Summer is the time of year when air conditioners and heat pumps are most likely to develop problems, due to the added strain put on them. It’s also when heat pumps are most likely to break down, especially if they’re older. If your heat pump is too worn down to get you through another summer, you should replace it now. Otherwise, you run the risk of having your system break down on you in the middle of the hottest season of the year. Have a look at three common indications that you should install a new heat pump, before we get too deep into the summer season.
Unusually High Monthly Bills
You should be monitoring your monthly operating costs for your heat pump, just to make sure that everything is being charged properly. You should be especially concerned, however, if your heat pump seems to be costing significantly more to operate per month than it normally does. As a heat pump ages, it will begin to lose efficiency as its various parts wear down. This dropping efficiency will eventually reach the point where the system has to operate for longer and longer periods of time in order to compensate. This will drive up the cost of operating the system.Incessant Breakdowns
It’s typically not a big deal if you need to repair your heat pump once every few years or so. Things happen, and sometimes you need a professional to handle whatever issues your heat pump is having. If you need to have your system repaired multiple times a year, though, you should definitely talk to a professional about replacing it. A heat pump that’s been in use for long enough has likely accumulated so much wear and tear that parts of it have begun to fail in groups. This leads to frequent breakdowns in the system, which compounds the cost of upkeep. It’s better to replace a heat pump that’s doing this, rather than spend quite a bit of money replacing one part at a time.Old Age
Sometimes, you don’t need to look any further for an explanation of heat pump failure than simple old age. A heat pump tends to last around 10-15 years under ideal conditions. Once it gets beyond that point, the system begins to steadily accumulate issues that add to its operating cost. You can try to keep your heat pump up and running beyond 15 years of age. In the vast majority of cases, though, a heat pump will rapidly become too costly to be worth keeping after it reaches that point. If your heat pump is older than 15, consult with a professional about whether or not it’s a good idea to replace it.Magnolia Plumbing, Heating & Cooling offers a full range of heat pump replacement services throughout Fairfax, VA. If you need a new heat pump installed in your home, contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our experts. We’ll make sure that you get the perfect heat pump for your needs this summer.