With proper upkeep, your air conditioner will deliver worry-free service for many years. But, just like any other thing in your home, it will eventually need to be replaced. Knowing when to install a new one is key to avoid pricey repairs, costly electrical bills and interruptions to your comfort.
When it involves being cool and your home’s energy efficiency, our JTech Mechanical pros have your best interests at heart. There’s a lot that goes into figuring out when your air conditioner should be replaced. Here are a few points you should consider when you’re thinking about upgrading your 15-year-old air conditioner.
Age
On average, 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 halfway point. It’s smart to begin preparing for air conditioning installation before it fails so you aren’t roasting while you’re waiting for a replacement.
Trustworthiness
How trustworthy is your air conditioner? Does it cool well, even on the hottest days? Or is it frequently malfunctioning? When your air conditioner becomes less dependable it’s time to initiate thinking about getting an updated one.
Repair Bills
Over your air conditioner’s life cycle, it’s expected 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 wiser to just install a new one.
Energy Efficiency
Every air conditioner includes a SEER rating, which measures how proficiently it consumes electricity to create cold air. If your air conditioner was installed in 2006, it will be at minimum 13 SEER according to federal rules. However, your air conditioner loses efficiency as it wears out.
Now, 15–18 SEER is a popular ranking, but efficiency can go as high as the mid-20s. Air conditioners with higher SEER ratings are usually costlier but might pay for themselves over their life span through improved 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 cool when your air conditioner is on? Or are you often dialing down the temperature to keep cool? An older air conditioner might struggle to keep your residence comfy because of reduced efficiency. A new air conditioner, particularly a variable-speed air conditioner, can minimize high humidity and hot and cold spots. Instead of operating at full speed continuously, these air conditioners operate at multiple speeds to adapt your comfort.
Noise
Your air conditioner should give cooling you can feel, not hear. If noise is bothering you, check with us about installing a variable-speed air conditioner. Most of these air conditioners run at a sound level that’s similar to a regular conversation.
Smart Thermostat Compatibility
Adding a smart thermostat is a smart method to maximize your energy efficiency, with not much effort necessary from you. And, depending on the rebates available from your utility company, you might be able to get a free smart thermostat or get one for not much. Most of these thermostats can adjust to your temperature preferences and then make an energy-efficient schedule to match. They also know when you’re at home or out and about and change settings as necessary.
If you use an outdated air conditioner, a smart thermostat might not work with it. Installing a new air conditioner is a wise method to ensure smart thermostat compatibility.
Refrigerant Style
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 made because of its negative effects on the ozone layer. You can see if your air conditioner has R-22 by looking at the sticker on the outside unit, which will include the refrigerant style.
If your air conditioner is operating fine, you can keep on using it. However, if it ever experiences a refrigerant leak, repairing the problem will be costly. That’s due to the fact Freon is only available in decreased, recycled amounts.
Newer air conditioners run on Puron®, or R-410A. But you can’t just add Puron in a Freon air conditioner, as pressure requirements are different.
Our Techs 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 provide 25–40% in energy savings! And those savings can really accumulate as time passes.
We know that air conditioner cost is your top question. That’s why partnering with JTech Mechanical for air conditioning installation in Magnolia and surrounding areas is simple and affordable. Our techs 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 accommodate your budget.
Call us at 281-231-8768 to request your free, no-pressure estimate today!