Used HVAC systems may save you a few dollars in the short term, but are they good enough for your home? Take a look at the pros and cons of buying a second-hand system.
When it comes to buying HVAC units online, many people ask themselves why not buy second-hand air conditioning? This may seem like an attractive idea because of the possible savings when it comes to large machines such as ducts, but nothing could be further from the truth. Here we will detail the pros and cons of buying this type of equipment.
The most obvious advantage is price. Second-hand HVAC systems are cheaper than new equipment, but in the absence of gas we cannot recharge it if it is a gas such as R-22. And not to mention if the machine needs replacement parts, there will not be and if there are you will find them at the price of gold. So, these replacements and spare parts will quickly be deducted from any savings in initial cost.
Another important detail in the second-hand HVAC is power consumption. While today we can find equipment with labels A++ and A+++ as a minimum, a few years ago A class was the top of the line and at most the equipment you buy will be that class. An old and wasteful appliance. Not recommended at all. In fact, it is likely to be ON/OFF technology, without heat pump, without inverter technology, and in general older tech that will increase long term costs.
Design of HVAC equipment has been refined and adapted to the aesthetics that today is hip on home appliances. And although it may seem irrelevant, buying an old piece of equipment will not look good in the room where you install it. It will look like an old piece of furniture that is begging to be changed. Another point to note is the issue of the technology it will carry. Will it be inverter? will it have integrated wifi? does it have noise reduction technology? does it have a heat pump or is it only cooling?
Air conditioning warranty is one of the biggest disadvantages when buying this type of equipment. We will buy a product without warranty and if it fails, we will not be able to call tech service to repair it, or it will cost more. And finding spare parts will be a serious challenge. For most equipment, after a few years finding spare parts is an odyssey. Imagine second-hand equipment.
