Heat Pump Service by JBN Mechanical

"Whats wrong with my current system and what will it cost to keep it running?"
"How long should they last?"
"What does a replacement system cost?"
"Do I really need one?"
"How much can I save with a new system?"
"Which systems qualify for tax credits and am I eligible?"
"What about these new refrigerants?"



These are the questions that I help people answer day in and day out. And they are good ones. 
I'll spare you the corporate sales pitch and give you the facts.
Bottom line? You need a good technician with a lot of experience to tell you what is wrong with what you have, not a friendly faced commissioned salesperson in a service van.
After that, this is  what you really need to understand.

Repairs:
Generally speaking most older systems that have been neglected have one of two problems - refrigerant leaks and failing electrical components like fans and compressors. About 50% of the time I can fix what you have at least temporarily with $1500 or less. That's a wide range because there are $15 parts and $800 parts and there refrigerants that run between $30 a pound and $150 a pound. Leaks, if you can find them, can also be from parts that are obsolete because of phased out refrigerants like R22. Almost any component in the system that touches R22 is obsolete now, so if you have an R22 system that is breaking down it's our recommendation that it be replaced, not repaired, unless it's an emergency. Yes, I repair them all the time but that's what you are facing moving forward. 

The New Systems:
Today, variable speed is the name of the game- full stop. Electric rates have risen 40% in the past 4 years in our area and this is the only technology that is going to keep your electric bill under control in December, January and February. The $2600 rebates and tax credits that are being offered right now now give you the higher efficiency systems at the price of the medium efficiency systems that we used to sell. Almost nobody opts for these medium efficiency systems now and for that reason
It's a great deal.

The New Refrigerants
The refrigerants we have been using since the R22 phase out - is also being phased out. We used R410A for 25 years to close the hole in the ozone but we now know that R410A is 4X worse for global warming - go figure. Now we are using R454B, which is a butane based refrigerant blend. I started installing these systems as they rolled off the line this year and I have seen nothing that concerns me about it. It has a bad reputation for being flammable but that flammability is very very low. You can barely ignite it with a torch, and when you do it's hardly a sustained flame, and it goes out immediately when you take away the torch. There are safeguards in place now that shut down you system if a leak is detected in the house, but it would be nearly impossible to ignite anyway. 

My Plug:
If you want to find out what is going on with your current system - new or old, from someone who has experience call me at JBN Mechanical. But whatever you do, don't ever sign the iPad the guy standing in your kitchen is waving in your face for the "today only" discount for an overpriced system that you probably don't need. Lots of advertising, cheap system inspection offers followed by a visit from a salesman and annoying follow up by email text and social media. That how you spot them.
I don't do system replacement proposals without doing my own analysis of what is going on with your current system unless you tell me you don't want it. If my recommendation is replacement, you get a detailed proposal that evening. If you have questions I'll answer them. If we do end up doing business together, you are going to be dealing with me personally throughout the process. 
The best part about what I do is helping people, and that attitude of service is what has kept me motivated for the past decade. If we don't end up working together, I'm happy to know that I helped you with the truth about what is going on and the best options for you.