With ample maintenance, your air conditioner will deliver worry-free cooling for years. But, like any other machine in your house, it will at some point need replacement. Knowing when to replace it is important to avoid expensive repairs, higher utility bills and interrupted comfort.
When it involves being cool and your residence’s energy efficiency, our Precision Mechanical specialists have your best interests at heart. There’s a lot that goes into determining when your air conditioner needs to be replaced. Here are a few aspects you should consider when you’re thinking about replacing your 15-year-old air conditioner.
Age
On average, the Department of Energy says most air conditioners last for 15–20 years. If yours is 15 years old, it’s well past the center point. It’s recommended to get started preparing for air conditioning installation before it wears out so you aren’t roasting while you’re waiting for installation.
Dependability
How trustworthy is your air conditioner? Does it cool dependably, even on the warmest days? Or is it regularly breaking down? When your air conditioner is less reliable it’s time to begin preparing to get a new one.
Repair Costs
Over your air conditioner’s life cycle, it’s anticipated for it to need a few small repairs. But if your air conditioner repair cost is more than half the price of a new air conditioner, it’s wiser to just get a new one.
Energy Efficiency
Every air conditioner includes a SEER rating, which ranks how proficiently 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 guidelines. However, your air conditioner loses efficiency as it gets older.
Today, 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 might pay for themselves over their life span through more energy savings. And purchasing 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 constantly turning down the temperature to keep cool? An aging air conditioner may have trouble keeping your house comfy due to decreased efficiency. An updated air conditioner, particularly a variable-speed air conditioner, can reduce high humidity and hot and cold spots. Instead of operating on high continuously, these air conditioners operate at multiple speeds to fine-tune your comfort.
Noise
Your air conditioner should provide cooling you can feel, not hear. If noise is annoying you, call us about upgrading to a variable-speed air conditioner. Many of these air conditioners cool at a sound level that’s like a normal conversation.
Smart Thermostat Compatibility
Adding a smart thermostat is a wise method to keep up with energy efficiency, with minimal effort needed from you. And, depending on the rebates available by your utility company, you may be able to get a free smart thermostat or get one for very little. The majority 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 away and alter temperatures as necessary.
If you rely on an older 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 relies on Freon®. Also known as R-22 refrigerant, Freon is no longer being produced due to its bad effects on the ozone layer. You can see if your air conditioner has R-22 by checking the sticker on the outside unit, which will list the refrigerant kind.
If your air conditioner is running fine, you can keep on using it. However, if it ever experiences a refrigerant leak, fixing the problem will be expensive. That’s because Freon is only available in limited, recycled amounts.
Newer air conditioners use Puron®, or R-410A. But you can’t just add Puron in a Freon air conditioner, as pressure requirements are different.
Our Professionals Make Air Conditioning Installation Stress-Free
If you’re still deciding 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 over time.
We realize that air conditioner cost is your number one question. That’s why working with Precision Mechanical for air conditioning installation in Rapid City and surrounding areas is stress-free and affordable. Our professionals will help you find 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 605-206-3766 to request your free, no-pressure estimate now!