All commercial HVAC systems inevitably age to the point where it no longer makes fiscal sense to continue repairing a system that will only continually break down. Regular preventative maintenance can help prolong the lifespan of HVAC systems, but no commercial HVAC system will last forever.
This eventually brings any facilities manager or building owner to wonder at what point it makes sense to replace HVAC equipment as opposed to paying for repeated repairs. It’s not always an easy decision, but there are a few factors to consider when making the decision.
Factors Influencing the Decision Between Repair and Replacement
To decide if you need to repair or replace commercial HVAC equipment, consider the following costs and performance attributes of your existing system.
Review System History and Records
Commercial HVAC systems, depending on their make or model, have a lifespan of around 20 years or so. If your HVAC equipment has aged beyond two decades and repairs are frequent, it may be time to replace the equipment.
Review Energy Bills
Taking a look at energy bills over the past several years, or ideally over the lifespan of the system, is one of the best ways to assess the efficiency of existing HVAC systems. If energy consumption is reaching critical levels, it may be time to replace your HVAC equipment.
Calculate Service and Repair Costs
Have service and repair costs skyrocketed in the past few years? How many HVAC emergencies have there been? Calculating the rising costs of service and repair can help justify the investment of a new HVAC system that’s more energy efficient.
Making the decision between commercial HVAC repair and replacement is a tough decision. There’s no magic number defining the point at which it makes sense to replace an HVAC system. The best thing to do is to assess the system’s history, review energy bills, and calculate the rising costs of service and repair to help justify your decision.
Donnelly Mechanical has 30+ years of experience as NYC’s premier commercial HVAC contractor. For HVAC replacement and installation, trust Donnelly’s team of certified technicians and project management specialists.
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