to watch for is if your heat pump starts making a buzzing or humming sound. This type of noise can happen because of excessive vibration or a loose component. It can also be a sign that the start capacitor is worn out and needs to be replaced, which is a fairly easy and inexpensive fix. The much bigger concern is that buzzing or humming can indicate that the compressor has started to wear out and is at risk of failing. That’s why it’s important to immediately call for an inspection if you hear this type of sound or any other unusual noises.
Ineffective Cooling or Heating Performance
Regular heat pump maintenance is essential for avoiding issues that lead to a drop-off in heating or cooling performance, but even a well-maintained heat pump will eventually not be able to perform as well. In Florida, you may not see much of a decline in heating performance due to how mild our winter weather usually is. Cooling performance is an entirely different story.
Monitoring how long your heat pump typically runs for at a time and how it performs in overly hot, humid weather is an easy way to know if it’s still capable of working effectively. Increasingly long cooling cycles are a good sign that a heat pump is no longer up to snuff. The same is true if your heat pump struggles to maintain your desired temperature any time it’s overly hot and humid.
Ineffective cooling/heating can indicate that there’s a leak somewhere in the system and it’s low on refrigerant. It can also be a sign that the compressor is starting to fail and may soon give out.
Increasing Energy Bills
Older heat pumps also often have problems that prevent them from working as efficiently. If you’ve had your heat pump serviced and inspected regularly and your energy bills are continuing to increase from month to month and year to year, you can be certain that it no longer functions as efficiently as it was designed to. Your energy bills will also likely just continue increasing until you finally decide to install a replacement.
Installing a new heat pump is obviously expensive, but it’s still a worthwhile investment due to how much you’ll save on your electricity bills. Depending on how efficient the new unit is, you could easily save at least a few hundred dollars a year on your cooling costs alone. If you opt for a higher efficiency model, you could cut your cooling bills in half.
Sarasota’s Heat Pump Experts
At Reliance Air Services, we specialize in heat pump installation and replacement and have efficient options to meet the needs of any home. If you’re struggling to decide if now is a good time to replace your heat pump, you can turn to us for honest, unbiased advice. We provide a 100% satisfaction guarantee on our services, and we have financing options available for new heat pumps on approved credit.
To schedule an inspection and consultation with one of our heat pump experts, contact us today.
