new HVAC unit

The Best Time to Buy a New HVAC Unit

  • April 22, 2020
  • By MR COOL

A new HVAC unit is a major household investment. It’s not something you should take likely. But when to do it? How do you know if you should keep going with your current system or upgrade?

Timing is Everything

Roughly speaking, the ‘off-season’ for the HVAC industry runs from March to May and hits again from September to November. These two periods avoid extreme seasonal temperatures, so the average HVAC company is less busy.

This is a great time to get a great deal on a new HVAC unit. There are a lot of sales and rebates you can take advantage of. It’s also more convenient to buy when you won’t have to wait for weeks to have your new HVAC unit installed or delivered.

Before Your Current Unit Bites the Dust

Generally speaking, a new HVAC unit is designed to last for 15-20 years. Keeping an eye on the age of your system can help you determine an appropriate time to replace your existing unit before you have a crisis. For example, when your furnace goes out three days before Superbowl Sunday and it’s 20 degrees outside.

Another factor to keep in mind is your utility cost. If your unit is older, it’s probably not hitting the efficiency marks that it used to. That means you’re spending more on your utility bills, and that’s another sign that the end is near. Which means it is a good time to upgrade to a modern, more efficient new HVAC unit.

When the Repair Guy Knows You by Name

Frequent breakdown or inferior performance is a big sign that your unit is on its last legs. If it’s so bad that you and your HVAC guy see each other a couple times per year, it’s probably time to upgrade to a new HVAC unit. Repair bills add up quickly. At some point you’re paying more to keep the old unit going than you would if you just upgraded.

Purchasing or Building a New Home

Clearly, building a new home from scratch gives you the opportunity to select everything to your taste, including the new HVAC unit that will work best in your new space. But, most people don’t build. Most people buy. 

Does the old house you bought need a new HVAC unit? Probably not. Many homeowners upgrade their home HVAC system before they put their home on the market. That’s something you might want to keep in mind whenever you’re ready to sell.

However, most does not mean all. Make sure the home inspector you use checks that the existing HVAC unit at any prospective property is sized correctly and functioning properly. Also have them take a look at other components that indirectly impacts the effectiveness of the heating and cooling systems such as insulation and ductwork.

Pro Tips for Buying a New HVAC Unit

When you are ready to buy a new HVAC unit, keep these tips in mind!

Rebates & Credits

Check for tax credits or manufacturer rebates when purchasing a new HVAC unit. HVAC products certified by Energy Star can help you qualify for lots of great incentives. Buy at the right time and with the right rebates or credits, and you can save hundreds or thousands.

Energy Star Again

Give energy efficient units a second look. Energy Star Certified units, up and coming geothermal heat pumps and modern technology like smart thermostats are all ultra eco-friendly and designed to reduce the carbon footprint of an new HVAC unit and save you money for years on utility bills.  Zoned systems, especially effective in multi-level homes, are great for reducing energy waste in rooms that are not being used and provide greater comfort and consistency in rooms and levels that are.

Trust a Pro

Hire and use a reputable licensed contractor for installation and repairs.  Resist the temptation to select the cheapest option or someone unlicensed and uninsured. It’s money well spent to ensure that you get the job done correctly with the right professional, as the most important day in the life of a new HVAC unit is the day of installation. Often, units can be purchased through specific contractors that specialize in a certain brand so they can offer warranties that can save you in the long run. Permits and build codes often need to be followed when installing a new unit. Look for positive reviews and who offers some kind of guarantee and assurances that they can manage your project quickly and effectively.

Want to find a MRCOOL contractor? Check here!

Shop Online

Buy a new HVAC unit online for immediate savings. Online warehouses cut out the middleman and are a great way to save money right off the bat. Savings aren’t always guaranteed, so do your homework.

Maintenance, Maintenance, Maintenance

When you do purchase your new HVAC unit, simple maintenance will go a long way with keeping it running at it’s highest potential for eliminating unnecessary wear and tear. Remember to change the filters regularly, make sure the outside condenser unit is shaded from full sun and is free from debris which can clog the air intake. Also, checking the refrigerant levels in your AC unit helps keep things running as cool as possible!

Ready to Buy?

Take the time to weigh all your options and the correct timing, purchasing a new HVAC unit is a big investment. If it isn’t an urgent purchase, take the time to plan what system might work best for your budget and household needs. With the correct information and planning the perfect choice can be found for your home!


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23 thoughts on “The Best Time to Buy a New HVAC Unit”

  1. I want to heal and cool my garage that I use for wood working. It is 21’ x 21’ with a 10’ ceiling. I live in Iowa where the temperature can range from 10 to 95 degrees F. Which MRCOOL unit would you recommend.

    Thanks

  2. Can the “outside” unit/fan be mounted in the attic portion of my garage and “air handling” part be located inside the garage below the outside unit?

    1. You can install the air handler on a lower level than the condenser. However, we do not recommend installing the condenser in an attic.

  3. Hi
    I live in Toronto, Canada where the temperature drops to – 15 centigrade during winter.
    Will you recommend DIY-12-HP-115B25 for a room 450 square ft

    1. The DIY 12k would be properly sized for cooling a space that size. However, it may have trouble with heating in Toronto in winter. The DIY 12k will not operate effectively at such low temperatures. We would recommend a unit like our Olympus Hyper Heat instead.

  4. I want to buy a MRCOOL DIY multi zone in Canada (Montreal). I don’t find any dealer. How can I find one?
    Thank you! – Marie

  5. Is there a line longer than 25 feet? I want to do the three unit kit and two bedrooms are next to each other but the third is across. I can connect two easily say and a and b or b and c. But connecting all three I would need a longer lenght to teach the condenser.

  6. I have a 600 sq ft garage with a 9.5-foot ceiling. No windows. One solid people door. One outside wall is block. Most of the inside wall is insulated. The two-car and one-car garage door is insulated but face west so they get a bit warm, but nothing like before I put the insulation in the doors! The ceiling has no insulation but I do have radiant barrier in the roof, about six feet+ above the ceiling.

    It gets hot in Florida!

    What sizing? I’m thinking 18K but would 12K do? What best unit do you recommend?

    Thanks.

    1. Our Signature Series central heating and air product prices can vary greatly, since there are numerous models and options. Is there a particular combination you’re interested in?

  7. Looking to cool my garage. It’s insulated, with insulated door (R13 or above in walls and ceiling). SQ Footage is 700 feet and 9.5 ft. ceilings.
    Located in Tampa Florida.
    What system/size should I be considering?

  8. i now have a rheem unit that is model is RACC=018-JAS s# is 4285-F2389-8381 MFD 06-89 so i believe it is an 1989 model and is a 1.5 ton unit. i have maybe 20′ from the unit to the furnace now and now it has a half a coil in it. and i have the cutoff 220 volt disconnect switch at the unit on the house wall. so i’m looking at just getting a new unit that all i have to do is install the a coil and the unit and then run the lines to both and connect the wires and i’m good to go. so do you have these and if so based on the siz i have now how much shipped to 49442? thanks

  9. I have an open space 29×35 1st floor, 9ft ceiling. Large windows on all walls, patio door on back side. All very well insulated with 6in walls (newly built). I plan to put either one or two inside units on this floor to one outside condenser. We also have a basement 29×25, that I might or might not need a unit there as it stays pretty constant all year, never too cold nor hot (we’re in Maryland). The main need for basement is dehumidifying and maybe occasional heat when it gets extreme to prevent freezing pipes, etx. So, maybe a multi-zone that will utilize two for the first floor and one for basement?
    Coming to the second floor, we have four bed rooms, two small roughly 11×12, and two large 11×14 with a open hallway, 8ft ceiling. I was looking at 9k for each room, which seems more than enough, but since that’s the smallest you offer, that’s what’s I’m looking at. We have a large center structurally beam that cannot be drilled, so the lines will be tricky but doable.
    I was thinking the refrigerant lines can go around a bit, but the condensate line we might run all of them separately down to the basement or out, gravity slopped somehow.
    Please help suggest on which diy multi- zone to get from the details explained.

    1. The open space could potentially be covered by a 24k unit, which normally covers 1,000 square feet. Multiple factors affect the sizing of the unit, so if you’re worried about the unit underperforming, the windows or the amount of people in the room affecting the unit, you could get a 36k unit. The basement could be cooled and heated by a 24k unit, but two 24k units would overwhelm the capacity of the largest condenser, which is 36k BTUs. You could run both at one time, but you wouldn’t be able to enjoy the full capacity of either unit. You could get two 24k single zones, or one 36k and a 24k depending on which works best for you, and enjoy the full capacity of both. As for the space upstairs, you could get a four zone 36k unit with four 9k air handlers. These air handlers could cover the hallway in the day if you leave the doors open, as well. For more information on sizing and places to buy, take a look at https://mrcooldiy.com/.

  10. I have interesting about buy heat pump 24000 but. I will be much appreciate if you get for me best offer .Thank you

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