With proper maintenance, your air conditioner will deliver worry-free service for years. But, similar to any other thing in your house, it will at some point need to be replaced. Knowing when to install a new one is important to prevent pricey repairs, higher utility bills and comfort disruptions.
When it involves staying cool and your residence’s energy efficiency, our Dave's Diversified Services specialists are looking out for your best interests. There’s a lot that goes into determining when your air conditioner should be replaced. Here are a few things you should consider when you’re thinking about replacing your 15-year-old air conditioner.
Age
On average, the Department of Energy says most air conditioners work for 15–20 years. If yours is 15 years old, it’s well past the center point. It’s wise to begin preparing for air conditioning installation before it fails so you aren’t sweltering while you’re waiting for a new one.
Reliability
How reliable is your air conditioner? Does it cool dependably, even on the hottest days? Or is it routinely breaking down? When your air conditioner becomes less trustworthy it’s time to get started considering getting an updated one.
Repair Bills
Over your air conditioner’s lifetime, it’s expected for it to need a handful of minor repairs. But if your air conditioner repair cost is more than half the cost of a new air conditioner, it’s wiser to just replace it.
Energy Efficiency
Every air conditioner comes with a SEER rating, which rates how proficiently it expends electricity to create chilled air. If your air conditioner was installed in 2006, it will be a minimum of 13 SEER according to federal mandates. 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 could pay for themselves over time through increased energy savings. And installing 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 on? Or are you continuously turning down the temperature to remain cool? An older air conditioner may have trouble keeping your residence comfortable as a result of 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 constantly, these air conditioners run at multiple speeds to adjust your comfort.
Noise
Your air conditioner should provide 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 run at a sound level that’s similar to a normal conversation.
Smart Thermostat Compatibility
Installing a smart thermostat is a smart method to keep up with energy efficiency, with very little effort required 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 very little. Many 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 change temps as necessary.
If you use an older air conditioner, a smart thermostat might not work with it. Installing a new air conditioner is a smart way to ensure smart thermostat compatibility.
Refrigerant Style
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it likely uses Freon®. Also referred to as R-22 refrigerant, Freon is no longer being produced as a result of its negative effects on the ozone layer. You can see if your air conditioner runs on R-22 by reviewing the sticker on the outside unit, which will include the refrigerant kind.
If your air conditioner is running fine, you can keep on using it. However, if it ever experiences 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 result in 25–40% in energy savings! And those savings can really add up as time passes.
We realize that air conditioner cost is your number one question. That’s why collaborating with Dave's Diversified Services for air conditioning installation in Front Royal and surrounding areas is simple 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.
Reach us at 540-636-3396 to request your free, no-pressure estimate now!