With adequate maintenance, your air conditioner will offer worry-free performance for a long time. But, just like any other thing in your house, it will eventually need to be upgraded. Knowing when to get a new one is important to avoid expensive repairs, higher utility bills and interruptions to your comfort.
When it comes to keeping cool and your residence’s energy efficiency, our Ambient Air professionals have your best interests at heart. There’s a lot that goes into figuring out when your air conditioner requires replacement. Here are several aspects you should consider when you’re thinking about replacing your 15-year-old air conditioner.
Age
In most instances, the Department of Energy says many air conditioners work for 15–20 years. If yours is 15 years old, it’s well past the midpoint. It’s smart to begin preparing for air conditioning installation before it wears out so you aren’t sweltering while you’re waiting for a replacement.
Reliability
How reliable is your air conditioner? Does it cool dependably, even on the toastiest days? Or is it routinely malfunctioning? When your air conditioner starts becoming less trustworthy it’s time to begin thinking about getting an upgraded one.
Repair Bills
Over your air conditioner’s life span, it’s anticipated for it to need a handful of small 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 includes a SEER rating, which ranks how efficiently it consumes electricity to make cooling. If your air conditioner was installed in 2006, it will be at minimum 13 SEER per federal guidelines. However, your air conditioner becomes inefficient as it ages.
Now, 15–18 SEER is a popular number, but efficiency can go as high as the mid-20s. Air conditioners with bigger SEER ratings are usually pricier but could pay for themselves over their life span 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 additional rebates.
Comfort
Are you comfy when your air conditioner is running? Or are you often turning down the temperature to stay cool? An old air conditioner may have trouble keeping your residence comfortable as a result of decreased efficiency. An updated air conditioner, particularly a variable-speed air conditioner, can minimize high humidity and hot and cold spots. Instead of running on high 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 a concern, check with us about upgrading to a variable-speed air conditioner. Many of these air conditioners cool at a sound level that’s like a regular conversation.
Smart Thermostat Compatibility
Getting a smart thermostat is a wise approach to maximize your energy efficiency, with very little effort necessary from you. And, depending on the rebates provided by your utility company, you could be able to get a free smart thermostat or get one for not much. The majority of these thermostats can pick up on your temperature preferences and then develop an energy-efficient schedule to match. They also know when you’re at home or out and about and alter temps accordingly.
If you have an aging air conditioner, a smart thermostat might not work with it. Installing a new air conditioner is a surefire method to ensure smart thermostat compatibility.
Refrigerant Style
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it probably runs on Freon®. Also called 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 list the refrigerant style.
If your air conditioner is working fine, you can keep on using it. However, if it ever experiences 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 run on Puron®, or R-410A. But you can’t just put Puron in a Freon air conditioner, because pressure requirements are different.
Our Pros Make Air Conditioning Installation Hassle-Free
If you’re still deciding 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 build over time.
We realize that air conditioner cost is your first question. That’s why working with Ambient Air for air conditioning installation in Tucson and surrounding areas is stress-free and affordable. Our professionals will help you select the right solution 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 work with your budget.
Reach us at 520-357-4912 to request your free, no-pressure estimate now!