Does Anyone Proactively Replace Appliances/HVAC?

[brucethebroker]

replaced our 17 year old elec stove that was working because citi offered us 11x points on home improvement plus 11x points on online purchases, so a $956 stove returned $205 back in points. We then sold the old oven on FB for $175! The old "throw it on the wall and see if sticks" - someone is getting ready to sell their house and they need a ss stove to match the other appliances, didn't even try to haggle me down.

Well done!

 

[Badger]

With the summer coming up it is going to get hot real soon in Fl. My HVAC system is 12 years old and quickly reaching it's limits. This is about the life span limit of a heat pump system in Florida when you live a couple of blocks from the ocean. It could expire at any time. In addition to the short lifespan and cost is having to sort through the manufacturer choices and trying to compare the quality of any large appliance. Companies are bought and sold and qualities of brands change with product modifications. It is trying to compare apples to oranges. Brands that were good choice in the past are not necessarily good choices today. The past systems I have used have been either Trane or Carrier but like all the other brands they are not the same as in the past. It is frustrating trying to select any large appliance when the costs are so high but I may have to decide before the present one quits when the heat and humidity becomes a concern. It is a gamble every 10-12 years when buying HVAC or any other large appliance.
Fortunately most any other appliance would not be an emergency for us.

Cheers!


Cheers!

 

[sakowitzm]

I had the same discussion when my water heater was 22 years old. The lifespan of this water heater is 18 years max. It was still working fine so we decided to wait until it failed. I regret that decision. It failed less than a year later at an extremely inconvenient time. Water leaking on floor. We were leaving for vacation the next day. We ended up paying emergency rates to get it replaced in a timely manner. If we would have just replaced it at the 20 year mark then we could have saved over a thousand dollars and likely never missed a hot shower.

THIS X a million! Same experience. At 20 years, consider yourself fortunate and replace that things!!!

 

[old medic]

Generally no... Did surprise the DW with a new washer and dryer set about 15 years ago. She was getting tired of having to use the wringer part of the washer... LOL. With this house rebuild, everything is basically new except that same W&D set.

 

[latexman]

When we bought our FL condo in 2021, the hot water heater was ~ 40 years old, the plastic pan was cracked, and we are on the second floor. It was working fine, and we replaced it, and put in a metal pan!

 

[ElizabethT]

Good question - we just had a service guy point out that our water heater is 20 years old and should be replaced. It works fine, no leaks. Interested in responses.

I would replace ASAP- how much water is in that tank, and where would it go if your water heater fails?

We were thankfully home when our 11 year old water heater failed last year. An alarm alerted us to the failure, and the amount of water being thrown off in just a couple of minutes was shocking. We stopped the rush of water by turning off the intact valve, but had we not been home? It would have been a major water claim. Our HO deductible is about the cost of a new water heater. Think of it like that, and it makes sense to proactively replace water heaters IMO.

 

[FIYes]

We replaced on old, but working, heating system. Our old furnace was definitely on its last legs although it was working. So a few years ago, in the SUMMER, we comparison shopped and bought a new hybrid furnace system. Not only did it prevent a breakdown in midwinter, it is much more efficient.

 

[Chuckanut]

I can think of three reasons to replace an old but still functioning device.

First is to replace it before it fails in a way that causes major damage or inconvenience.

Second is that the newer models have significant improvements such as using much less energy.

Third, is if you have time to patiently shop the sales and get a very good deal.

All my appliances are over 10 years old, but I am thinking of replacing the dishwasher for #2 above. It’s starting to make odd noises, rust is developing on the racks,, the detergent dispenser no longer works, it’s noisy, and it uses far more hot water than newer machines.

 

[rk911]

I have never replaced a working dishwasher, disposal, oven, range, microwave, refrigerator, freezer, washer, dryer, hot water heater, humidifier, furnace or air conditioner. Obviously it’s an inconvenience but the life of appliances isn’t really predictable, depends on quality, usage and maintenance/care. TBH I use most items until they break or wear out except cars (typically keep them 7-10 years).

Do you? Should I?

agree. we did replace a working dishwasher about a dozen years ago but that was when we did a complete remodel of the kitchen. we put the old fridge in the garage where it's been working ever since. in fact, that old Monkey Wards fridge has been humming along since the mid 1980's! it's a frost-free model and requires no maintenance.

 

[MrEd]

if it ain't broke don't fix it...

or replace it

 

[athena53]

We replaced on old, but working, heating system. Our old furnace was definitely on its last legs although it was working. So a few years ago, in the SUMMER, we comparison shopped and bought a new hybrid furnace system. Not only did it prevent a breakdown in midwinter, it is much more efficient.

I hear ya. DS and DDIL live in Des Moines and theirs failed in the dead of winter, of course. For a few weeks they lived with space heaters. I was up visiting in that time and it was OK but not ideal. DS was wondering aloud with his insurance coworkers about whether they could save $$ by just using space heaters. They pointed out that he'd never hear the end of it if he, a claims adjuster, ended up with a house fire due to the use of space heaters.

 

[livingalmostlarge]

When we moved into our current home in 2017 we replaced the water heater. We were renovating the garage and second floor and it didn't make sense to wait since we were having it all done. It was 18 years old at the time and we were doing the renovation. I wanted to do the furnace as well also 17 years old, but the guy was like "oh just wait for it to die or start dying and then do the a/c at that time."

Well fastforward to 2021 Covid, our furnance in decent shape but we really wanted the a/c and the better efficiency. So we just went away and did it with a 21 year old furnance. UGH.

I don't normally replace things but there is a value in enjoying what you replace. Better energy savings on 20+ year old appliances or cars. Or even safety.

When we had kids DH wanted cars that had airbags. Well even though my corolla and his focus were a 99 and 2000 were still okay, we got new to us cars. My mom still has that 2010 subaru and we got a 2006 hyundai that we eventually replaced with a 2015 sienna and 2016 legacy.

I would like to drive it into the ground, but at the same time I think if we keep it reasonably long does it really matter if we only get 10 years instead of 20?

 

[ocean view]

All my appliances are over 10 years old, but I am thinking of replacing the dishwasher for #2 above. It’s starting to make odd noises, rust is developing on the racks,, the detergent dispenser no longer works, it’s noisy, and it uses far more hot water than newer machines.

If it were me, those inconveniences are easily remedied without buying a whole new unit at $800+.

New racks can probably be ordered online. As for the detergent dispenser, switch to the pod type detergent and just throw it in anywhere. If this concerns you, put it in the silverware caddy.

Now if it were making bad noises….

 

[FindingForward]

With the summer coming up it is going to get hot real soon in Fl. My HVAC system is 12 years old and quickly reaching it's limits. This is about the life span limit of a heat pump system in Florida when you live a couple of blocks from the ocean. It could expire at any time. In addition to the short lifespan and cost is having to sort through the manufacturer choices and trying to compare the quality of any large appliance. Companies are bought and sold and qualities of brands change with product modifications. It is trying to compare apples to oranges. Brands that were good choice in the past are not necessarily good choices today. The past systems I have used have been either Trane or Carrier but like all the other brands they are not the same as in the past. It is frustrating trying to select any large appliance when the costs are so high but I may have to decide before the present one quits when the heat and humidity becomes a concern. It is a gamble every 10-12 years when buying HVAC or any other large appliance.
Fortunately most any other appliance would not be an emergency for us.

Cheers!


Cheers!

How did you like the heat pump system instead of the traditional central HVAC in a hot climate - are you likely to go that route again?

Would love to hear from a homeowner who had one. Was it worth the extra cost? Are electrical panel upgrades normally required to install this type of system?

Even with 2023 fed tax credit, it would still cost more than a traditional central HVAC system.

 

[Sunset]

......
I don't normally replace things but there is a value in enjoying what you replace. Better energy savings on 20+ year old appliances or cars. Or even safety.

When we had kids DH wanted cars that had airbags. Well even though my corolla and his focus were a 99 and 2000 were still okay, we got new to us cars. My mom still has that 2010 subaru and we got a 2006 hyundai that we eventually replaced with a 2015 sienna and 2016 legacy.

I would like to drive it into the ground, but at the same time I think if we keep it reasonably long does it really matter if we only get 10 years instead of 20?

Keeping "it" 20 years instead of 10 means you buy 1/2 the number of "it" throughout your lifetime.

At just 10 years there is better savings than the people who replace a car every 3 years.

 

[badatmath]

Water heater, yes, because it can cause damage when it breaks (depending on where it is - mine is in a terrible location) and we have very hard water.

I need to do the A/C but I think it is new refrigerant again this year and will probably push it off until it has been out a few months to a year.

 

[Plantman]

We replaced a water heater and a refrigerator that were both over 20 years old at a point in time when they were offering a nice tax credit for doing so. Figured it was worth upgrading for the energy savings also.

 

[MrsHaloFIRE]

Our hvac wasnt cutting it amd was often broken with high bills. We live in south texas. When I got pregnant we got quotes and replaced it before baby was born.

 

[skipro33]

Just bought a new propane water heater. My current one works fine, but is 17 years old. I noticed that the one with more features was not stocked at Home Depot. I also noticed the one they do stock, with less features, costs almost twice what the one with more features cost but take 2 weeks to deliver.
So waiting until it breaks costs more for a lesser product. I'll leave this one next to the current one until it conks out.

Plus, California is banning the sale of propane appliances e the next few years. So there's that...

 

[skipro33]

I replaced our 15 year old fridge while it still worked when a nice one with more features like a window in the door, ice makers in the fridge and the freezer, etc.
I got $500 for the old fridge and the new one was on sale $1000 off at $2000. Costco, end of production model.
Total out of pocket was $1500 that might have cost $3000 had I waited until the old one failed.
This is an awesome fridge too!

 

[tmm99]

We did replace our working furnace when we moved into this house. The furnace was as old as the house (30 years old), and when I had it checked, tjey said the efficiency was aboit 75%. And this is Canada with very cold winter. We didn't want to wait until the old furnace crapped out in the middle of winter, so we replaced it with a new furnace (96% efficiency). We got some money back from the province for it, as we did enough energy saving upgrades. (Attic insulation top-up and window replacement)

 

[Badger]

How did you like the heat pump system instead of the traditional central HVAC in a hot climate - are you likely to go that route again?

Would love to hear from a homeowner who had one. Was it worth the extra cost? Are electrical panel upgrades normally required to install this type of system?

Even with 2023 fed tax credit, it would still cost more than a traditional central HVAC system.

I have never had a central HVAC system other than a heat pump. I have been happy with the heat pump systems I have used in the past 35+ years. I did have a window unit in my first house in 1980 that didn't have a central system. That is a close as I came to a traditional system. No complaints but the window unit was a bit noisier. Heat pumps are quiet.

Cheers!

 

[pb4uski]

I have this dilemma at 3 homes. Our Florida condo HVAC was installed in 2006, so 17 years old but my HVAC guy says it runs well and is in good shape but will need replacement sometime soon. That'll be $5,500 to $6,000.

Similarly, our on demand propane hot water heater in Vermont that we use for heat and domestic hot water was installed in 2011, so is 12 years old But I have that one serviced annually and it is still running well.

I hope they fail or obviously need to be replaced when I am there. Otherwise it will be a quick, last minute plane trip to monitor the replacement.

 

[iloveyoga]

I hear ya. DS and DDIL live in Des Moines and theirs failed in the dead of winter, of course. For a few weeks they lived with space heaters. I was up visiting in that time and it was OK but not ideal. DS was wondering aloud with his insurance coworkers about whether they could save $$ by just using space heaters. They pointed out that he'd never hear the end of it if he, a claims adjuster, ended up with a house fire due to the use of space heaters.

We live in a Des Moines suburb and it never fails that HVAC fails on the coldest and hottest days. (I help my son with his HVAC company.)

 

[FindingForward]

I have never had a central HVAC system other than a heat pump. I have been happy with the heat pump systems I have used in the past 35+ years. I did have a window unit in my first house in 1980 that didn't have a central system. That is a close as I came to a traditional system. No complaints but the window unit was a bit noisier. Heat pumps are quiet.

Cheers!

Thanks! Appreciate the reply.