With adequate upkeep, your air conditioner will provide worry-free service for many years. But, just like any other machine in your home, it will at some point need replacement. Knowing when to install a new one is key to prevent expensive repairs, expensive electrical bills and interrupted comfort.
When it involves staying cool and your home’s energy efficiency, our A&M Heating & Cooling LLC 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 few things you should consider when you’re thinking about updating 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 midpoint. It’s recommended to start planning for air conditioning installation before it wears out so you aren’t sweltering while you’re waiting for a new one.
Trustworthiness
How reliable is your air conditioner? Does it cool well, even on the warmest days? Or is it regularly breaking down? When your air conditioner becomes less dependable it’s time to start preparing to get an updated one.
Repair Bills
Over your air conditioner’s life span, it’s normal for it to need a handful of small repairs. But if your air conditioner repair cost is more than half the expenses of a new air conditioner, it’s wiser to just replace it.
Energy Efficiency
Every air conditioner comes with a SEER rating, which measures how proficiently it consumes electricity to make cold air. If your air conditioner was installed in 2006, it will be at minimum 13 SEER per federal guidelines. However, your air conditioner loses efficiency as it wears out.
Now, 15–18 SEER is a popular number, but efficiency can go as high as the mid-20s. Air conditioners with bigger SEER ratings are often costlier but may pay for themselves over the years 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 extra rebates.
Comfort
Are you comfy when your air conditioner is running? Or are you continuously turning down the temperature to remain cool? An old air conditioner could struggle to keep your home comfortable because of decreased efficiency. An updated air conditioner, particularly a variable-speed air conditioner, can lower high humidity and hot and cold spots. Instead of cooling on high continuously, these air conditioners operate at multiple speeds to adapt your comfort.
Noise
Your air conditioner should deliver cooling you can feel, not hear. If noise is a concern, call us about getting a variable-speed air conditioner. Many of these air conditioners cool at a sound level that’s comparable to a normal conversation.
Smart Thermostat Compatibility
Getting a smart thermostat is a wise 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 might be able to get a free smart thermostat or get one for a greatly reduced price. The majority of these thermostats can pick up on your temperature preferences and then create an energy-efficient schedule to match. They also know when you’re at home or out and about and change settings accordingly.
If you have an older air conditioner, a smart thermostat might not work with it. Getting a new air conditioner is a wise method to ensure smart thermostat compatibility.
Refrigerant Type
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it probably runs on Freon®. Also referred to as 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 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, repairing the problem will be costly. That’s because Freon is only available in reduced, recycled amounts.
Newer air conditioners have Puron®, or R-410A. But you can’t just put Puron in a Freon air conditioner, as pressure requirements are different.
Our Technicians Make Air Conditioning Installation Hassle-Free
If you’re still deciding whether you should replace your 15-year-old air conditioner soon, 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 over the years.
We know that air conditioner cost is your number one question. That’s why working with A&M Heating & Cooling LLC for air conditioning installation in Tucson and surrounding areas is stress-free and affordable. Our technicians will help you find 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.
Reach us at 520-200-1048 to request your free, no-pressure estimate right away!