With adequate service, your air conditioner will provide worry-free performance for years. But, just like any other thing in your home, it will at some point need to be updated. Knowing when to get a new one is important to skip expensive repairs, costly electrical bills and interrupted comfort.
When it comes to staying cool and your home’s energy efficiency, our County Line Mechanical LLC professionals are looking out for your best interests. There’s a lot that goes into figuring out when your air conditioner requires replacement. Here are a few points 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 last for 15–20 years. If yours is 15 years old, it’s well past the center point. It’s smart to start prepping for air conditioning installation before it wears out so you aren’t sweltering while you’re waiting for installation.
Trustworthiness
How reliable is your air conditioner? Does it cool reliably, even on the hottest days? Or is it regularly breaking down? When your air conditioner is less trustworthy it’s time to get started thinking about getting an upgraded one.
Repair Bills
Over your air conditioner’s lifetime, it’s normal for it to need several little repairs. But if your air conditioner repair cost is more than half the expenses of a new air conditioner, it’s recommended to just get a new one.
Energy Efficiency
Every air conditioner includes a SEER rating, which measures how efficiently it expends electricity to produce cold air. If your air conditioner was installed in 2006, it will be at minimum 13 SEER per federal mandates. However, your air conditioner becomes less efficient as it wears out.
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 typically costlier but might pay for themselves over their life span through increased energy savings. And installing an energy-efficient air conditioner, especially one that’s an ENERGY STAR® air conditioner, can make you eligible for extra rebates.
Comfort
Are you comfy when your air conditioner is on? Or are you often turning down the temperature to remain cool? An old air conditioner may have trouble keeping your residence comfy as a result of reduced efficiency. A new air conditioner, particularly a variable-speed air conditioner, can minimize high humidity and hot and cold spots. Instead of operating at full speed continuously, these air conditioners work 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 installing a variable-speed air conditioner. Most of these air conditioners run at a sound level that’s like a normal conversation.
Smart Thermostat Compatibility
Getting a smart thermostat is a smart method to maximize your energy efficiency, with minimal effort needed from you. And, depending on the rebates offered by your utility company, you may be able to get a free smart thermostat or get one for very little. Many of these thermostats can learn from your temperature preferences and then develop an energy-efficient schedule to match. They also know when you’re at home or gone and alter temperatures as necessary.
If you rely on an outdated 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 runs on Freon®. Also known as R-22 refrigerant, Freon is no longer being produced as a result of its damaging effects on the ozone layer. You can see if your air conditioner uses R-22 by looking at the sticker on the outside unit, which will list the refrigerant style.
If your air conditioner is operating fine, you can keep on using it. However, if it ever experiences a refrigerant leak, solving the problem will be expensive. That’s since Freon is only available in reduced, recycled amounts.
Newer air conditioners have Puron®, or R-410A. But you can’t just use Puron in a Freon air conditioner, since pressure requirements are different.
Our Pros Make Air Conditioning Installation Easy
If you’re still debating whether you should replace your 15-year-old air conditioner soon, think about 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 accumulate over time.
We are aware that air conditioner cost is your first question. That’s why collaborating with County Line Mechanical LLC for air conditioning installation in Reinholds and surrounding areas is stress-free and affordable. Our techs will help you choose the right model 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 accommodate your budget.
Get in touch with us at 717-216-0846 to request your free, no-pressure estimate right away!