With adequate service, your air conditioner will deliver worry-free cooling for many years. But, just like any other appliance in your home, it will at some point need to be replaced. Knowing when to install a new one is important to avoid expensive repairs, costly electrical bills and interrupted comfort.
When it includes being cool and your residence’s energy efficiency, our West Jefferson Plumbing and Heating, Inc. pros have your best interests at heart. There’s a lot that goes into deciding when your air conditioner should be replaced. Here are several aspects you should consider when you’re thinking about upgrading your 15-year-old air conditioner.
Age
Most of the time, the Department of Energy says the majority of air conditioners work for 15–20 years. If yours is 15 years old, it’s well past the halfway point. It’s recommended to get started prepping for air conditioning installation before it fails so you aren’t sweltering while you’re waiting for installation.
Dependability
How reliable is your air conditioner? Does it cool dependably, even on the toastiest days? Or is it frequently malfunctioning? When your air conditioner starts becoming less dependable it’s time to get started considering getting a new one.
Repair Expenses
Over your air conditioner’s lifetime, it’s normal for it to need several minor 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 has a SEER rating, which rates how proficiently it consumes electricity to produce chilled air. If your air conditioner was installed in 2006, it will be a minimum of 13 SEER per federal guidelines. However, your air conditioner becomes less efficient as it gets older.
As of now, 15–18 SEER is a popular ranking, but efficiency can go as high as the mid-20s. Air conditioners with bigger SEER ratings are often pricier but might pay for themselves over the years 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 comfortable when your air conditioner is working? Or are you constantly turning down the temperature to remain cool? An old air conditioner may have trouble keeping your home comfortable as a result of reduced efficiency. A modern air conditioner, particularly a variable-speed air conditioner, can reduce high humidity and hot and cold spots. Instead of cooling at full speed all the time, these air conditioners operate at multiple speeds to adapt your comfort.
Noise
Your air conditioner should give cooling you can feel, not hear. If noise is bothering you, check with us about installing a variable-speed air conditioner. Most of these air conditioners run at a sound level that’s like an everyday conversation.
Smart Thermostat Compatibility
Adding a smart thermostat is a good approach to keep up with energy efficiency, with very little effort required from you. And, depending on the rebates provided by your utility company, you may be able to get a free smart thermostat or get one for very little. Many 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 away and alter settings accordingly.
If you have an older air conditioner, a smart thermostat might not work with it. Upgrading your air conditioner is a wise approach to ensure smart thermostat compatibility.
Refrigerant Style
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it probably relies on Freon®. Also known as R-22 refrigerant, Freon is no longer being made due to its negative effects on the ozone layer. You can see if your air conditioner runs on R-22 by checking the sticker on the outside unit, which will show the refrigerant kind.
If your air conditioner is operating fine, you can keep on using it. However, if it ever has a refrigerant leak, fixing 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 put Puron in a Freon air conditioner, since pressure requirements are different.
Our Techs Make Air Conditioning Installation Easy
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 lead to 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 partnering with West Jefferson Plumbing and Heating, Inc. for air conditioning installation in West Jefferson and surrounding areas is simple 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.
Reach us at 614-879-9091 to request your free, no-pressure estimate right away!