The air conditioning costs just soared last August.
I mean we’re talking about almost double the cost for the same thermostat settings. That’s when I knew that it was about time to start the HVAC equipment replacement process. Actually, the HVAC technician spent some extra time last spring going over the signs I need to look out for as the heat pump began to fail. And air conditioning costs spiking was top of the list. We always get an air conditioning tune up every spring. It’s part of the HVAC service plan and follows the heating maintenance we get each fall. When the HVAC technician came out to do the HVAC maintenance on the heat pump last spring, we had that talk. It was clear to the HVAC professional that the heat pump’s effectiveness was waning. So, I made sure to keep an eye out for the signs. After August, I called to have the HVAC contractor come out and get the HVAC upgrade going. That was a great meeting and I learned a lot about new HVAC technology and the latest in residential HVAC. But I also learned that sizing the HVAC equipment to the specific air volume of a house is simply critical. I hadn’t really considered that but got a lesson when I asked if I could get a bigger HVAC unit for more power. That’s when the HVAC contractor explained that the HVAC unit has to fit the air volume of the house. Too small and the heat pump will run all the time to meet demand. Too big and the heat pump will cycle off and on far too often ruining the efficiency and shortening the longevity of the heat pump.