With ample maintenance, your air conditioner will deliver worry-free performance for years. But, similar to any other machine in your residence, it will at some point need to be upgraded. Knowing when to replace it is essential to prevent expensive repairs, higher energy bills and comfort disruptions.
When it comes to staying cool and your house’s energy efficiency, our Western Mechanical, Inc. pros have your best interests at the forefront. There’s a lot that goes into determining when your air conditioner requires replacement. Here are a couple of aspects you should consider when you’re thinking about updating your 15-year-old air conditioner.
Age
Typically, the Department of Energy says most air conditioners last for 15–20 years. If yours is 15 years old, it’s well past the midpoint. It’s smart to begin prepping for air conditioning installation before it wears out so you aren’t sweating while you’re waiting for a replacement.
Reliability
How trustworthy is your air conditioner? Does it cool well, even on the warmest days? Or is it frequently breaking down? When your air conditioner becomes less reliable it’s time to get started thinking about getting a new one.
Repair Bills
Over your air conditioner’s lifetime, it’s expected for it to need a few minor repairs. But if your air conditioner repair cost is more than half the expenses of a new air conditioner, it’s wiser to just replace it.
Energy Efficiency
Every air conditioner includes a SEER rating, which measures how well it consumes electricity to create chilled air. If your air conditioner was installed in 2006, it will be a minimum of 13 SEER to meet federal guidelines. However, your air conditioner becomes less efficient as it ages.
Today, 15–18 SEER is a popular range, but efficiency can go as high as the mid-20s. Air conditioners with higher SEER ratings are usually more expensive but may pay for themselves over time through improved energy savings. And getting an energy-efficient air conditioner, especially one that’s an ENERGY STAR® air conditioner, can make you eligible for added rebates.
Comfort
Are you comfy when your air conditioner is running? Or are you continuously dialing down the temperature to remain cool? An aging air conditioner may have problems keeping your house cool as a result of reduced efficiency. A modern air conditioner, particularly a variable-speed air conditioner, can lower high humidity and hot and cold spots. Instead of operating at full blast all the time, these air conditioners work at multiple speeds to fine-tune your comfort.
Noise
Your air conditioner should give cooling you can feel, not hear. If noise is annoying you, check with us about upgrading to a variable-speed air conditioner. Many of these air conditioners cool at a sound level that’s like a regular conversation.
Smart Thermostat Compatibility
Installing a smart thermostat is a wise method to stay on top of energy efficiency, with minimal effort required from you. And, depending on the rebates provided by your utility company, you might be able to get a free smart thermostat or get one for very little. Most of these thermostats can learn from your temperature preferences and then develop an energy-efficient schedule to match. They also know when you’re at home or out and about and change temps as necessary.
If you rely on an older air conditioner, a smart thermostat might not work with it. Installing a new air conditioner is a smart way to ensure smart thermostat compatibility.
Refrigerant Kind
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it likely uses Freon®. Also called R-22 refrigerant, Freon is no longer being manufactured because of its damaging effects on the ozone layer. You can see if your air conditioner uses R-22 by looking at the sticker on the outside unit, which will list the refrigerant type.
If your air conditioner is working fine, you can keep on using it. However, if it ever develops a refrigerant leak, fixing the problem will be expensive. That’s because Freon is only available in limited, recycled amounts.
Newer air conditioners use Puron®, or R-410A. But you can’t just add Puron in a Freon air conditioner, since pressure requirements are different.
Our Technicians Make Air Conditioning Installation Hassle-Free
If you’re still deciding whether you should replace your 15-year-old air conditioner soon, consider this. The Department of Energy says doing air conditioning replacement for a 10-year-old model can result in 25–40% in energy savings! And those savings can really add up as time goes by.
We know that air conditioner cost is your number one question. That’s why collaborating with Western Mechanical, Inc. for air conditioning installation in Logan and surrounding areas is stress-free and affordable. Our professionals will help you choose the right solution for your needs and then review 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 435-753-5515 to request your free, no-pressure estimate today!