Summer may seem pretty far off, but the weather will start to warm up before you know it. Right around this time of year, when spring is getting into swing and summer is on the horizon, a lot of people start to look into getting their heating systems ready for the hot months. For a lot of people, that means scheduling preventive maintenance. For others, though, that may not be enough to ensure that the system is in good enough condition to serve them properly. If you’re wondering whether or not your heat pump can keep you cool through another summer, there are a couple of things that you should take a look at.
Efficiency
The older a heat pump system gets, the more it will naturally wear out from years of use. At first, this wear and tear on the system will not cause any noticeable negative effects. As the system nears the end of its lifespan, though, the amount of output that it can produce will drop. The heat pump will have to operate for longer periods of time as it becomes less and less effective, resulting in a rise in your monthly bills. If you notice your bills going up from month to month, even if you’re not using your heat pump any more than you normally do, it might be time to replace the system.
Repair Issues
Heat pumps occasionally break down and need repairs, just like pretty much every other system. A repair or two every handful of years is not a big deal. What is a big deal, though, is if you need to repair the system multiple times a year. That’s often a warning sign that the system is worn down to the point that various parts of it are beginning to crack under the strain. This may indicate that the system is very close to breaking down entirely, and when it does it likely won’t be worth repairing. You should replace it now, before the issue gets any worse.
Old Age
The average heat pump lasts around 15 years before it needs to be replaced. If you’re really determined, you can keep a system running for a few years past that point. Doing so would require paying quite a bit more in terms of costs, though, not to mention the added frustration of increased problems with the system. If your heat pump is past the age of 15, it’s probably much better for you in the long run to just replace it. You’re going to have to replace it part-by-part anyway if you don’t do it all at once right now. Have a professional check out your system, just to make sure that you’d be better served by replacing it than by repairing it.
Sunset Air provides heat pump replacement services throughout Olympia, WA. If you need help with your heat pump system, contact us today to schedule an appointment. We’ll make sure that you have a reliable heat pump to keep you cool this summer.
