With proper service, your air conditioner will provide worry-free performance for many years. But, similar to any other machine in your house, it will ultimately need to be upgraded. Knowing when to install a new one is key to avoid expensive repairs, costly energy bills and interruptions to your comfort.
When it involves being cool and your home’s energy efficiency, our Edington Heating & Cooling Inc specialists have your best interests at heart. There’s a lot that goes into determining when your air conditioner requires replacement. Here are a few things you should consider when you’re thinking about upgrading your 15-year-old air conditioner.
Age
On average, the Department of Energy says many air conditioners last for 15–20 years. If yours is 15 years old, it’s well past the halfway point. It’s wise to start planning for air conditioning installation before it goes out so you aren’t roasting while you’re waiting for installation.
Reliability
How reliable is your air conditioner? Does it cool well, even on the hottest days? Or is it regularly needing repairs? When your air conditioner is less trustworthy it’s time to begin preparing to get an updated one.
Repair Bills
Over your air conditioner’s life cycle, it’s normal for it to need a few minor repairs. But if your air conditioner repair cost is more than half the cost of a new air conditioner, it’s smarter to just install a new one.
Energy Efficiency
Every air conditioner has a SEER rating, which rates how proficiently it uses electricity to create cooling. If your air conditioner was installed in 2006, it will be at least 13 SEER per federal guidelines. However, your air conditioner loses efficiency as it wears out.
Now, 15–18 SEER is a popular ranking, but efficiency can go as high as the mid-20s. Air conditioners with greater SEER ratings are often more expensive but may pay for themselves over time through improved 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 cool when your air conditioner is working? Or are you continuously switching the temperature to stay cool? An older air conditioner may struggle to keep your home comfortable due to reduced efficiency. A new air conditioner, particularly a variable-speed air conditioner, can reduce high humidity and hot and cold spots. Instead of running at full blast continuously, these air conditioners operate at multiple speeds to adjust your comfort.
Noise
Your air conditioner should provide cooling you can feel, not hear. If noise is annoying you, check with us about installing a variable-speed air conditioner. The majority of these air conditioners operate at a sound level that’s comparable to a normal conversation.
Smart Thermostat Compatibility
Installing a smart thermostat is a wise approach to maximize your energy efficiency, with minimal effort needed from you. And, depending on the rebates available by your utility company, you may be able to get a free smart thermostat or get one for not much. Most 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 gone and adjust temperatures accordingly.
If you have an outdated air conditioner, a smart thermostat might not work with it. Installing a new air conditioner is a wise method to ensure smart thermostat compatibility.
Refrigerant Kind
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it potentially uses Freon®. Also called R-22 refrigerant, Freon is no longer being manufactured due to its negative effects on the ozone layer. You can see if your air conditioner uses R-22 by reviewing the sticker on the outside unit, which will show the refrigerant style.
If your air conditioner is working fine, you can keep on using it. However, if it ever develops a refrigerant leak, repairing the problem will be expensive. 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 Technicians Make Air Conditioning Installation Stress-Free
If you’re still debating whether you should replace your 15-year-old air conditioner now, 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 over time.
We know that air conditioner cost is your number one question. That’s why working with Edington Heating & Cooling Inc for air conditioning installation in Troy and surrounding areas is simple and affordable. Our professionals will help you choose the right option 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 work with your budget.
Get in touch with us at 937-558-9478 to request your free, no-pressure estimate right away!