With adequate service, your air conditioner will provide worry-free performance for a long time. But, similar to any other thing in your residence, it will at some point need replacement. Knowing when to get a new one is important to avoid expensive repairs, higher utility bills and interruptions to your comfort.
When it involves staying cool and your home’s energy efficiency, our H&C Heating and Cooling pros have your best interests at heart. There’s a lot that goes into deciding when your air conditioner requires replacement. Here are a couple of things you should consider when you’re thinking about replacing your 15-year-old air conditioner.
Age
Typically, the Department of Energy says the majority of air conditioners run for 15–20 years. If yours is 15 years old, it’s well past the halfway point. It’s smart to begin prepping for air conditioning installation before it fails so you aren’t roasting while you’re waiting for a new one.
Dependability
How trustworthy is your air conditioner? Does it cool well, even on the warmest days? Or is it routinely malfunctioning? When your air conditioner becomes less trustworthy it’s time to begin preparing to get a new one.
Repair Bills
Over your air conditioner’s life cycle, it’s expected for it to need a handful of small repairs. But if your air conditioner repair cost is more than half the cost of a new air conditioner, it’s wiser to just install a new one.
Energy Efficiency
Every air conditioner has a SEER rating, which measures how efficiently it consumes electricity to create chilled air. If your air conditioner was installed in 2006, it will be a minimum of 13 SEER per federal laws. However, your air conditioner loses efficiency as it ages.
Now, 15–18 SEER is a popular ranking, but efficiency can go as high as the mid-20s. Air conditioners with bigger SEER ratings are usually more expensive but could pay for themselves over time through increased energy savings. And purchasing an energy-efficient air conditioner, especially one that’s an ENERGY STAR® air conditioner, can make you eligible for extra rebates.
Comfort
Are you cool when your air conditioner is running? Or are you often switching the temperature to remain cool? An old air conditioner could have trouble keeping your residence cool due to reduced efficiency. A modern air conditioner, particularly a variable-speed air conditioner, can minimize high humidity and hot and cold spots. Instead of running at full speed continuously, these air conditioners run at multiple speeds to fine-tune your comfort.
Noise
Your air conditioner should provide cooling you can feel, not hear. If noise is annoying you, call us about getting a variable-speed air conditioner. The majority of these air conditioners cool at a sound level that’s comparable to a regular conversation.
Smart Thermostat Compatibility
Getting a smart thermostat is a wise method to maximize your energy efficiency, with minimal effort needed from you. And, depending on the rebates offered by your utility company, you might be able to get a free smart thermostat or get one for very little. Many of these thermostats can pick up on your temperature preferences and then make an energy-efficient schedule to match. They also know when you’re at home or gone and change settings as needed.
If you have an aging air conditioner, a smart thermostat might not work with it. Installing a new air conditioner is a smart approach to ensure smart thermostat compatibility.
Refrigerant Kind
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it probably uses Freon®. Also known as R-22 refrigerant, Freon is no longer being made as a result of its negative effects on the ozone layer. You can see if your air conditioner runs on R-22 by reviewing the sticker on the outside unit, which will list the refrigerant type.
If your air conditioner is running fine, you can keep on using it. However, if it ever experiences a refrigerant leak, fixing the problem will be pricey. That’s since Freon is only available in reduced, recycled amounts.
Newer air conditioners run on Puron®, or R-410A. But you can’t just use Puron in a Freon air conditioner, since pressure requirements are different.
Our Techs Make Air Conditioning Installation Stress-Free
If you’re still debating whether you should replace your 15-year-old air conditioner soon, think over this. The Department of Energy says doing air conditioning replacement for a 10-year-old model can lead to 25–40% in energy savings! And those savings can really add up over time.
We know that air conditioner cost is your top question. That’s why working with H&C Heating and Cooling for air conditioning installation in Laurel and surrounding areas is simple and affordable. Our technicians will help you find the right solution for your needs and then go over all the possibilities. These include special offers to help you save more and financing for qualified customers to make your new air conditioner accommodate your budget.
Reach us at 301-960-3247 to request your free, no-pressure estimate now!