With proper upkeep, your air conditioner will offer worry-free service for years. But, similar to any other appliance in your house, it will ultimately need to be replaced. Knowing when to get a new one is essential to avoid costly repairs, expensive energy bills and interrupted comfort.
When it includes being cool and your residence’s energy efficiency, our Clean Air HVAC specialists are looking out for your best interests. There’s a lot that goes into deciding when your air conditioner needs to be replaced. Here are several aspects you should consider when you’re thinking about upgrading your 15-year-old air conditioner.
Age
In most instances, the Department of Energy says many air conditioners work for 15–20 years. If yours is 15 years old, it’s well past the midpoint. It’s wise to get started planning for air conditioning installation before it fails so you aren’t sweltering while you’re waiting for a replacement.
Trustworthiness
How reliable is your air conditioner? Does it cool well, even on the toastiest days? Or is it frequently breaking down? When your air conditioner starts becoming less reliable it’s time to start preparing to get an updated one.
Repair Bills
Over your air conditioner’s lifetime, it’s expected for it to need a handful of small repairs. But if your air conditioner repair cost is more than half the expenses of a new air conditioner, it’s wiser to just get a new one.
Energy Efficiency
Every air conditioner includes a SEER rating, which rates how efficiently it uses electricity to make 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 wears out.
Today, 15–18 SEER is a popular ranking, but efficiency can go as high as the mid-20s. Air conditioners with higher SEER ratings are often costlier but could pay for themselves over time through increased 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 cool when your air conditioner is on? Or are you often switching the temperature to stay cool? An older air conditioner might have problems keeping your home cool because of lower 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 run at multiple speeds to adapt your comfort.
Noise
Your air conditioner should provide cooling you can feel, not hear. If noise is a concern, check with us about installing a variable-speed air conditioner. Most of these air conditioners operate at a sound level that’s comparable to a normal conversation.
Smart Thermostat Compatibility
Getting a smart thermostat is a good method to keep up with energy efficiency, with minimal effort needed from you. And, depending on the rebates offered by your utility company, you could be able to get a free smart thermostat or get one for a greatly reduced price. Most 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 alter temps accordingly.
If you use an outdated air conditioner, a smart thermostat might not work with it. Getting a new air conditioner is a wise way to ensure smart thermostat compatibility.
Refrigerant Type
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it potentially uses Freon®. Also known as R-22 refrigerant, Freon is no longer being produced due to its negative effects on the ozone layer. You can see if your air conditioner has R-22 by reviewing the sticker on the outside unit, which will list the refrigerant type.
If your air conditioner is operating 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 Techs Make Air Conditioning Installation Stress-Free
If you’re still trying to decide whether you should replace your 15-year-old air conditioner within the immediate future, 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 accumulate over the years.
We know that air conditioner cost is your top question. That’s why partnering with Clean Air HVAC for air conditioning installation in Pacheco and surrounding areas is easy and affordable. Our professionals will help you select 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 work with your budget.
Reach us at 925-233-6238 to request your free, no-pressure estimate now!