To Repair Or to Replace? That Is the Question

When equipment breaks down, productivity and the bottom line take a hit. But a quick fix might not be cost-effective in the long run.

Perform a visual inspection to identify air leaks, inefficient appliances/equipment and other issues that can be addressed through simple repairs. This will provide a foundation for a replacement decision.

Cost

The amount you spend on repairs or replacements depends on a number of factors. The first consideration is your HVAC system’s age. Newer systems are more energy efficient, so they tend to have lower energy bills than older models.

Older units are more likely to have wear and tear issues, resulting in elevated repair costs. They may also require obsolete or hard-to-find parts, further increasing costs.

Repairs are more cost-effective if they’re performed sooner rather than later. Deferring repairs can lead to more serious problems and a higher repair bill down the road. Another factor influencing repair costs is your unit’s location. HVAC systems in open spaces can be accessed more easily, lowering repair expenses. On the other hand, units in cramped spaces like attics or tight basements can increase repair costs due to limited accessibility.

Life Expectancy

The estimated life expectancy of a system or component is an important factor to consider when making repair or replacement decisions. This information can also be useful for estimating maintenance life cycles or cost-to-cure analysis.

Life expectancy is a statistical measure of how many years a person can be expected to live based on the year they were born and their current age. It differs by sex and other factors. It can be derived from either period or cohort life tables. Period life tables rely on actual mortality rates while cohort life tables use projected mortality rates. Both types of life expectancy are widely used in public policy and research. However, they both suffer from limitations. For example, they can be misleading if there is an underlying assumption that future mortality rates will be the same as past ones. This is why it is important to understand the limitations of these estimates. This will help interpret the results and make better policy choices.

Energy Efficiency

A repair or replacement decision shouldn’t only be about costs, but also about energy efficiency. Over time, older systems may lose their original level of efficiency. Even if they don’t have any immediate issues, a steady increase in energy bills may signal it’s time to upgrade.

A newer system can significantly reduce your energy bills. It will also save on maintenance and repair costs in the long run. Additionally, the equipment is often eligible for rebates and incentives.

In commercial buildings, it’s important to gather data on building size, baseline energy use and air quality to determine the best solution for your needs. Using the information from an energy assessment can help you make a smarter repair or replace decision. It can also prevent you from making a costly mistake, like deferring HVAC maintenance and paying for it later.

Environmental Impact

HVAC systems have a huge impact on the environment. They use a lot of energy to operate and can contribute to air pollution and climate change.

New equipment can have a much lower environmental impact, especially if it is more efficient. Energy-efficient equipment can reduce heating and cooling costs by 50% or more, according to the U.S. Department of Energy’s eeCompass guide.

Building owners should consider incorporating system redundancy during design to minimize the amount of time that they must shut down large pieces of equipment for maintenance. For example, if a building’s heating and cooling load can be handled by two smaller units rather than one single large unit, the maintenance team will be less likely to turn off the entire network to do routine maintenance.

It is also important that HVAC designers include features to facilitate easy repair or replacement of key components like valves and filters. Too often these items are installed in hard-to-reach places or hidden behind other building elements, making them difficult for maintenance staff to access. Human-centered design is a hot concept in the design industry and should be applied to HVAC design as well.