If your air conditioning unit isn’t working, it could be a refrigerant leak, a broken compressor or coil, or even a broken blower motor in your furnace or air handler preventing cooled air from making it to the rest of your home. If your furnace isn’t working, it could be due to a broken heat exchanger or blower motor, or even a dirty air filter in need or replacement.

A Home Depot Installer, experienced in heating repair and AC repair, can identify the problem and get your HVAC system back up and running – or advise other solutions.

If you notice any of the following signs, you should consider replacing your A/C:

• Your A/C is older than 10 years
• Poor air flow even at maximum setting
• A/C blows hot air due to low refrigerant or duct vent issues
• Unpleasant odors resulting from mould or burning electrical components
• Loud and noisy when in use
• Faulty thermostat
• Leaking refrigerant due to a blocked drain line. This is a serious issue that should be repaired promptly because refrigerant is poisonous.

HVAC repair should be the first option for a 7-year-old air conditioner or other HVAC system that is not functioning properly.

Most HVAC systems, whether it’s an air conditioner, gas furnace or heat pump, can be expected to last 10-20 years with regular HVAC service. Normally, a 7-year-old air conditioner would only be half-way through its product life cycle. In many cases, it may still be under warranty.

Depending on the frequency of use and maintenance, the Natural Resources of Canada recommends replacing your HVAC system every 10 – 15 years.

On average, an air conditioner or heat pump should provide 10 – 15 years of service with proper maintenance.

A furnace or boiler for heating an entire home should provide 15 -20 years of service with regular maintenance.

Depending on the humidity level in your home, frequency of use and maintenance, the average gas furnace has a lifespan of 15 – 20 years.

The age of your furnace, frequency of use, humidity levels, and level of maintenance are the key factors that impact your furnace’s performance over time. Even the best, most energy efficient brands of furnaces, however, experience wear and tear with increased use.

Here are 3 signs that you need to replace or repair your furnace:

1. If your furnace is 15 years or older, consider replacing your furnace with a new energy-efficient model. Even if your warranty indicates a lifespan of 20 years, the frequency of repairs may increase over that time. Your furnace will also become increasingly less energy efficient and more costly to operate if it is older than 15 years and in need of repair.

2. If your existing furnace is 10 years or older, repairs and regular maintenance can extend the life of your furnace a few more years. Check the warranty to review your coverage before purchasing a new furnace.

3. If your furnace is less than 10 years old and you are experiencing issues, a professional HVAC repair service can likely resolve the issue for less than the cost of a new furnace.

Scheduling annual or bi-annual HVAC service appointments is one of the best ways to protect your furnace, air conditioner or heat pump.

Booking regular HVAC maintenance appointments helps ensure your HVAC system runs smoothly, identify any problems before they get worse and reduce the likelihood you’ll need any costly HVAC repairs.

You can’t guarantee that your system will never need repairs, but changing out your air filters once every 3-6 months, ensuring that your outside unit is unobstructed, and keeping all vents indoors clear of blockage are good ways to ensure the long-term health of your HVAC unit.