With ample upkeep, your air conditioner will offer worry-free performance for many years. But, similar to any other appliance in your home, it will at some point need replacement. Knowing when to install a new one is important to prevent pricey repairs, costly utility bills and comfort disruptions.
When it comes to being cool and your home’s energy efficiency, our Farnell Heating & Air Conditioning Inc specialists are looking out for your best interests. There’s a lot that goes into figuring out when your air conditioner requires replacement. Here are a couple of points you should consider when you’re thinking about upgrading your 15-year-old air conditioner.
Age
Typically, the Department of Energy says most air conditioners last for 15–20 years. If yours is 15 years old, it’s well past the center point. It’s wise to get started prepping for air conditioning installation before it goes out so you aren’t roasting while you’re waiting for a new one.
Trustworthiness
How dependable is your air conditioner? Does it cool well, even on the warmest days? Or is it frequently needing repairs? When your air conditioner is less dependable it’s time to begin considering getting an upgraded one.
Repair Bills
Over your air conditioner’s life cycle, it’s expected for it to need several small repairs. But if your air conditioner repair cost is more than half the price of a new air conditioner, it’s wiser to just replace it.
Energy Efficiency
Every air conditioner includes a SEER rating, which measures how efficiently it expends electricity to make chilled air. If your air conditioner was installed in 2006, it will be at minimum 13 SEER to meet federal mandates. However, your air conditioner becomes less efficient as it gets older.
Today, 15–18 SEER is a popular number, but efficiency can go as high as the mid-20s. Air conditioners with greater SEER ratings are typically pricier but could pay for themselves over time 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 on? Or are you constantly dialing down the temperature to keep cool? An aging air conditioner could have problems keeping your home cool due to decreased efficiency. A modern air conditioner, particularly a variable-speed air conditioner, can lower high humidity and hot and cold spots. Instead of cooling at full blast continuously, 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 annoying you, ask us about upgrading to a variable-speed air conditioner. Many of these air conditioners run at a sound level that’s like a regular conversation.
Smart Thermostat Compatibility
Getting a smart thermostat is a smart approach to keep up with energy efficiency, with very little effort necessary from you. And, depending on the rebates available by your utility company, you could be able to get a free smart thermostat or get one for not much. 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 out and about 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 surefire method to ensure smart thermostat compatibility.
Refrigerant Type
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it probably relies on Freon®. Also known as R-22 refrigerant, Freon is no longer being manufactured due to its damaging 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 include the refrigerant type.
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 reduced, recycled amounts.
Newer air conditioners run on Puron®, or R-410A. But you can’t just use Puron in a Freon air conditioner, as pressure requirements are different.
Our Professionals 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, 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 realize that air conditioner cost is your number one question. That’s why partnering with Farnell Heating & Air Conditioning Inc for air conditioning installation in Mobile and surrounding areas is stress-free and affordable. Our pros will help you select the right solution 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.
Get in touch with us at 251-471-2674 to request your free, no-pressure estimate today!