With adequate upkeep, your air conditioner will offer worry-free performance for many years. But, similar to any other thing in your home, it will ultimately need to be upgraded. Knowing when to install a new one is essential to skip expensive repairs, higher utility bills and comfort disruptions.
When it includes staying cool and your home’s energy efficiency, our Dial One Mears Air Conditioning & Heating Inc specialists have your best interests at heart. There’s a lot that goes into figuring out when your air conditioner needs to be replaced. Here are a few points you should consider when you’re thinking about upgrading your 15-year-old air conditioner.
Age
In most instances, the Department of Energy says most air conditioners work for 15–20 years. If yours is 15 years old, it’s well past the halfway point. It’s wise to start planning for air conditioning installation before it fails so you aren’t sweating while you’re waiting for installation.
Dependability
How dependable is your air conditioner? Does it cool dependably, even on the hottest days? Or is it frequently breaking down? When your air conditioner starts becoming less dependable it’s time to start preparing to get an updated one.
Repair Expenses
Over your air conditioner’s life span, it’s normal for it to need a few minor 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 has a SEER rating, which rates how efficiently it uses electricity to create cooling. If your air conditioner was installed in 2006, it will be a minimum of 13 SEER per federal mandates. However, your air conditioner becomes less efficient as it gets older.
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 often costlier but could pay for themselves over the years 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 additional rebates.
Comfort
Are you comfy when your air conditioner is working? Or are you continuously switching the temperature to stay cool? An aging air conditioner might have trouble keeping your house comfortable due to reduced efficiency. A new air conditioner, particularly a variable-speed air conditioner, can reduce high humidity and hot and cold spots. Instead of cooling at full blast all the time, these air conditioners work at multiple speeds to fine-tune your comfort.
Noise
Your air conditioner should deliver cooling you can feel, not hear. If noise is annoying you, ask us about upgrading to a variable-speed air conditioner. Most of these air conditioners run at a sound level that’s similar to a regular conversation.
Smart Thermostat Compatibility
Adding a smart thermostat is a wise way to keep up with energy efficiency, with very little effort needed from you. And, depending on the rebates available by your utility company, you could be able to get a free smart thermostat or get one for a greatly reduced price. Many 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 change temps as necessary.
If you use an older air conditioner, a smart thermostat might not work with it. Installing a new air conditioner is a wise way to ensure smart thermostat compatibility.
Refrigerant Type
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it potentially relies on Freon®. Also known as R-22 refrigerant, Freon is no longer being produced due to 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 operating fine, you can keep on using it. However, if it ever develops a refrigerant leak, solving the problem will be costly. That’s due to the fact 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, because pressure requirements are different.
Our Professionals Make Air Conditioning Installation Hassle-Free
If you’re still deciding whether you should replace your 15-year-old air conditioner now, think over 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 realize that air conditioner cost is your top question. That’s why partnering with Dial One Mears Air Conditioning & Heating Inc for air conditioning installation in Phoenix and surrounding areas is simple and affordable. Our techs will help you select 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 work with your budget.
Get in touch with us at 602-832-7808 to request your free, no-pressure estimate now!