With adequate service, your air conditioner will offer worry-free service for years. But, like any other thing in your house, it will at some point need replacement. Knowing when to get a new one is important to skip expensive repairs, higher electrical bills and interrupted comfort.
When it includes keeping cool and your home’s energy efficiency, our Custom Air Systems Inc specialists are looking out for your best interests. There’s a lot that goes into determining when your air conditioner requires replacement. Here are a couple of aspects you should consider when you’re thinking about updating your 15-year-old air conditioner.
Age
Most of the time, the Department of Energy says the majority of air conditioners last for 15–20 years. If yours is 15 years old, it’s well past the center point. It’s recommended to get started preparing for air conditioning installation before it wears out so you aren’t sweating while you’re waiting for installation.
Trustworthiness
How reliable is your air conditioner? Does it cool reliably, even on the toastiest days? Or is it frequently breaking down? When your air conditioner is less dependable it’s time to begin preparing to get an upgraded one.
Repair Expenses
Over your air conditioner’s life cycle, it’s expected for it to need a handful of small repairs. But if your air conditioner repair cost is more than half the cost of a new air conditioner, it’s recommended to just get a new one.
Energy Efficiency
Every air conditioner includes a SEER rating, which measures how efficiently it expends electricity to produce cooling. If your air conditioner was installed in 2006, it will be at least 13 SEER according to federal rules. However, your air conditioner becomes inefficient 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 usually pricier but might pay for themselves over time through more 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 dialing down the temperature to stay cool? An older air conditioner may have trouble keeping your house comfortable 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 running at full blast constantly, these air conditioners run at multiple speeds to fine-tune your comfort.
Noise
Your air conditioner should deliver cooling you can feel, not hear. If noise is bothering you, call us about installing a variable-speed air conditioner. Many of these air conditioners cool at a sound level that’s like an everyday conversation.
Smart Thermostat Compatibility
Getting a smart thermostat is a good method to maximize your energy efficiency, with very little effort necessary 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 not much. Many 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 gone and alter temperatures as necessary.
If you have 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 Kind
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it likely relies on Freon®. Also referred to as R-22 refrigerant, Freon is no longer being produced due to its bad 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 include the refrigerant style.
If your air conditioner is running fine, you can keep on using it. However, if it ever develops a refrigerant leak, fixing the problem will be pricey. That’s because Freon is only available in reduced, recycled amounts.
Newer air conditioners use Puron®, or R-410A. But you can’t just put Puron in a Freon air conditioner, because 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 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 accumulate as time goes by.
We realize that air conditioner cost is your number one question. That’s why working with Custom Air Systems Inc for air conditioning installation in Port St. Lucie and surrounding areas is stress-free and affordable. Our technicians will help you choose 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.
Call us at 772-247-2283 to request your free, no-pressure estimate now!