When should you consider upgrading your HVAC system?

Upgrading your HVAC system is often a necessary decision when the cost of repairs begins to approach or exceed a significant portion of the price of a new system. Specifically, if repair costs surpass 50% of the cost of a new unit, this indicates that investing in repairs may not be financially wise, as you could be pouring money into an aging system that may continue to require maintenance and repairs in the future. Choosing to upgrade allows for long-term savings in both energy efficiency and reliability, often providing improved comfort and lower utility bills.

While loud noises from the system can indicate issues, they do not alone justify an entire system upgrade without considering repair costs or the system's overall condition. Waiting for a system to stop functioning entirely generally leads to more urgent and potentially costly decisions, and frequently cleaning air filters is a standard maintenance task that doesn't inherently suggest the need for a complete system upgrade.