With proper service, your air conditioner will deliver worry-free performance for years. But, just like any other appliance in your home, it will at some point need replacement. Knowing when to get a new one is key to skip pricey repairs, higher electrical bills and comfort disruptions.
When it includes staying cool and your house’s energy efficiency, our Hix Air Conditioning Service, Inc. professionals are looking out for your best interests. There’s a lot that goes into deciding when your air conditioner should be replaced. Here are several points you should consider when you’re thinking about replacing your 15-year-old air conditioner.
Age
Typically, the Department of Energy says most air conditioners work for 15–20 years. If yours is 15 years old, it’s well past the center point. It’s smart to start planning for air conditioning installation before it wears out so you aren’t sweating while you’re waiting for a replacement.
Trustworthiness
How dependable is your air conditioner? Does it cool reliably, even on the toastiest days? Or is it frequently breaking down? When your air conditioner starts becoming less dependable it’s time to start thinking about getting an updated one.
Repair Bills
Over your air conditioner’s life span, it’s expected for it to need several little repairs. But if your air conditioner repair cost is more than half the cost of a new air conditioner, it’s wiser to just get a new one.
Energy Efficiency
Every air conditioner includes a SEER rating, which measures how efficiently it expends electricity to create chilled air. If your air conditioner was installed in 2006, it will be a minimum of 13 SEER per federal rules. However, your air conditioner loses efficiency as it ages.
Today, 15–18 SEER is a popular number, but efficiency can go as high as the mid-20s. Air conditioners with higher SEER ratings are usually costlier but may pay for themselves over their life span through increased energy savings. And purchasing 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 continuously dialing down the temperature to remain cool? An older air conditioner might struggle to keep your residence comfy because of decreased efficiency. An updated air conditioner, particularly a variable-speed air conditioner, can reduce high humidity and hot and cold spots. Instead of running on high continuously, these air conditioners work at multiple speeds to adapt your comfort.
Noise
Your air conditioner should provide cooling you can feel, not hear. If noise is bothering you, check with us about getting a variable-speed air conditioner. Many of these air conditioners operate at a sound level that’s comparable to an everyday conversation.
Smart Thermostat Compatibility
Installing a smart thermostat is a good way to keep up with energy efficiency, with very little effort required from you. And, depending on the rebates provided 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 pick up on your temperature preferences and then create an energy-efficient schedule to match. They also know when you’re at home or gone and adjust temps as necessary.
If you have an outdated air conditioner, a smart thermostat might not work with it. Installing a new air conditioner is a surefire method to ensure smart thermostat compatibility.
Refrigerant Type
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it likely relies on Freon®. Also referred to as R-22 refrigerant, Freon is no longer being made as a result of its damaging effects on the ozone layer. You can see if your air conditioner runs on R-22 by reviewing the sticker on the outside unit, which will show the refrigerant kind.
If your air conditioner is running fine, you can keep on using it. However, if it ever experiences a refrigerant leak, repairing the problem will be costly. That’s because Freon is only available in limited, recycled amounts.
Newer air conditioners have Puron®, or R-410A. But you can’t just put Puron in a Freon air conditioner, as pressure requirements are different.
Our Techs Make Air Conditioning Installation Stress-Free
If you’re still trying to decide whether you should replace your 15-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 result in 25–40% in energy savings! And those savings can really accumulate as time goes by.
We realize that air conditioner cost is your first question. That’s why partnering with Hix Air Conditioning Service, Inc. for air conditioning installation in Muskogee and surrounding areas is easy and affordable. Our techs will help you choose the right model for your needs and then review 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.
Reach us at 918-682-8238 to request your free, no-pressure estimate now!