With ample service, your air conditioner will provide worry-free service for a long time. But, like any other thing in your home, it will ultimately need replacement. Knowing when to get a new one is important to avoid pricey repairs, higher utility bills and interrupted comfort.
When it includes being cool and your residence’s energy efficiency, our Cytech Heating & Cooling L.C. professionals have your best interests at the forefront. 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 updating your 15-year-old air conditioner.
Age
Typically, the Department of Energy says many air conditioners run for 15–20 years. If yours is 15 years old, it’s well past the midpoint. It’s wise to get started preparing for air conditioning installation before it fails so you aren’t roasting while you’re waiting for installation.
Dependability
How dependable is your air conditioner? Does it cool reliably, even on the warmest days? Or is it routinely needing repairs? When your air conditioner becomes less reliable it’s time to start preparing to get a new one.
Repair Costs
Over your air conditioner’s lifetime, it’s anticipated for it to need a few little repairs. But if your air conditioner repair cost is more than half the price of a new air conditioner, it’s wiser to just install a new one.
Energy Efficiency
Every air conditioner comes with a SEER rating, which measures how proficiently it uses electricity to produce chilled air. If your air conditioner was installed in 2006, it will be a minimum of 13 SEER to meet federal laws. However, your air conditioner loses efficiency as it gets older.
As of 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 often costlier but could pay for themselves over time through more energy savings. And purchasing an energy-efficient air conditioner, especially one that’s an ENERGY STAR® air conditioner, can make you eligible for additional rebates.
Comfort
Are you comfy when your air conditioner is working? Or are you constantly dialing down the temperature to stay cool? An aging air conditioner might have problems keeping your home comfortable as a result of decreased efficiency. An updated air conditioner, particularly a variable-speed air conditioner, can reduce high humidity and hot and cold spots. Instead of cooling on high all the time, these air conditioners work at multiple speeds to fine-tune your comfort.
Noise
Your air conditioner should give cooling you can feel, not hear. If noise is annoying you, call us about upgrading to a variable-speed air conditioner. Most of these air conditioners operate at a sound level that’s similar to a normal conversation.
Smart Thermostat Compatibility
Installing a smart thermostat is a wise method to stay on top of energy efficiency, with not much effort needed from you. And, depending on the rebates available by your utility company, you might be able to get a free smart thermostat or get one for a greatly reduced price. Most of these thermostats can pick up on your temperature preferences and then make an energy-efficient schedule to match. They also know when you’re at home or gone and adjust temps as necessary.
If you use an older air conditioner, a smart thermostat might not work with it. Getting a new air conditioner is a surefire approach to ensure smart thermostat compatibility.
Refrigerant Type
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it potentially uses Freon®. Also called R-22 refrigerant, Freon is no longer being manufactured because of its negative effects on the ozone layer. You can see if your air conditioner uses R-22 by looking at 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, repairing the problem will be pricey. That’s due to the fact Freon is only available in decreased, recycled amounts.
Newer air conditioners run on Puron®, or R-410A. But you can’t just put Puron in a Freon air conditioner, as pressure requirements are different.
Our Professionals 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 over 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 build over the years.
We are aware that air conditioner cost is your number one question. That’s why working with Cytech Heating & Cooling L.C. for air conditioning installation in the Rio Grande Valley and surrounding areas is stress-free and affordable. Our professionals will help you find the right model for your needs and then discuss all the possibilities. These include special offers to help you save more and financing for qualified customers to make your new air conditioner fit your budget.
Call us at 956-630-3522 to request your free, no-pressure estimate today!