With adequate upkeep, your air conditioner will offer worry-free performance for many years. But, similar to any other machine in your house, it will eventually need to be replaced. Knowing when to replace it is important to avoid expensive repairs, higher utility bills and interruptions to your comfort.
When it comes to keeping cool and your house’s energy efficiency, our B & G HVAC pros have your best interests at heart. There’s a lot that goes into deciding when your air conditioner needs to be replaced. Here are a few aspects you should consider when you’re thinking about upgrading your 15-year-old air conditioner.
Age
Typically, the Department of Energy says most air conditioners work for 15–20 years. If yours is 15 years old, it’s well past the center point. It’s wise to start planning for air conditioning installation before it goes out so you aren’t sweating while you’re waiting for installation.
Dependability
How reliable is your air conditioner? Does it cool well, even on the toastiest days? Or is it regularly needing repairs? When your air conditioner starts becoming less reliable it’s time to start thinking about getting a new one.
Repair Costs
Over your air conditioner’s life cycle, it’s normal for it to need a handful of little repairs. But if your air conditioner repair cost is more than half the expenses of a new air conditioner, it’s smarter to just get a new one.
Energy Efficiency
Every air conditioner includes a SEER rating, which ranks how efficiently it uses electricity to produce cold air. If your air conditioner was installed in 2006, it will be at minimum 13 SEER per federal guidelines. However, your air conditioner loses efficiency as it wears out.
Now, 15–18 SEER is a popular ranking, but efficiency can go as high as the mid-20s. Air conditioners with higher SEER ratings are typically pricier but might 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 additional rebates.
Comfort
Are you comfy when your air conditioner is on? Or are you often turning down the temperature to keep cool? An aging air conditioner may struggle to keep your home cool as a result of lower efficiency. An updated air conditioner, particularly a variable-speed air conditioner, can minimize high humidity and hot and cold spots. Instead of operating on high all the time, these air conditioners operate at multiple speeds to adapt your comfort.
Noise
Your air conditioner should deliver cooling you can feel, not hear. If noise is a concern, check with us about upgrading to a variable-speed air conditioner. The majority of these air conditioners run at a sound level that’s similar to an everyday conversation.
Smart Thermostat Compatibility
Installing a smart thermostat is a smart approach to maximize your energy efficiency, with minimal effort necessary 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 a greatly reduced price. The majority of these thermostats can adjust to your temperature preferences and then develop an energy-efficient schedule to match. They also know when you’re at home or away and change settings as needed.
If you use an older air conditioner, a smart thermostat might not work with it. Getting a new air conditioner is a wise approach to ensure smart thermostat compatibility.
Refrigerant Kind
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it potentially relies on Freon®. Also called R-22 refrigerant, Freon is no longer being made because of its damaging effects on the ozone layer. You can see if your air conditioner uses R-22 by reviewing the sticker on the outside unit, which will show the refrigerant style.
If your air conditioner is running fine, you can keep on using it. However, if it ever has a refrigerant leak, repairing the problem will be costly. That’s due to the fact Freon is only available in decreased, recycled amounts.
Newer air conditioners use Puron®, or R-410A. But you can’t just put Puron in a Freon air conditioner, since pressure requirements are different.
Our Technicians Make Air Conditioning Installation Stress-Free
If you’re still deciding whether you should replace your 15-year-old air conditioner soon, think about this. The Department of Energy says doing air conditioning replacement for a 10-year-old model can provide 25–40% in energy savings! And those savings can really add up as time goes by.
We realize that air conditioner cost is your top question. That’s why partnering with B & G HVAC for air conditioning installation in Marshalltown and surrounding areas is simple and affordable. Our techs will help you find the right option for your needs and then discuss all the possibilities. These include special offers to help you save more and financing for qualified customers to make your new air conditioner work with your budget.
Reach us at 641-316-3360 to request your free, no-pressure estimate now!