"Partial upgrades can be a solid compromise, especially if your existing ductwork is still decent."
Yeah, totally agree with this. I've seen clients jump straight into full replacements because they think newer always equals better, but honestly, if your ducts are still in good shape, why toss money out the window? I did a partial upgrade at my own place a few years back—kept most of the ducting and just swapped out the main unit. Saved a chunk of cash and it's been running smoothly ever since. Sometimes practical beats shiny and new...
I'm with you on partial upgrades being underrated. But honestly, ductwork can be tricky—sometimes it looks fine from the outside but has hidden issues like leaks or poor insulation. I bought a rental property a while back where the ducts seemed decent enough at first glance. Turns out, after a closer look, they were leaking air like crazy and costing me a fortune in wasted energy bills. Ended up sealing and insulating them properly, and it made a huge difference.
Point is, partial upgrades are great if you actually know your ducts are solid. If you're not sure, it's worth getting someone to do a thorough inspection first. A little extra effort upfront can save you headaches (and cash) down the road...trust me, learned that one the hard way.
Definitely agree on ductwork being deceptive sometimes—had a similar issue myself. Curious though, have you found sealing and insulating ducts significantly extends the lifespan of older HVAC units, or just boosts efficiency and comfort?
Yeah, sealing and insulating ducts definitely helps with efficiency and comfort, but honestly, I haven't seen it directly extend the life of older HVAC units by much. Usually, lifespan comes down more to regular maintenance and how hard the system's been pushed over the years. But keeping ducts sealed does ease the load a bit, so indirectly it might help your unit last longer... just don't expect miracles. Had one client swear by it, but their unit still gave out around 22 years.
Hitting 20 years is pretty impressive—sounds like you've been doing something right. Curious though, have you noticed any changes in performance or efficiency over the last couple of years? I've had clients notice subtle declines around the 18-20 year mark, even with regular maintenance. Wonder if that's typical or just depends on the brand and usage...
