With ample upkeep, your air conditioner will deliver worry-free cooling for many years. But, just like any other machine in your home, it will eventually need to be replaced. Knowing when to install a new one is important to prevent expensive repairs, costly electrical bills and comfort disruptions.
When it comes to being cool and your house’s energy efficiency, our Stanford Heating & Cooling specialists have your best interests at the forefront. There’s a lot that goes into determining 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 center point. It’s smart to begin preparing for air conditioning installation before it wears out so you aren’t sweating while you’re waiting for a replacement.
Reliability
How trustworthy is your air conditioner? Does it cool reliably, even on the warmest days? Or is it regularly breaking down? When your air conditioner is less trustworthy it’s time to get started considering getting a new one.
Repair Expenses
Over your air conditioner’s life span, it’s anticipated for it to need several 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 replace it.
Energy Efficiency
Every air conditioner includes a SEER rating, which ranks how efficiently it consumes electricity to produce chilled air. If your air conditioner was installed in 2006, it will be at least 13 SEER according to federal mandates. 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 higher SEER ratings are typically more expensive but may pay for themselves over the years 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 added rebates.
Comfort
Are you comfy when your air conditioner is running? Or are you constantly dialing down the temperature to keep cool? An older air conditioner may have problems keeping your home comfortable because of reduced efficiency. A new air conditioner, particularly a variable-speed air conditioner, can reduce high humidity and hot and cold spots. Instead of operating at full speed continuously, these air conditioners operate at multiple speeds to adjust your comfort.
Noise
Your air conditioner should deliver cooling you can feel, not hear. If noise is annoying you, call us about installing a variable-speed air conditioner. Many of these air conditioners operate at a sound level that’s like a normal conversation.
Smart Thermostat Compatibility
Adding a smart thermostat is a smart method to keep up with energy efficiency, with not much effort required 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 very little. Many 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 change temps accordingly.
If you have an aging air conditioner, a smart thermostat might not work with it. Upgrading your air conditioner is a wise approach to ensure smart thermostat compatibility.
Refrigerant Style
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it likely relies on Freon®. Also called R-22 refrigerant, Freon is no longer being produced because of its bad 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 include the refrigerant kind.
If your air conditioner is working fine, you can keep on using it. However, if it ever develops a refrigerant leak, solving the problem will be expensive. That’s because Freon is only available in decreased, recycled amounts.
Newer air conditioners use Puron®, or R-410A. But you can’t just put Puron in a Freon air conditioner, as pressure requirements are different.
Our Technicians Make Air Conditioning Installation Stress-Free
If you’re still trying to decide whether you should replace your 15-year-old air conditioner now, think about this. The Department of Energy says doing air conditioning replacement for a 10-year-old model can result in 25–40% in energy savings! And those savings can really build over time.
We are aware that air conditioner cost is your top question. That’s why partnering with Stanford Heating & Cooling for air conditioning installation in Bloomfield and surrounding areas is stress-free and affordable. Our professionals will help you find the right option for your needs and then go over 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 812-825-8695 to request your free, no-pressure estimate today!