With proper service, your air conditioner will deliver worry-free service for many years. But, just like any other appliance in your home, it will at some point need to be updated. Knowing when to get a new one is important to prevent costly repairs, higher energy bills and interrupted comfort.
When it involves staying cool and your residence’s energy efficiency, our McFadden Heating & Cooling pros have your best interests at the forefront. There’s a lot that goes into figuring out when your air conditioner needs to be replaced. Here are several aspects 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 center point. It’s wise to get started planning for air conditioning installation before it goes out so you aren’t sweltering while you’re waiting for a new one.
Trustworthiness
How reliable is your air conditioner? Does it cool reliably, even on the warmest days? Or is it routinely malfunctioning? When your air conditioner is less trustworthy it’s time to start thinking about getting a new one.
Repair Bills
Over your air conditioner’s lifetime, it’s normal for it to need a handful of little repairs. But if your air conditioner repair cost is more than half the expenses of a new air conditioner, it’s smarter to just replace it.
Energy Efficiency
Every air conditioner has a SEER rating, which rates how proficiently it uses electricity to make cold air. If your air conditioner was installed in 2006, it will be at least 13 SEER according to federal laws. However, your air conditioner loses efficiency as it gets older.
As of 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 pricier but might pay for themselves over their life span through more 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 cool when your air conditioner is running? Or are you continuously switching the temperature to remain cool? An aging air conditioner may have problems keeping your residence comfortable as a result of lower efficiency. A modern air conditioner, particularly a variable-speed air conditioner, can minimize high humidity and hot and cold spots. Instead of cooling at full speed constantly, these air conditioners work at multiple speeds to adjust your comfort.
Noise
Your air conditioner should give cooling you can feel, not hear. If noise is annoying you, ask us about getting a variable-speed air conditioner. Most of these air conditioners operate at a sound level that’s like a normal conversation.
Smart Thermostat Compatibility
Getting a smart thermostat is a wise way 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 very little. The majority of these thermostats can adjust to your temperature preferences and then create an energy-efficient schedule to match. They also know when you’re at home or away and adjust temps accordingly.
If you have an older air conditioner, a smart thermostat might not work with it. Upgrading your air conditioner is a wise approach to ensure smart thermostat compatibility.
Refrigerant Kind
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it probably uses Freon®. Also referred to as R-22 refrigerant, Freon is no longer being produced because of its bad effects on the ozone layer. You can see if your air conditioner runs on R-22 by checking the sticker on the outside unit, which will include the refrigerant style.
If your air conditioner is working fine, you can keep on using it. However, if it ever has a refrigerant leak, repairing the problem will be expensive. That’s because Freon is only available in decreased, recycled amounts.
Newer air conditioners use 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 Stress-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 provide 25–40% in energy savings! And those savings can really accumulate over the years.
We are aware that air conditioner cost is your first question. That’s why partnering with McFadden Heating & Cooling for air conditioning installation in Dresden and surrounding areas is stress-free and affordable. Our technicians will help you find the right model 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 1-866-781-0111 to request your free, no-pressure estimate right away!