As a homeowner, one of the toughest decisions you’ll have to make about your air conditioner is when it’s time to purchase a new unit. Although a new air conditioner can be a big investment, so can the costs of continuing to repair and operate an old, inefficient unit.
So how are you supposed to know when it’s time to replace your air conditioner? Listed below we discuss some topics that can help you make your decision.
Consider the following:
- Air conditioner is more than 10 years old.
In general, you can expect a well-maintained air conditioner to last about 15 years. However, if you’re in need of expensive repairs and your air conditioner is more than 10 years old, it will often make more sense to replace it. This is especially true when you consider the advancements in efficiency seen with air conditioners in the past decade. - Air conditioner is inefficient.
If your air conditioner has a low SEER rating (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio), it can cost you more money to operate. To estimate your potential savings, look for the SEER number on your current AC unit. If your SEER is listed as 10 or below, you should consider replacing it.Newly manufactured air conditioners must have a SEER rating of at least 13. If your air conditioner’s SEER rating is below 13, you can reduce your energy consumption by replacing it with a new, more efficient unit. According to Energy.gov, even if an air conditioner is only 10 years old, you can “save 20% to 40% of your cooling energy costs by replacing it with a newer, more efficient model.” - You’re facing expensive repairs.
Any time you’re facing an expensive repair, you’ll want to weigh the costs of the repair against the costs of a new unit. If the cost of the repair would cover a large part of a new system, and especially if your air conditioner is showing signs of requiring additional servicing or future break downs, it will likely make more financial sense to replace it. - Frequent breakdowns.
Has your air conditioner repeatedly broken down? Are calling professional repair service regularly, due to new problems with your unit? Repair costs can quickly add up, and it doesn’t make good financial sense to keep repairing an older unit. Save yourself the headaches and money by investing in a new more efficient unit. - Air conditioner uses R 22 Freon.
In 2010 the Environmental Protection Agency banned the manufacture of air conditioners with R-22. The refrigerant is still available for repair work on older units, but it is very expensive due to its reduced availability. New air conditioners use refrigerants that are more efficient and safer for the environment. If you’re having major problems with your air conditioner, especially if they involve the need for more Freon, it’s probably a good time to replace your unit. - Your home isn’t comfortable.
Regardless of the cause, you want your air conditioner to do its job! If your air conditioning is having a hard time keeping your home cool, it could be a sign of an aging air conditioner or even an incorrectly sized system. If it’s not going to keep your home cool, you’ll want to replace it with a unit that will.