With ample upkeep, your air conditioner will deliver worry-free service for many years. But, like any other machine in your residence, it will eventually need replacement. Knowing when to replace it is essential to skip pricey repairs, costly electrical bills and interrupted comfort.
When it comes to being cool and your house’s energy efficiency, our Thurston Heating & Air Conditioning specialists have your best interests at heart. There’s a lot that goes into determining when your air conditioner requires replacement. Here are a few points you should consider when you’re thinking about updating your 15-year-old air conditioner.
Age
Typically, the Department of Energy says the majority of air conditioners run for 15–20 years. If yours is 15 years old, it’s well past the midpoint. It’s recommended to get started preparing for air conditioning installation before it goes out so you aren’t roasting while you’re waiting for installation.
Trustworthiness
How reliable is your air conditioner? Does it cool well, even on the toastiest days? Or is it routinely malfunctioning? When your air conditioner starts becoming less dependable it’s time to start preparing to get an updated one.
Repair Expenses
Over your air conditioner’s lifetime, it’s expected for it to need a few small repairs. But if your air conditioner repair cost is more than half the expenses of a new air conditioner, it’s smarter to just get a new one.
Energy Efficiency
Every air conditioner includes a SEER rating, which rates how efficiently it uses electricity to create cold air. If your air conditioner was installed in 2006, it will be at minimum 13 SEER according to federal laws. However, your air conditioner becomes less efficient as it ages.
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 typically costlier but could pay for themselves over time through improved energy savings. And purchasing 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 working? Or are you often dialing down the temperature to stay cool? An old air conditioner may have trouble keeping your house comfy as a result of decreased efficiency. An updated air conditioner, particularly a variable-speed air conditioner, can minimize high humidity and hot and cold spots. Instead of running at full speed constantly, these air conditioners operate at multiple speeds to adjust your comfort.
Noise
Your air conditioner should deliver cooling you can feel, not hear. If noise is bothering you, check with us about installing a variable-speed air conditioner. The majority of these air conditioners operate at a sound level that’s like a regular conversation.
Smart Thermostat Compatibility
Getting a smart thermostat is a wise approach to maximize your energy efficiency, with very little effort required from you. And, depending on the rebates offered by your utility company, you could be able to get a free smart thermostat or get one for not much. The majority of these thermostats can learn from 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 alter temperatures as necessary.
If you rely on an outdated 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 Style
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it probably runs on Freon®. Also known as R-22 refrigerant, Freon is no longer being produced because of its negative 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 kind.
If your air conditioner is working fine, you can keep on using it. However, if it ever has a refrigerant leak, solving the problem will be expensive. That’s since 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 Professionals Make Air Conditioning Installation Stress-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 over time.
We know that air conditioner cost is your number one question. That’s why collaborating with Thurston Heating & Air Conditioning for air conditioning installation in Kearney and surrounding areas is simple and affordable. Our techs will help you select 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 fit your budget.
Reach us at 308-624-3485 to request your free, no-pressure estimate now!