Home & Garden
How To Know If It's Time to Replace Your HVAC Or Water Heater
Irregular cycles or poor performance can signal the need for a replacement. PSE&G's WorryFree Replacement Services can help.
HVAC and water heaters are big expenses for homeowners, so it's important to ensure they’re always operating at their best. It’s equally important to recognize when it’s time to replace those systems, and when that time comes, PSE&G NJ’s WorryFree Replacement Services makes the process easy. PSE&G’s licensed technicians can recommend and install a new HVAC and water heater — all for no money down, with flexible payment plan options.
How Weather Affects Your HVAC And Water Heating Systems
The cold of winter and the heat of summer do more than increase demand for heating and cooling. Changing weather conditions can cause strain on your water heater as cold weather cools down the water in pipes and fixtures — lowering hot water temperatures by as much as 10 degrees. This means your system must work harder to heat your hot water, causing strain that reduces your system’s lifespan and results in higher costs.
HVAC isn’t immune to the changing temperatures either. Cold weather leads to debris and dust accumulation, so the HVAC works harder to distribute warm air throughout the home, resulting in accelerated wear and tear. Extreme summer heat can have a similar impact, as the compressor must work extra hard to remove the heat from your home.
Follow These Tips for Maintaining Your Home’s HVAC And Water Heater
As with any home appliance, you’ll want to conduct regular maintenance to ensure your HVAC and water heater are working properly and keep your home at a comfortable, even temperature. Here’s how to help keep your HVAC running optimally:
- Regularly clean or replace air filters. Air filters are your HVAC’s best defense against allergens and debris. Neglecting to clean or replace filters can cause buildups that shorten the system’s lifespan and reduce air quality.
- Remove debris and blockages. Over time, vents can clog up with debris or blockages, decreasing your HVAC’s efficiency and leading to higher energy usage. Keep them clear to ensure proper airflow and cooling, maintain good indoor air quality and prevent any long-term system problems.
- Ensure your outdoor compressor is out of the sun. Direct sunlight can strain your outdoor compressor, forcing it to exert more effort to cool your home and leading to faster refrigerant evaporation. Place your compressor in the shade to prevent this extra strain and protect it from weather-related damage.
Help ensure your water heater is well-maintained by doing the following:
- Set your water heater to 130 degrees. Setting a water heater at too high of a temperature can weaken your system and be dangerous to your family. Keep your system set at 130 degrees to increase your water heater’s efficiency, avoid burns and reduce costly energy bills.
- Flush your system annually. Over time, water heaters accumulate sediment buildup, which can impact its efficiency. Remove this buildup by draining water from your system and cleaning its interior tank before refilling.
- Insulate your tank and pipes. Insulating your system, including both the tank and its pipes, traps heat so the system doesn’t have to work so hard — leading to lower energy bills and increased longevity. Plus, insulating pipes in your home can protect them from bursting in extreme cold temperatures.
Recognize When It’s Time to Replace Your HVAC
Here are some signs you may need to look into a new HVAC system:
- System age. An HVAC system’s age can certainly be the cause of its failure, especially if it's over 10 years old. Today’s systems are up to 60 percent more efficient than those manufactured a decade or more ago.
- Irregular cycles. If you hear your system constantly switching on and off for short cycles, it may be strained and running more than it should. This could be due to low refrigerant or a clogged air filter; however, compressor failure could also be a cause.
- Unfamiliar noises. While HVAC systems will no doubt make noises, strange or rackety sounds may indicate a problem — from broken parts to unfixable damage caused by wear and tear over the years.
- Lack of cool air. An HVAC’s purpose is to remove the heat from your home and cool it down. If a system isn’t blowing out cold air, this could suggest an issue with your compressor or a refrigerant leak.
Know When It’s Time to Replace Your Water Heater
If any of the below apply to your water heater, it may be time to consider a replacement.
- Aging system. Homeowners can generally expect a water heater to last upwards of a decade, with an average lifespan being around 10-12 years, though a tankless system can last longer. While regular maintenance can help to prolong its lifespan, systems reaching this age may need to be replaced.
- Funky-smelling water. Water shouldn’t have a distinguishable smell to it; when this occurs, it's an indicator of bacteria growth in the tank. Though bacteria can also form due to the presence of rust or corrosion, a problem persisting after draining and conducting water treatments may indicate a failing system.
- Irregularities in water temperature. If your water temperature seems to fluctuate, or if it doesn’t reach the temperature it used to, the heater may be failing — a problem that will likely get worse if not addressed promptly.
- Decreased water pressure. When the hot water pressure falls lower than the cold-water pressure, this may signal sediment buildup in the hot water tank.
Keep Your Home Running Smoothly With PSE&G NJ’s WorryFree Replacement Services
PSE&G WorryFree Replacement Services offers recommendations and installations of HVAC equipment, water heaters and air quality equipment, including those from name-brand manufacturers. Plus, they’ll remove your old equipment for you, ensuring it is disposed of in an environmentally responsible way.
PSE&G WorryFree is also affordable, with free estimates and equipment/labor costs included in the replacement price. PSE&G also offers flexible payment plans for qualified customers, with $0 money down and 0% interest for up to 72 months (subject to credit approval, terms subject to change).
Appointments for WorryFree Replacement Services can be scheduled over the phone, and services only cover HVAC and water heater equipment; other home appliances are not included.
