With adequate upkeep, your air conditioner will deliver worry-free cooling for a long time. But, just like any other thing in your house, it will ultimately need to be updated. Knowing when to install a new one is essential to prevent expensive repairs, expensive electrical bills and interrupted comfort.
When it includes being cool and your home’s energy efficiency, our Strine's Heating & Air Conditioning professionals have your best interests at the forefront. There’s a lot that goes into figuring out when your air conditioner should be replaced. Here are several things you should consider when you’re thinking about updating 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 midpoint. It’s smart to begin planning for air conditioning installation before it wears out so you aren’t roasting while you’re waiting for a replacement.
Trustworthiness
How dependable is your air conditioner? Does it cool dependably, even on the warmest days? Or is it routinely needing repairs? When your air conditioner starts becoming less trustworthy it’s time to get started preparing to get an upgraded one.
Repair Bills
Over your air conditioner’s lifetime, it’s normal for it to need a handful of small repairs. But if your air conditioner repair cost is more than half the expenses of a new air conditioner, it’s wiser to just replace it.
Energy Efficiency
Every air conditioner has a SEER rating, which measures how efficiently it consumes electricity to create chilled 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 wears out.
As of now, 15–18 SEER is a popular number, but efficiency can go as high as the mid-20s. Air conditioners with higher SEER ratings are often pricier but might pay for themselves over time 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 added rebates.
Comfort
Are you cool when your air conditioner is running? Or are you continuously dialing down the temperature to keep cool? An old air conditioner may have problems keeping your residence comfy because of reduced efficiency. A new air conditioner, particularly a variable-speed air conditioner, can lower high humidity and hot and cold spots. Instead of cooling at full speed all the time, these air conditioners work at multiple speeds to fine-tune your comfort.
Noise
Your air conditioner should deliver cooling you can feel, not hear. If noise is bothering you, ask us about upgrading to a variable-speed air conditioner. Many 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 keep up with energy efficiency, with very little effort required from you. And, depending on the rebates provided by your utility company, you may 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 temps accordingly.
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 Style
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it potentially uses Freon®. Also known as R-22 refrigerant, Freon is no longer being produced because 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 list the refrigerant kind.
If your air conditioner is working fine, you can keep on using it. However, if it ever develops a refrigerant leak, solving the problem will be expensive. That’s due to the fact Freon is only available in limited, recycled amounts.
Newer air conditioners have 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 Hassle-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 lead to 25–40% in energy savings! And those savings can really accumulate over the years.
We realize that air conditioner cost is your number one question. That’s why partnering with Strine's Heating & Air Conditioning for air conditioning installation in York and surrounding areas is stress-free and affordable. Our techs will help you choose the right model for your needs and then discuss 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 717-383-4479 to request your free, no-pressure estimate now!