The heat pump system for my home is 25 years old. It's a Lennox 3.5 Ton 12.5 SEER unit. Apart from replacing the capacitor this weekend, it has worked great. Google says heat pumps last up to 15 years. At what point do you replace the unit, whenever it has a major issue?

My philosophy with stuff that has lasted way longer than normal is to keep using it unless there's some good reason to replace it. My buddy has a fridge that he and his now ex-wife bought when they got married in 1982. Its sitting in his garage right now keeping the beer cold.

You're living on borrowed time IMO. Heat pump compressor works all year long.

Having said this you could get another 5 years out of it. No one knows the day or the hour . . . !

I was told a couple of months ago that my ten year old heat pump compressor was pulling high amps. I'm going to roll with it until it breaks. Every month that we keep using the old one is one less month on the new one.

I wait til stuff like that carps out, then deal with it

This but also start budgeting now for its replacement if not already done so.

What's the going rate for these systems? $5k to $8k?

Like the old saying goes....If it aint broke, don't fix it. Keep it cleaned and should last a few more years.

We paid $6000 or $6500 in August 2020 including new inside unit.

Depends on size and seer rating. I did mine last year and didn't skimp out on anything. The unit I put in was 10k with labor. It is a 5 ton 19 seer. It also came with static electric filter and 2 ozone producing bulbs 2 feet into the start of duct. New Ecobee thermostat with 2 extra room sensors. Everything programs to wifi and is connected directly to my phone and can be controlled from anywhere.

With filters and Ozone bulbs my air in the house is REALLY REALLY clean and keeps dust WAY down with this system. Bet we may need to dust maybe once every 6-8 weeks. I also had my return moved and increased in size for better air movement and to quiet everything down because where it was before, it sounded like a small plane when it kicked on. This came with new condenser and complete HVAC system in attic. So new furnace and new a/c all the way around. It aint cheap but with the home improvement loan, I was able to take a 15 year loan at like 6% (if I remember correctly). I am paying way more than bare minimum payments every month but I think it was just under $100/month for this loan. I will have the loan paid off within 2 years. So in terms of cost, overall it seems like a punch to the gut but with the home improvement loan, it was a no brainer to get the best I could get my hands on last year when everything was kind of hard to find.

Think I have a 5 or 10 year warranty on the unit (honestly can't remember unless I go look at all the paperwork). I just am religious about keeping condenser screens cleaned and hosed off so they can breathe and change out filters in units every 3-4 months. Should last me at least 10 -15 years I am hoping.

Let it run until it won’t t and save for a system!

Cost will be going upon a couple of reasons. The lowest SEER rating allowed right now is 14 as of next year it will be 15 and there is word that the EPA wants to increase this to 17 which will mean variable stage and added cost. As of next January the start of the phase out of 410A refrigerant begins however it took 17 years to phase out R22 so cost of 410A will start to increase.

A new refrigerant has not been decided on by all manufactures Carrier wants to use one type and Trane another with both being mildly flammable. The EPA has never approved a mildly flammable refrigerant for residential use so who knows.

Also new guidelines are coming into play for the refrigerant drums. At this time they are disposable but this will change so the drums will be heavier and hold less refrigerant and will have to be inspected and pressurized. This was suppose to happen next year but there are no approved stations at this time so it’s been pushed to 2025. This will add cost.

Lots of the units are using ECM motors (Electronically Communicating Motor) they cost more to the costumers and from what we are seeing don’t last as long. At this time the supply chain issues has SCREWED everything up.

So bottom line is prepare for cost to go up 1.5 to double for units from what they are now. Carrier did a 10% increase in April already due to Supply issues.

5 yrs ago we had all outside units replaced with trane xr units, 3 - 4 ton, 2 - 3 ton and one 1 1/2 ton. furnaces all stayed but were replaced 2 yrs ago after one tried to catch fire.

cost of all outside units was just over 14k installed, no idea what the inside replacements cost but all 6 were done.

and that is all I know about that.

Ride it til it dies

But doesn’t it carp out on the hottest day in August and an “expedited” service call means they’ll get to you in 3 days?

So last week the capacitor went out. Two days later, I was still having problems with the new capacitor. The fan motor was seized up like no other. New fan motor came in today and we are back in business. The fan motor should have been replaced years ago. It didn't make any audible sound indicating it needed replacement though. The fan blade wouldn't spin freely before, now it makes several turns with a slight nudge.