Heat Pump Replacement vs. Heat Pump Repair – A Time for Each

One of the most difficult decisions to make as a consumer is when to have an item you own repaired, and when to simply have it replaced. This can be a tough call with many of the things you own, and that includes a heat pump. It is often possible to repair a faulty heat pump, but is that the right way to spend your money? Let’s take a closer look at the debate between repair and replacement when it comes to your heat pump.

Think Big Picture

In the moment, it is hard to have a healthy perspective on this tricky decision. You are probably a bit annoyed that you have to deal with heat pump problems in the first place, so you might rush to make a decision just to get it over with. Needless to say, that’s not a good plan. This is a decision that will have a relatively big impact on your overall financial life, so it’s not a good idea to rush. Instead, think about the big picture and take a bit of time to make an informed, confident decision that is the best option for your circumstances.

Age is a Factor

One of the first things you should think about when trying to decide between repair and replacement is the age of the unit. If you have been running an old heat pump which has finally broken down, it’s probably going to be best to replace it with a new unit. After all, even if the repairs can be completed successfully, there is a good chance that something else will break down in the near future. You could find yourself stuck in a cycle of one repair after the next, spending far more money than you would have spent to simply start from scratch.

Declining Efficiency

Another factor to consider is the efficiency of your existing heat pump. As the unit ages, it is inevitably going to operate at a less-efficient level than it did when it was new. In addition, the new units on the market today are far more efficient than those from years gone by – even if those units were still running at full capacity. It probably won’t be worth replacing a functioning unit just to gain the efficiency of a new one, but keep the efficiency gains in mind when you run into trouble and need to decide between repairing and replacing.

Keep Up with Maintenance

To stay away from costly repairs for as long as possible, one of the best things you can do is to keep up with the maintenance that your heat pump requires. Even a small amount of preventative maintenance can go a long way toward keeping your unit running strong for months and years to come.

In many cases, the cost of a repair will simply be too high, and the right choice will be to opt for a replacement. That is not the case in all instances, however, so be sure get an estimate for the repairs and ask an HVAC professional for a qualified opinion on the decision.