With adequate upkeep, your air conditioner will provide worry-free service for many years. But, like any other machine in your home, it will eventually need to be upgraded. Knowing when to get a new one is essential to skip pricey repairs, costly electrical bills and comfort disruptions.
When it comes to being cool and your home’s energy efficiency, our McFadden Heating & Cooling specialists have your best interests at heart. There’s a lot that goes into deciding when your air conditioner should be replaced. Here are several points you should consider when you’re thinking about upgrading your 15-year-old air conditioner.
Age
In most instances, the Department of Energy says the majority of air conditioners last for 15–20 years. If yours is 15 years old, it’s well past the midpoint. It’s wise to start preparing for air conditioning installation before it goes out so you aren’t sweltering while you’re waiting for a new one.
Reliability
How trustworthy is your air conditioner? Does it cool well, even on the hottest days? Or is it frequently malfunctioning? When your air conditioner is less dependable it’s time to start preparing to get an updated one.
Repair Expenses
Over your air conditioner’s lifetime, it’s normal 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 recommended to just get a new one.
Energy Efficiency
Every air conditioner includes a SEER rating, which ranks how well it expends electricity to create cold air. If your air conditioner was installed in 2006, it will be at minimum 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 greater SEER ratings are typically costlier but may pay for themselves over time through increased energy savings. And getting an energy-efficient air conditioner, especially one that’s an ENERGY STAR® air conditioner, can make you eligible for extra rebates.
Comfort
Are you comfortable when your air conditioner is running? Or are you constantly dialing down the temperature to keep cool? An old air conditioner may have trouble keeping your residence comfy because of lower efficiency. An updated air conditioner, particularly a variable-speed air conditioner, can lower high humidity and hot and cold spots. Instead of operating at full speed all the time, these air conditioners run at multiple speeds to adapt your comfort.
Noise
Your air conditioner should deliver cooling you can feel, not hear. If noise is annoying you, call us about getting a variable-speed air conditioner. The majority of these air conditioners run at a sound level that’s comparable to a regular conversation.
Smart Thermostat Compatibility
Getting a smart thermostat is a good way to maximize your energy efficiency, with minimal effort required from you. And, depending on the rebates provided by your utility company, you could be able to get a free smart thermostat or get one for a greatly reduced price. Most of these thermostats can pick up on your temperature preferences and then develop an energy-efficient schedule to match. They also know when you’re at home or out and about and alter temps as necessary.
If you use an older air conditioner, a smart thermostat might not work with it. Upgrading your air conditioner is a wise method to ensure smart thermostat compatibility.
Refrigerant Type
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it likely runs on Freon®. Also referred to as R-22 refrigerant, Freon is no longer being manufactured 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 running fine, you can keep on using it. However, if it ever develops a refrigerant leak, fixing the problem will be pricey. That’s because 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 Pros Make Air Conditioning Installation Easy
If you’re still debating whether you should replace your 15-year-old air conditioner soon, think over 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 accumulate over the years.
We know that air conditioner cost is your top question. That’s why collaborating with McFadden Heating & Cooling for air conditioning installation in Dresden and surrounding areas is simple and affordable. Our techs will help you select the right option for your needs and then review 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 519-683-2339 to request your free, no-pressure estimate today!