With proper upkeep, your air conditioner will provide worry-free service for a long time. But, like any other appliance in your house, it will ultimately need to be updated. Knowing when to replace it is important to avoid expensive repairs, costly utility bills and interrupted comfort.
When it involves keeping cool and your home’s energy efficiency, our Moyer Total Indoor Comfort specialists have your best interests at the forefront. There’s a lot that goes into deciding when your air conditioner should be replaced. Here are a few points you should consider when you’re thinking about updating your 15-year-old air conditioner.
Age
Typically, the Department of Energy says the majority of air conditioners last for 15–20 years. If yours is 15 years old, it’s well past the halfway point. It’s recommended to begin preparing for air conditioning installation before it goes out so you aren’t sweating while you’re waiting for a replacement.
Dependability
How dependable is your air conditioner? Does it cool reliably, even on the warmest days? Or is it regularly malfunctioning? When your air conditioner becomes less dependable it’s time to start preparing to get a new one.
Repair Bills
Over your air conditioner’s lifetime, it’s anticipated for it to need a few little repairs. But if your air conditioner repair cost is more than half the cost 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 proficiently it expends electricity to create cold air. If your air conditioner was installed in 2006, it will be at minimum 13 SEER per federal rules. However, your air conditioner loses efficiency as it ages.
Now, 15–18 SEER is a popular range, but efficiency can go as high as the mid-20s. Air conditioners with bigger SEER ratings are typically more expensive but may pay for themselves over time through more 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 comfortable when your air conditioner is running? Or are you continuously dialing down the temperature to keep cool? An aging air conditioner could have problems keeping your house cool as a result of lower efficiency. A modern air conditioner, particularly a variable-speed air conditioner, can minimize high humidity and hot and cold spots. Instead of operating on high constantly, these air conditioners operate 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 getting 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 method to keep up with energy efficiency, with minimal 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 a greatly reduced price. 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 out and about and adjust settings as necessary.
If you use an older air conditioner, a smart thermostat might not work with it. Installing a new air conditioner is a smart approach to ensure smart thermostat compatibility.
Refrigerant Kind
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it potentially relies on Freon®. Also referred to as R-22 refrigerant, Freon is no longer being produced because of its damaging effects on the ozone layer. You can see if your air conditioner has R-22 by checking the sticker on the outside unit, which will show the refrigerant style.
If your air conditioner is working fine, you can keep on using it. However, if it ever develops a refrigerant leak, repairing the problem will be costly. That’s because Freon is only available in decreased, recycled amounts.
Newer air conditioners use Puron®, or R-410A. But you can’t just use Puron in a Freon air conditioner, because pressure requirements are different.
Our Pros Make Air Conditioning Installation Hassle-Free
If you’re still trying to decide whether you should replace your 15-year-old air conditioner soon, consider 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 add up as time passes.
We are aware that air conditioner cost is your top question. That’s why collaborating with Moyer Total Indoor Comfort for air conditioning installation in Kutztown and Breinigsville and surrounding areas is easy and affordable. Our pros will help you select 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 work with your budget.
Get in touch with us at 484-646-3363 to request your free, no-pressure estimate now!