Repairing or Replacing Existing Equipment

• If your system has been in your home more than 12 years, it's probably far less efficient than a newer system
• Musty or dry air is usually a sign of poor system operation
• The investment in a new system can be offset significantly by what you save in utility and maintenance costs

Older R-22 refrigerant has been phased out, which means its production has stopped and, as of 2020, it is no longer being imported. If your system uses R-22, you have a few options. The phase-out was timed to give you the opportunity to replace your system at your discretion. If you decide to keep your system for now, the most important thing you can do is have it regularly serviced. When it needs more refrigerant, you may be able to find recovered, recycled or reclaimed R-22, but it might be priced significantly higher than refrigerants used in newer systems. 

When you're ready to replace your R-22 system, there are many high-efficiency air conditioners that use newer, more sustainable refrigerants. You will likely see remarkable savings on your energy bills when you replace your system with a more energy-efficient one, too. 

Even if your older HVAC system seems to be operating okay, it may be hiding some deeper costs. Newer systems are designed to be much more efficient than older models, sometimes by as much as 50%. As energy prices rise, lower efficiency systems can raise your utility bills and add additional, hidden costs year after year. 

The higher efficiency of new systems can counter the rising energy costs of older systems, and the money you save on compounded years of energy bills can often  offset the cost of a new system considerably – especially when you take the inefficiency and repair costs related to older systems into account.