The decision to replace an old air conditioning system can be a tough one for most homeowners. A new system can be a large investment, and the question becomes one of “Can I get a few more years by repairing it, or should I simply invest in a new one and not waste money on repair work?”. Although a new air conditioning system can be a big investment, so can the costs of continuing to repair and operate an old, inefficient system. Here are a few things to consider and evaluate.
What is the age of your unit?
You can expect a well-maintained air conditioner to last 10 to 12 years. However, if you’re in need of expensive repairs and your air conditioner is more than 8 years old, it will often make more financial sense to replace it.
A major component has failed and the warranty has expired!
Repair costs will be expensive if a major piece of the equipment has failed and is no longer covered by any kind of warranty. Serious consideration should be given to replacement if repair costs are in excess of a third of the price of a new system. New equipment will come with a 10 year manufacturer parts warrant in most cases.
Air conditioner uses R22 refrigerant
R22 refrigerant is being phased out by the EPA in order to comply with various governmental agency clean air laws. If your air conditioner uses R22 refrigerant, you’ll eventually need to replace the system in order to change to the newer R410a refrigerant. Consideration should be given to replacement if you’re having a major component failure with a system that uses R22 refrigerant.
Your home isn’t comfortable
You’re having a hard time keeping your home comfortable. This could be the sign of an aging air conditioner or even an incorrectly sized system. Regardless of the cause, you want your air conditioner to do its job! If it’s not going to keep your home cool, you’ll want to replace it with a unit that will.
Noticing higher utility bills?
Increased utility bills could be a sign that your air conditioner has to work harder to cool your home. Over time, an air conditioner becomes less efficient. So, even if your air conditioner is old and fully functioning, your cooling costs may be excessive. Some of the more efficient models can save you up to 30% on cooling costs.
Our company has successfully installed thousands of replacement air conditioning systems in the Houston area. We offer a professional evaluation and estimate on replacement systems at no charge. If you would like to know more contact us today and we’ll schedule a convenient time and show you all of the options you have.