You Should Replace Your AC and Furnace Together, Here’s Why

Keeping your home temperature regulated, comfortable, and fully functioning year-round is important, especially for those who live in Stillwater, OK.

Here, summers tend to come with intense heat, and winters come with their fair share of snow. The last thing anyone wants to deal with is a malfunctioning air conditioner or furnace when fluctuating weather rolls into town. That’s where Sitton Mechanical can help.

The Right Company Can Upgrade Your Home

We’re proud to be a locally owned and family-operated business serving the greater Stillwater, OK, area. Our comprehensive list of heating and cooling services includes everything from furnace replacement and furnace installation to AC repair, AC installation, tune-ups, and more.

Stillwater, OK, residents looking for an HVAC technician to handle everything from AC replacement and air purification services to geothermal heating will find their experts here. We’re a company that’s long been committed to pairing impeccable customer service standards with successful results at every turn.

At Sitton Mechanical, our team handles calls for all types of AC and heating issues across Stillwater, OK. A common question homeowners have for us is whether or not it’s better to replace their AC and furnace together or separately when problems arise.

There are many factors to consider when debating whether to invest in a furnace and AC replacement separately or together. Here, we’ll look at a few important details to consider.

Replacements Are Inevitable

Every AC and furnace unit is going to need a replacement at some point. It’s unavoidable. HVAC technicians know that even the most well-maintained AC or furnace will eventually reach the end of its natural lifespan.

When things start to go wrong with an AC or furnace, the decision for homeowners comes down to deciding between continued repair or replacement. In some cases, it may be possible to extend the life of an AC unit slightly by repairing single parts. The same could be said for an older furnace that’s experiencing issues.

Keeping an Old Unit Is Risky

The risk frequently lies in the cost. In some situations, it may require more out-of-pocket expense to repair a furnace often rather than invest in a new furnace installation. Similarly, constantly paying for AC repairs could add to a point where it’s more expensive than a new AC installation.

Then there are those scenarios where both the AC and the furnace are starting to malfunction at the same time. When this happens, is it wiser to replace them both at the same time?

In certain situations, the answer is yes. At Sitton Mechanical, we’ve seen many homeowners across Stillwater, OK, benefit from pairing their replacements rather than fix one at a time.

This is often the case when both the AC and the furnace reach the end of their lifespans. While replacing them simultaneously can feel like a significant investment, it’s often cheaper than replacing one and investing in frequent repairs in the other.

Dual Replacement May Be the Cost-Effective Option

Investing in a dual AC and furnace replacement process might also be worth your time if you know a big life change is coming up, such as retirement, a job change, or a new baby in the family. Investing in these replacements now can help save money on repairs for several years.

Replacing an AC and furnace at the same time can also help save on monthly energy costs. Investing in energy-efficient units now will be less out of your pocket each month for several years to come.

Details to Consider Before Replacing Your AC and Furnace Together

It’s far too easy to rush to conclusions about replacing an AC, furnace, or both when homeowners are frustrated with unit breakdowns. Worries about cost can also lead to rash decisions.

Instead of acting impulsively one way or the other, it’s important to step back and ask yourself a few vital questions. These can help put the decision in a clearer perspective.

Each Unit’s Age

First, consider the age of both the AC and furnace in question. It’s important to keep in mind that typically, an AC unit lasts anywhere from 10 to 15 years if properly maintained. On the other hand, a furnace is capable of running successfully for 20 to 25 years.

If both your AC and furnace are nearing the end of their lives, it’s likely worth your while to replace them at the same. This could save you thousands of dollars on repairs that will lead to an eventual replacement anyway. However, if you purchased both units simultaneously, your decision might look a little different.

A 15-year-old AC is likely to need to be replaced now. Alternatively, a 15-year-old furnace could potentially last another 5-10 years before needing to be replaced. In this case, it makes more sense only to replace the AC as long as the furnace is functioning well. Having a technician thoroughly inspect the furnace will provide insight into its current condition.

Energy Efficiency Ratings

Another important factor to consider is the overall energy efficiency of the AC and furnace separately. These units require electricity, oil, and gas to function.

When a unit isn’t working well, it requires more energy to perform effectively. This leads to higher energy bills for the home each month.

When homeowners start seeing a noticeable increase in energy usage, it’s time to make a change. Typically, this means swapping out both the AC and furnace for newer, more energy-efficient models.

An energy-efficient AC and furnace combo is an upfront investment with long-term benefits. Beyond the monthly money-saving options on power, this investment can be vital for homeowners looking to move in the future.

Many prospective buyers are looking specifically at energy-efficient homes in Stillwater, OK, before moving in. Already having this type of technology built into the property provides homeowners with options to raise asking prices significantly.

Your Budget

Finally, it’s important to look at personal finances before investing in replacing an AC and furnace together. Many homeowners considering retirement in the next few years will find replacing both now a benefit to their bank account later on.

Investing in replacements while you’re still employed full-time can be less stressful than trying to replace these units on a fixed income in retirement. In this case, replacing both now takes the stress out of life later.

How to Save Money When Replacing Your Entire HVAC System

For many Stillwater, OK, homeowners, the idea of an investment of this type can be daunting. This is true even when you know that it’s the right financial choice for your home and future.

Fortunately, there are some cost benefits you can take advantage of when choosing to replace both an AC and furnace at the same time. One of the big ones is rebates.

Many manufacturers offer customers significant savings through rebates. These are particularly prevalent for those customers opting to replace an old unit with an energy-efficient model instead. This is a big benefit for homeowners worried about upfront costs.

Similarly, just knowing the energy bills will be less each month once the new units are installed helps bring homeowners peace of mind on the financial front. Replacing the AC and furnace simultaneously allows an HVAC tech to set up your system for maximum efficiency at every turn.

Having these replacements done together saves both time and money on the installation process. It’s also a path to maximizing warranties on both units instead of trying to figure out warranties on two separate units at different times.

Consider a Ductless HVAC System

When you’ve concluded that it’s time to replace your AC and your furnace together, there are some upgrade options to consider. Homeowners interested in creating more climate control and efficiency in their homes may benefit from having a ductless HVAC system installed at the time of replacement.

Overhauling the entire system is the perfect time to make changes that will produce cost savings over the long term. That’s what makes the ductless system worth considering.

A ductless HVAC system is designed with a mini-split setup. This provides for improved heating and cooling throughout the home year-round.

Ductless HVAC systems have also been shown to reduce monthly energy bills further. This is achieved with a heat pump that transfers heat instead of traditional furnaces that warm by burning vital fossil fuels.

Similarly, cool air control can be set to run on lower-power modes very efficiently. This saves homeowners money while providing more consistent air control regulation standards too.

Call Us Today

There’s no reason to wait when your Stillwater, OK, home requires cooling or heating services. Reach out to the team at Sitton Mechanical to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced technicians, who will get you back on track in no time.

Call us today to speak with a friendly representative and schedule your appointment. We’re happy to go over our many services options to ensure your HVAC system is covered now and in the future.

Whether it’s an AC tune-up and repair or geothermal heating questions, Sitton Mechanical has you covered. We can’t wait to hear from you!