Imagine never worrying about maintenance or replacement of your electronics, car or home — it sure would be great. Unfortunately, we know that’s not the case. Many items we own need to be maintained and eventually replaced. You probably replace your smartphone every two years and your car every five to 10 years, but your home’s heating and cooling system will last 17 to 20 years. For many homeowners, they only purchase one new system in their lifetime.
Every HVAC system won’t last 20 years on its own. Here are several contributing factors you need to know.
- Location
Living in Iowa, your air conditioner and furnace each only work three to six months of the year. Lower operating hours mean a longer life expectancy. Compare that to homes in the Southwestern United States that require air conditioning for more months of the year or northern states that require more heating throughout the year. - Maintenance
We recommend one yearly tune-up for your air conditioner and one for your furnace. Lack of maintenance can take years off the life expectancy. Plus, the system could lose up to 40 percent efficiency, which means you’ll be paying more in energy bills. - Proper use
It’s tempting to set the thermostat to 68 degrees on those sweltering summer days or 76 on those wicked winter nights. Unfortunately, setting it to the extreme is overworking the system, which will reduce its useful life. Also, if you turn your system on and off frequently, the engine is being overworked. On average, the unit runs 10 minutes before reaching peak efficiency. - Right-sized
For years it was common practice to install a bigger unit than what was needed in homes. Now, HVAC professionals can find a unit that is right-sized to your home’s needs. If the unit is not properly sized, it’s most likely working too hard or too inefficiently, which can take time off its useful life.
Learn more: Effects of HVAC Equipment Price Hikes on Services
Here are two important reasons you need to know the life expectancy of your air conditioning unit.
- Avoid health risks
Continuing to use a system past its useful life runs the risk of a carbon monoxide leak. The odorless, colorless and tasteless gas can be deadly if not quickly detected. - Avoid a breakdown
You may be thinking — if it’s not broke, why replace it? Knowing your system is at the end of its life can help you avoid an unexpected complete breakdown. Emergency replacements can be inconvenient to schedule and difficult to pay for (if you haven’t been saving up) and could leave your family without cooling or heating when Mother Nature is at her worst.
Learn more: Bell Brothers Installs Hybrid HVAC System for Waukee Homeowners
Updated: October 11, 2021
What to Expect During Your Home's HVAC System Installation
Deciding to purchase a new heating and/or air conditioning system for your home is a big deal. Most likely you haven’t purchased one before and are entering into unknown territory. To help prepare you for this purchase, below is a guide to what you can expect during your new HVAC system installation.
Selecting the Right AC and Heating Contractor
Do your homework and research local hvac companies. Find out what products they sell and services they offer — but most importantly, find out their reputation. Ask your friends and neighbors for recommendations. Keep in mind — your new hvac system is only as good as the company that installed it.
Quote Expectations to Keep in Mind
There are many variables that affect which system is best for your home. In order to give you the most accurate pricing, the company will ask to visit your home. A home evaluation should take one to two hours and includes checking the ductwork and testing for the proper size of system. This ensures they provide the best recommendations based on your home’s needs. You’ll receive options for equipment and accessories as well as financing options.
HVAC Quote Red Flags
You should not do business with the company if the professional:
- Does not ask any questions and immediately tells you a new system is necessary
- Uses high-pressure sales tactics or won’t leave your home without a purchase
- Does not provide proposals for multiple options
Scheduling the HVAC System Installation
After selecting a system, it’s time to schedule the installation. It typically takes one day to install both a new furnace and air conditioning system. You do not need to be home during the installation, but some homeowners feel more comfortable doing so.
Don’t Worry About a Mess
Professional installation specialists will be respectful of your home. From wearing shoe covers to covering your floors to cleaning up after themselves, there should be virtually no evidence the installation ever took place (besides the noticeable difference in comfort and a lower utility bill). They will also dispose of your old equipment in accordance with EPA regulations. A reputable HVAC company will be bonded, insured and licensed to protect you from any accidental damages during the HVAC system installation.
Understanding How the New HVAC System Works
A quality installation specialist will make sure you understand how the system works before they leave your home. This includes discussing how to replace the furnace filter and how to operate the thermostat. Ask the technician if they will fill out and submit warranty and rebate forms or if you are responsible.
Heating and Cooling Company Follow Up
A few days after the installation, the company should follow up with you to ensure the system is running properly and that you understand all the warranties. This is also the time Bell Brothers will schedule your free annual maintenance appointment, which all homeowners receive when purchasing a new furnace or air conditioning system. You can also schedule your HVAC system installation at a later time.
Allergy season is my least favorite time of the year. I dread late summer when I know I’ll come down with a case of red, itchy, burning eyes. I have a feeling many of you know exactly what I’m talking about. Did you know it’s estimated that over 50 percent of homes have at least six detectable allergens present inside? While there’s not much we can do to rid the outdoor air of pollen and allergens, we can make our homes a safe haven.
The easiest step to take is to keep your windows closed. This will reduce the amount of allergens invading your house. Unfortunately, there’s another way allergens get into our homes: us. We don’t stay in our homes 24/7. We go to work, school, the store, the homes of family and friends, wherever. When we get back home, the allergens follow us right inside on our clothes, shoes and hair. So it is important to make sure to keep a clean house — vacuum the carpet, dust surfaces and wash bed sheets to remove the allergens we bring in.
The next step is upgrading to high-efficiency furnace filters. These filters grab and trap more allergens and dust than standard filters. This is an affordable option for people looking for cleaner air in their home.
Finally, to really gain significant relief from allergens in your home, we recommend investing in a home air cleaner. We offer the Dynamic Air Cleaner, which works with your current heating and cooling system. It is easily installed using the existing filter tracks. Once in place, it forms an electronic polarized-filter field. Airborne particles pass through the field and adhere to the filter. The Dynamic Air Cleaner removes an impressive 97 percent of particles. It removes odors, airborne pathogens, pollen and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
It’s important to note that the filter and Dynamic Air Cleaner will not provide any benefits if your air conditioning system is not running. There are two misconceptions out there about running your blower continuously: 1) it costs more and 2) the blower motor will wear out faster. This is just not the case because 1) the electricity usage spikes to start the motor, then drops down to almost nothing while it runs and 2) the motor has highest potential for failure when starting and that’s when the wear and tear takes place.
Homeowners who have made the investment in the Dynamic Air Cleaner tell me it’s made a huge difference. Regardless of the financial level you are willing and able to invest, implement one or more of these easy steps to reduce allergens in your home, and relieve yourself of those red, itchy, burning eyes and all those other terrible allergy symptoms.