With ample maintenance, your air conditioner will offer worry-free performance for many years. But, just like any other appliance in your residence, it will eventually need replacement. Knowing when to replace it is important to avoid costly repairs, expensive utility bills and comfort disruptions.
When it comes to being cool and your house’s energy efficiency, our Age Heating & Cooling specialists have your best interests at heart. There’s a lot that goes into determining 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 run for 15–20 years. If yours is 15 years old, it’s well past the halfway point. It’s smart to begin preparing for air conditioning installation before it fails so you aren’t roasting while you’re waiting for installation.
Trustworthiness
How trustworthy is your air conditioner? Does it cool dependably, even on the toastiest days? Or is it regularly needing repairs? When your air conditioner is less reliable it’s time to start considering getting an updated one.
Repair Expenses
Over your air conditioner’s life cycle, it’s anticipated for it to need a handful of little repairs. But if your air conditioner repair cost is more than half the price of a new air conditioner, it’s recommended to just install a new one.
Energy Efficiency
Every air conditioner comes with a SEER rating, which measures how well it uses electricity to make cold air. If your air conditioner was installed in 2006, it will be a minimum of 13 SEER per federal rules. However, your air conditioner becomes less efficient as it gets older.
Now, 15–18 SEER is a popular range, but efficiency can go as high as the mid-20s. Air conditioners with higher SEER ratings are typically more expensive but could 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 cool when your air conditioner is on? Or are you constantly switching the temperature to remain cool? An aging air conditioner could have problems keeping your house cool as a result of lower efficiency. A modern air conditioner, particularly a variable-speed air conditioner, can lower high humidity and hot and cold spots. Instead of running at full speed all the time, 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 a concern, check with us about getting a variable-speed air conditioner. Many of these air conditioners run at a sound level that’s similar to a normal conversation.
Smart Thermostat Compatibility
Adding a smart thermostat is a smart approach to keep up with energy efficiency, with not much effort needed 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 away and change temps as needed.
If you have an outdated air conditioner, a smart thermostat might not work with it. Upgrading your air conditioner is a smart way to ensure smart thermostat compatibility.
Refrigerant Style
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it potentially uses Freon®. Also known as R-22 refrigerant, Freon is no longer being manufactured as a result of its bad 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 show the refrigerant kind.
If your air conditioner is working fine, you can keep on using it. However, if it ever experiences a refrigerant leak, solving the problem will be costly. That’s since Freon is only available in limited, recycled amounts.
Newer air conditioners run on Puron®, or R-410A. But you can’t just add Puron in a Freon air conditioner, since pressure requirements are different.
Our Techs Make Air Conditioning Installation Hassle-Free
If you’re still debating whether you should replace your 15-year-old air conditioner within the immediate future, 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 build as time goes by.
We are aware that air conditioner cost is your number one question. That’s why collaborating with Age Heating & Cooling for air conditioning installation in Sandpoint and surrounding areas is stress-free and affordable. Our technicians will help you select 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.
Call us at 208-578-4258 to request your free, no-pressure estimate today!