Indianapolis: Should You Replace Your Furnace and Air Conditioner at the Same Time?
Indianapolis Homeowners Ask: Should I Replace My Furnace and Air Conditioner at the Same Time?
Many Indianapolis homeowners with a broken furnace wonder whether they should replace the furnace and air conditioner at the same time. Part of the question depends on how your heating and air conditioning systems are set up. However, there are some consistent factors we’ll explore here:
1st Factor: Labor Cost
The biggest reason why Indianapolis area homeowners replace their furnace and air conditioner at the same time is labor cost. By replacing the furnace and A/C at the same time, you typically pay for one day of installation labor instead of two.
While a furnace or air conditioner alone may not require a full day’s labor, projects are typically priced for a full day. When you break the furnace and air conditioner into two separate days, you pay for the labor twice.
This typically means $1,000 – $2,000 in additional labor costs if you replace the systems separately.
2nd Factor: Age of Old Equipment
Age of furnace and A/C equipment is a huge factor whether it’s best to replace together. There’s no hard rule, but many HVAC contractors recommend replacing both if the working equipment is over ten years old.
Your HVAC contractor can tell you the age of your equipment. If you want to check independently, go to Building-Center.org. It has almost every furnace model and serial number nomenclature in an easy-to-use site.
Typically, furnaces and air conditioners (and heat pumps) have a minimum of a 5-year parts warranty. With proper registration during installation, the furnace and air conditioning system typically has a 10-year parts warranty. Daikin furnaces and air conditioners have a 12-year parts warranty when properly registered.
3rd Factor: Compatibility
When your furnace or air conditioner breaks down and requires replacement, you have several options. Efficiency and comfort features are two of the main concerns for both furnaces and air conditioners.
If you invest in a high-efficiency furnace, you’ll likely want to pair it with a compatible air conditioner to get the full benefit. Older air conditioners often aren’t equipped to work optimally with high-efficiency or variable speed furnaces. While you would still derive value from the furnace during the winter months, it creates limited benefits during the summer.
It is possible to replace the air conditioner at a later time with a compatible system, of course. Manufacturers like Daikin continually update their product lines, which can create compatibility challenges over time.
4th Factor: Time in Home
If you plan on moving from your home soon and face the question to replace your furnace and air conditioner at the same time, you’re not alone if you say no. The performance of the equipment is the primary factor in this decision. Home sellers with a working air conditioner commonly choose not to replace it when replacing their furnace.
In the context of a home sale, this is understandable. Selling a home is an expensive process. When an inspector evaluates everything from top to bottom, he likely finds things to repair or replace. Most homeowners choose to wait until a buyer requests a replacement air conditioner, resources to do so, or a home warranty.
Ready to Move Forward?
If, after reviewing the factors you believe it’s the right time to replace your furnace and air conditioner, we would love the opportunity to serve you. Many homeowners on the fence start the process with a free second opinion from one of our experienced technicians.
Our team will walk you through your options, answer your questions, and help you make the decision that’s right for your situation.
Regular preventative maintenance can help extend the life of your HVAC system. Learn more about our heating and air preventative maintenance agreement.
Call HomeSense at 317-203-8149 or submit an appointment request form today.
Posted in: Air Conditioning, Heating, HVAC Indianapolis, Specials, Discounts & Rebates
