With adequate upkeep, your air conditioner will provide worry-free cooling for years. But, just like any other machine in your house, it will ultimately need to be upgraded. Knowing when to install a new one is important to prevent expensive repairs, expensive utility bills and interruptions to your comfort.
When it includes being cool and your home’s energy efficiency, our Comfort Zone, LLC specialists have your best interests at heart. There’s a lot that goes into deciding 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
Most of the time, 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 start prepping for air conditioning installation before it wears out so you aren’t sweltering while you’re waiting for a new one.
Reliability
How reliable is your air conditioner? Does it cool dependably, even on the warmest days? Or is it frequently malfunctioning? When your air conditioner is less dependable it’s time to start considering getting an upgraded one.
Repair Expenses
Over your air conditioner’s life span, it’s anticipated for it to need several minor repairs. But if your air conditioner repair cost is more than half the price of a new air conditioner, it’s recommended to just install a new one.
Energy Efficiency
Every air conditioner has a SEER rating, which ranks how efficiently it uses electricity to produce cooling. If your air conditioner was installed in 2006, it will be a minimum of 13 SEER per federal guidelines. However, your air conditioner becomes inefficient as it gets older.
As of now, 15–18 SEER is a popular number, but efficiency can go as high as the mid-20s. Air conditioners with greater SEER ratings are usually 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 added rebates.
Comfort
Are you comfy when your air conditioner is working? Or are you constantly dialing down the temperature to remain cool? An aging air conditioner could have trouble keeping your house comfy as a result of lower 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 blast constantly, these air conditioners run at multiple speeds to adjust your comfort.
Noise
Your air conditioner should provide cooling you can feel, not hear. If noise is a concern, check with us about getting a variable-speed air conditioner. Many of these air conditioners cool at a sound level that’s similar to a normal conversation.
Smart Thermostat Compatibility
Installing a smart thermostat is a wise method to maximize your energy efficiency, with minimal effort required from you. And, depending on the rebates provided by your utility company, you might be able to get a free smart thermostat or get one for not much. Many of these thermostats can learn from your temperature preferences and then make an energy-efficient schedule to match. They also know when you’re at home or gone and adjust settings as needed.
If you have an outdated air conditioner, a smart thermostat might not work with it. Installing a new air conditioner is a surefire way to ensure smart thermostat compatibility.
Refrigerant Style
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it likely relies on Freon®. Also referred to as R-22 refrigerant, Freon is no longer being made due to its negative effects on the ozone layer. You can see if your air conditioner uses R-22 by checking the sticker on the outside unit, which will show the refrigerant style.
If your air conditioner is operating fine, you can keep on using it. However, if it ever develops a refrigerant leak, fixing the problem will be pricey. That’s due to the fact Freon is only available in limited, recycled amounts.
Newer air conditioners run on Puron®, or R-410A. But you can’t just put Puron in a Freon air conditioner, because pressure requirements are different.
Our Professionals Make Air Conditioning Installation Stress-Free
If you’re still debating whether you should replace your 15-year-old air conditioner now, 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 add up as time goes by.
We realize that air conditioner cost is your number one question. That’s why working with Comfort Zone, LLC for air conditioning installation in Cape Coral and surrounding areas is stress-free and affordable. Our techs will help you select the right model 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 fit your budget.
Call us at 239-214-0411 to request your free, no-pressure estimate right away!