The following summer, we once again were faced with nothing but warm air.
We bought our house a little over five years ago. We were able to afford a very advantageous location because the property had been left empty and neglected for quite a long time. Renovations inside had been started and never finished. Since my husband and I are both quite handy and like home improvement projects, we were happy to get started. We needed to completely gut the kitchen and master bathroom down to the bare studs. We replaced windows, appliances, cupboards, countertops, drain lines and plumbing fixtures. We put down new floors, painted and added ceiling fans. Although we knew that the packaged heating and cooling unit was old and wouldn’t last long, we had so many other priorities. We were somewhat surprised that for three years, the heating/cooling system measured up to demands. It managed to handle the short but chilly winters as well as the long, hot and muggy summers. Then, in the middle of July, we noticed warm air coming from the vents. We hired an HVAC contractor and expected to be told that we needed a new heating/cooling unit. Instead, he found a small refrigerant leak and suggested simply refilling, recharging and hoping for the best. The repair cost two hundred dollars and lasted for one year. The following summer, we once again were faced with nothing but warm air. This time, we decided the right solution was a brand new heating and cooling system. The replacement cost us a couple thousand dollars, but we now enjoy far superior comfort, air quality and lower utility bills. The higher efficiency system is working to pay for itself.