NYACK - Indicators It is Time to Replace Your HVAC

When Water Is Bad, Bad, Not Good

Water is prevalent and life giving. Our bodies are 60% water; the earth is 71% water. But having water where it should not be is problematic as it can cause rust, mold, or malfunction.

Usually, air conditioned or heated spaces have closed windows so air quality matters. Mold should not be part of the ventilation inhaled by your family or work colleagues. No bueno.

Rust on your coils or vent not only signals external damage but also reduces efficiency. If your condenser coils lack their protective cover, they may not moderate the circulating refrigerant as well.

To summarize, mold injects unwanted agents into your environment while rust can diminish system performance.

Sunk Cost Fallacy

A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.

Within systems, failure in one component causes stress in other areas. Long-neglected deficiencies prompt far-reaching, system-wide failures. When multiple parts of a system are impacted, it is time to examine the entire environment. Avoid "throwing good money after bad" or masking a weak system with supplemental fans or space-heaters.

Sand or mineral deposits where they should not be?  Not good.

Replacing smaller items, such as a fan motor or circuit board is a prudent first step. Bigger components, such as an evaporator coil or compressor are often not worth fixing. To spend thousands to keep an old unit going - with no extended warranty - is ill-advised. Buying a new system, especially with a ten-year+ warranty, assures creature comforts while providing peace of mind.

When old parts become scarce or costly, you may be better off scrapping your old unit altogether. For example, in 2020, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) banned R-22 refrigerant in new units, causing prices to skyrocket. R-410A is more affordable and  environmentally friendly.

If 80 Degrees Is a Heavy Lift...

A typical thermostat setting is 72. If your system struggles to cool down an area in your home on a low 80-degree day, your system is not effective. What happens on a 90-degree day?

If your HVAC system:

• has weak air flow
• blows warm air
• clanks when it should not
• smells unusual
• leaks
• cycles on and off frequently
• cools or heats unevenly
• constantly breaks down
• generates higher and higher utility bills

It may be time to give up the ghost.

Find out the SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) of your HVAC unit. In 1992, the minimum SEER required for new units was 10. The minimum SEER was raised to 13 in 2006. As of 2024, there are mini-split systems with 42 SEER and heat pumps with 75 SEER.

Upgrading every decade or so often translates to quicker cooling or heating of space. Additionally, energy efficiency gains of 30%+ with each upgrade help homeowners recoup their acquisition costs through utility savings.

Externalities - Good & Bad

An externality is defined as "a side-effect or unintended consequence of an activity". For example, fossil fuels provide energy needed for machinery but also pollute. As a result, municipalities have an interest in reducing energy usage to improve the environment.

There are tax incentives or rebates to encourage property owners to embrace energy efficiency. Homeowners and office managers should take advantage of state or federal incentives while they are available.

Another side effect might occur when moving from one location to another. To minimize home-life disruptions, it might make sense to schedule multiple projects simultaneously prior to moving in. It might be wise to sequence home improvements accordingly, such as installing ductwork prior to an interior paint job. Also, changing insulation or adding an extension to your home might be a good inflection point to reevaluate your home's heating and cooling.

Nothing Lasts Forever - Including HVAC Systems

Making a good thing last forever is a reasonable goal. Realistically, nothing lasts forever.

• Mechanical systems wear down - even when maintained
• Neglected machinery breaks down sooner and worse than maintained units
• Technological advancements hasten obsolescence of older equipment
• Regulatory pronouncements change accepted societal practices
• Consumer demands fuel constat equipment innovations

Do you regularly check out the efficiency of new HVAC systems compared to your current solution? For most Nyack residents - heating, ventilation, air conditioning - is out of sight and out of mind.

The typical presumption is it works - until it does not. Avoid the crisis scramble. At that time, it will be more difficult to identify a technician to rectify your situation. Even if you have the good fortune of getting an urgent appointment, it may take time to research, order parts, and schedule your new installation.

Be proactive! Contact Thermodynamix to have one of our NATE certified technicians evaluate your system. We will perform any needed repair professionally or advise when to upgrade and to what system.

We have been serving homeowners in Nyack and throughout Rockland County for decades. Read any of our over 250 Google reviews to get a sense of our customer service and what it is like to work with us. Call us at 914-909-4108 to share your climate control objectives for your home.