With proper upkeep, your air conditioner will offer worry-free cooling for years. But, just like any other appliance in your house, it will eventually need replacement. Knowing when to replace it is essential to avoid costly repairs, expensive electrical bills and interruptions to your comfort.
When it involves keeping cool and your house’s energy efficiency, our 1st Choice Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. pros have your best interests at heart. There’s a lot that goes into figuring out when your air conditioner needs to be replaced. Here are a few points you should consider when you’re thinking about replacing your 15-year-old air conditioner.
Age
On average, 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 recommended to get started planning for air conditioning installation before it fails so you aren’t roasting while you’re waiting for a replacement.
Trustworthiness
How trustworthy is your air conditioner? Does it cool dependably, even on the warmest days? Or is it regularly needing repairs? When your air conditioner is less reliable it’s time to begin preparing to get a new one.
Repair Expenses
Over your air conditioner’s life span, it’s normal for it to need a few small repairs. But if your air conditioner repair cost is more than half the price of a new air conditioner, it’s wiser to just get a new one.
Energy Efficiency
Every air conditioner includes a SEER rating, which measures how efficiently it consumes electricity to produce cooling. If your air conditioner was installed in 2006, it will be at least 13 SEER according to federal laws. However, your air conditioner becomes less efficient as it gets older.
As of now, 15–18 SEER is a popular number, but efficiency can go as high as the mid-20s. Air conditioners with greater SEER ratings are often pricier but might pay for themselves over time through more energy savings. And installing an energy-efficient air conditioner, especially one that’s an ENERGY STAR® air conditioner, can make you eligible for added rebates.
Comfort
Are you comfortable when your air conditioner is working? Or are you continuously turning down the temperature to keep cool? An older air conditioner might struggle to keep your house cool as a result of decreased efficiency. A new air conditioner, particularly a variable-speed air conditioner, can minimize high humidity and hot and cold spots. Instead of cooling at full blast all the time, these air conditioners work at multiple speeds to fine-tune your comfort.
Noise
Your air conditioner should deliver cooling you can feel, not hear. If noise is a concern, call us about getting a variable-speed air conditioner. The majority of these air conditioners operate at a sound level that’s comparable to a regular conversation.
Smart Thermostat Compatibility
Getting a smart thermostat is a smart method to keep up with energy efficiency, with very little effort necessary from you. And, depending on the rebates offered by your utility company, you may be able to get a free smart thermostat or get one for a greatly reduced price. The majority of these thermostats can learn from your temperature preferences and then create an energy-efficient schedule to match. They also know when you’re at home or out and about and change temperatures accordingly.
If you use an aging air conditioner, a smart thermostat might not work with it. Installing a new air conditioner is a surefire way to ensure smart thermostat compatibility.
Refrigerant Style
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 damaging effects on the ozone layer. You can see if your air conditioner runs on R-22 by looking at the sticker on the outside unit, which will include the refrigerant type.
If your air conditioner is operating fine, you can keep on using it. However, if it ever experiences a refrigerant leak, repairing the problem will be expensive. That’s since Freon is only available in decreased, recycled amounts.
Newer air conditioners have 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 trying to decide 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 provide 25–40% in energy savings! And those savings can really add up over time.
We are aware that air conditioner cost is your first question. That’s why collaborating with 1st Choice Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. for air conditioning installation in Lake Forest 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 work with your budget.
Reach us at 949-204-0859 to request your free, no-pressure estimate today!