With proper maintenance, your air conditioner will offer worry-free service for many years. But, just like any other thing in your residence, it will at some point need replacement. Knowing when to install a new one is essential to skip costly repairs, costly energy bills and interruptions to your comfort.
When it includes keeping cool and your residence’s energy efficiency, our Gordon Air Conditioning pros have your best interests at the forefront. There’s a lot that goes into deciding when your air conditioner requires replacement. Here are several aspects you should consider when you’re thinking about upgrading your 10-year-old air conditioner.
Age
Typically, the Department of Energy says most air conditioners work for 10–20 years. If yours is 10 years old, it’s well past the center point. It’s smart to start preparing for air conditioning installation before it goes out so you aren’t roasting while you’re waiting for a new one.
Reliability
How trustworthy is your air conditioner? Does it cool dependably, even on the toastiest days? Or is it regularly malfunctioning? When your air conditioner is less dependable it’s time to start considering getting an upgraded one.
Repair Bills
Over your air conditioner’s lifetime, it’s expected 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 get a new one.
Energy Efficiency
Every air conditioner has 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 minimum 13 SEER according to federal rules. However, your air conditioner becomes inefficient as it wears out.
Now, 15–18 SEER is a popular ranking, but efficiency can go as high as the mid-20s. Air conditioners with higher SEER ratings are typically costlier but may pay for themselves over their life span through improved energy savings. And installing 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 on? Or are you often turning down the temperature to keep cool? An old air conditioner may struggle to keep your home comfy due to lower efficiency. An updated air conditioner, particularly a variable-speed air conditioner, can reduce high humidity and hot and cold spots. Instead of cooling at full blast constantly, these air conditioners run at multiple speeds to adapt your comfort.
Noise
Your air conditioner should deliver cooling you can feel, not hear. If noise is a concern, call us about installing a variable-speed air conditioner. The majority of these air conditioners run at a sound level that’s comparable to a regular conversation.
Smart Thermostat Compatibility
Getting a smart thermostat is a good method to maximize your energy efficiency, with not much effort required from you. And, depending on the rebates offered by your utility company, you might be able to get a free smart thermostat or get one for very little. Most of these thermostats can adjust to your temperature preferences and then develop an energy-efficient schedule to match. They also know when you’re at home or away and alter settings as necessary.
If you rely on an older air conditioner, a smart thermostat might not work with it. Getting a new air conditioner is a smart way to ensure smart thermostat compatibility.
Refrigerant Style
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it probably uses Freon®. Also referred to as R-22 refrigerant, Freon is no longer being manufactured because of its negative effects on the ozone layer. You can see if your air conditioner has R-22 by looking at 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 has a refrigerant leak, repairing the problem will be expensive. That’s because 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 Professionals Make Air Conditioning Installation Easy
If you’re still debating whether you should replace your 10-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 as time passes.
We know that air conditioner cost is your number one question. That’s why collaborating with Gordon Air Conditioning for air conditioning installation in Crestview and surrounding areas is simple and affordable. Our professionals will help you choose 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 fit your budget.
Get in touch with us at 850-250-0335 to request your free, no-pressure estimate now!