With ample service, your air conditioner will deliver worry-free cooling for a long time. But, like any other machine in your home, it will eventually need to be updated. Knowing when to get a new one is important to avoid expensive repairs, higher utility bills and comfort disruptions.
When it involves being cool and your house’s energy efficiency, our Air Commander's Heating & Air Conditioning Co. specialists have your best interests at the forefront. There’s a lot that goes into figuring out when your air conditioner requires replacement. Here are a few aspects you should consider when you’re thinking about upgrading your 15-year-old air conditioner.
Age
On average, the Department of Energy says most air conditioners run for 15–20 years. If yours is 15 years old, it’s well past the center point. It’s wise to start planning for air conditioning installation before it goes out so you aren’t roasting while you’re waiting for a new one.
Reliability
How dependable is your air conditioner? Does it cool dependably, even on the warmest days? Or is it regularly breaking down? When your air conditioner becomes less dependable it’s time to begin thinking about getting an updated one.
Repair Expenses
Over your air conditioner’s life cycle, it’s anticipated for it to need a handful of small repairs. But if your air conditioner repair cost is more than half the cost of a new air conditioner, it’s smarter to just install a new one.
Energy Efficiency
Every air conditioner includes a SEER rating, which ranks how proficiently it expends electricity to create chilled air. If your air conditioner was installed in 2006, it will be at least 13 SEER to meet federal rules. However, your air conditioner becomes less efficient as it ages.
Today, 15–18 SEER is a popular range, but efficiency can go as high as the mid-20s. Air conditioners with bigger SEER ratings are often costlier but might pay for themselves over their life span 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 on? Or are you constantly switching the temperature to remain cool? An old air conditioner might struggle to keep your residence comfortable as a result of reduced efficiency. A new air conditioner, particularly a variable-speed air conditioner, can reduce high humidity and hot and cold spots. Instead of operating at full speed all the time, these air conditioners run at multiple speeds to adjust your comfort.
Noise
Your air conditioner should give cooling you can feel, not hear. If noise is a concern, call us about upgrading to a variable-speed air conditioner. The majority of these air conditioners operate at a sound level that’s comparable to a regular conversation.
Smart Thermostat Compatibility
Installing a smart thermostat is a smart method to keep up with energy efficiency, with very little effort needed from you. And, depending on the rebates available by your utility company, you could be able to get a free smart thermostat or get one for a greatly reduced price. Many 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 away and alter temperatures as necessary.
If you use an aging air conditioner, a smart thermostat might not work with it. Installing a new air conditioner is a surefire approach to ensure smart thermostat compatibility.
Refrigerant Type
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it potentially runs on Freon®. Also called R-22 refrigerant, Freon is no longer being produced as a result of its damaging effects on the ozone layer. You can see if your air conditioner has R-22 by reviewing the sticker on the outside unit, which will show 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 since Freon is only available in reduced, 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 Pros Make Air Conditioning Installation Easy
If you’re still deciding whether you should replace your 15-year-old air conditioner soon, consider 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 build over the years.
We know that air conditioner cost is your top question. That’s why partnering with Air Commander's Heating & Air Conditioning Co. for air conditioning installation in Haines City and surrounding areas is easy and affordable. Our professionals will help you choose the right option 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.
Get in touch with us at 863-216-2923 to request your free, no-pressure estimate right away!