The Hidden Costs of Delaying HVAC Repairs: A Financial Analysis

When it comes to maintaining your home’s comfort, your AC does a lot of heavy lifting. It is probably one of the most used electronic appliances in your home, and as such is more likely to get overworked and breakdown. Most people who have an HVAC system in their home have dealt with the hassle of getting it repaired when it, inevitably, stops working due to one malfunction or another. If the problem appears minor on the surface, then it is easy to fall under the misunderstanding that maybe getting the AC fixed isn’t an urgent matter. But regardless of the nature of the issue, whether it is a strange noise coming from the motors or the AC refusing to turn on at all, it is in your best interests to address the problem as soon as possible.

Here we will look at some of the main reasons why you should never delay getting your HVAC system repaired, and the financial consequences of doing so.

Higher Energy Bills

One of the most common signs of a malfunctioning air conditioner and also an obvious cost of delaying HVAC repairs is increased energy bills. Internal issues within the AC, such as a worn-out compressor or a refrigerant leak, can make the system work harder than it needs to, effectively spending more energy to cool your home and driving up your electricity bills. Initially, you may only notice an increase of a few dollars in your bills, but this can add up quickly over time.

Repairing the AC will restore its efficiency and reduce unnecessary energy waste. Do keep in mind that your AC inefficiency could be a result of its age as well, as older systems don’t have the many technological advantages that modern systems do and can consume more energy. By using an outdated cooling and heating system, you may be losing upwards of $200 every year.

Costly Emergency Repairs

The cost of getting your HVAC system repaired depends on many factors, such as the seriousness of the problem getting repaired and the complexity of the parts involved. But one other factor that many people forget about is the time of the year. During peak seasons like winter and summer, the demand for cooling and heating repair services is the highest as well. You may struggle to find any free expert technicians, and even if you do, you will likely be charged a premium for emergency HVAC services.

Maybe the part that needs replacing isn’t easily available due to the higher demand for AC parts all around, and you end up paying extra for it or worse, can’t get your hands on it at all. This is why the best course of action to take is to perform preventive maintenance and early repairs so that you don’t find yourself in a pickle at the wrong time.

Expensive Major Repairs

It’s difficult to say exactly how much your HVAC repair will cost, as the final cost is a combination of a multitude of factors. However, a key determiner is the internal component being repaired or replaced, and the price for these parts can vary drastically. If your HVAC problem is related to the fan motor, ignitor, or capacitor inside, then you can expect to spend a few hundred dollars on the repair.

But if a problem with these minor parts is left unrepaired, they could end up causing a malfunction in more important parts as well, such as the compressor, which can cost up to $3000 to fix. Looking at these numbers, it should be a no-brainer that the long-term cost-effective measure is to perform regular maintenance and repair on your AC so that small problems within the system do not get the chance to snowball into something bigger.

Decreased Property Value

Most residents do not associate their HVAC system with the value of their house, but the two are related to an extent. A well-maintained high-performance HVAC system adds a lot to your property’s value and can attract potential buyers more. The opposite is applicable as well. A worn-down AC system can be seen as a sign that the house was not taken care of, which will bring down its value to buyers.

While the value of your house may not be an immediate concern of yours, investing in a good HVAC system can generate an impressive return on investment in the future. It might also be worthwhile to consider upgrading to an energy-efficient AC for the best cost savings. To determine what kind of HVAC upgrade or repair would be the best for your house, contact professional HVAC specialists like The Chill Brothers.

Complete Replacement Cost

HVAC repairs can undoubtedly be expensive depending on the problem at hand. But in most cases, even the costliest of repairs will set you back significantly less than what a complete replacement would.

The average cost of HVAC repair is $410 according to Forbes, and can be a lot more or a lot less depending on the part, with compressors, evaporator and condenser coils costing the most. But a brand-new HVAC system, on the other hand, costs significantly more at around $8000 on average. HVAC systems last for about 15-20 years, and ignoring necessary repairs will undoubtedly shorten this lifespan, leading you to incur expensive costs of replacement that you potentially could’ve avoided just by being quick with repairs and maintenance.

Conclusion

Studies have shown that for every dollar ‘saved’ by deferring maintenance, there comes a four-dollar increase in future capital renewal costs. In simpler words, the money you save now by not repairing your AC will certainly come back in the form of higher costs later on.

Take all of the factors discussed here into account, and avoid falling into the trap of deferred maintenance. With many professional service providers giving 24-hour HVAC services nowadays, it’s easier than ever to get in touch with a specialist. It’s also not just a matter of energy efficiency and saving money, but maximizing the comfort and safety of your home.