With ample upkeep, your air conditioner will provide worry-free service for years. But, similar to any other thing in your residence, it will at some point need replacement. Knowing when to replace it is key to skip pricey repairs, costly electrical bills and interrupted comfort.

When it involves being cool and your house’s energy efficiency, our Pliescott HVAC Services LLC pros 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 many 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 wears out so you aren’t sweating while you’re waiting for a replacement.

Dependability

How reliable is your air conditioner? Does it cool well, even on the toastiest days? Or is it regularly malfunctioning? When your air conditioner is less trustworthy it’s time to begin preparing to get an updated one.

Repair Costs

Over your air conditioner’s life cycle, it’s normal for it to need a handful of small repairs. But if your air conditioner repair cost is more than half the price of a new air conditioner, it’s wiser to just replace it.

Energy Efficiency

Every air conditioner has a SEER rating, which measures how well it expends electricity to produce cold air. If your air conditioner was installed in 2006, it will be at least 13 SEER per federal mandates. However, your air conditioner becomes less efficient as it wears out.

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 often costlier but could pay for themselves over time through more energy savings. And getting an energy-efficient air conditioner, especially one that’s an ENERGY STAR® air conditioner, can make you eligible for extra rebates.

Comfort

Are you cool when your air conditioner is running? Or are you often dialing down the temperature to remain cool? An older air conditioner might have trouble keeping your residence comfy because of decreased efficiency. A modern air conditioner, particularly a variable-speed air conditioner, can minimize high humidity and hot and cold spots. Instead of cooling at full speed constantly, these air conditioners operate at multiple speeds to adapt your comfort.

Noise

Your air conditioner should give cooling you can feel, not hear. If noise is a concern, call us about installing a variable-speed air conditioner. The majority of these air conditioners cool at a sound level that’s similar to a regular conversation.

Smart Thermostat Compatibility

Getting a smart thermostat is a wise method to maximize your energy efficiency, with not much effort necessary from you. And, depending on the rebates provided by your utility company, you may be able to get a free smart thermostat or get one for a greatly reduced price. 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 temps as necessary.

If you rely on an aging air conditioner, a smart thermostat might not work with it. Installing a new air conditioner is a smart method to ensure smart thermostat compatibility.

Refrigerant Kind

If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it potentially runs on Freon®. Also called R-22 refrigerant, Freon is no longer being manufactured because of its bad 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 list the refrigerant kind.

If your air conditioner is running fine, you can keep on using it. However, if it ever experiences a refrigerant leak, solving the problem will be pricey. That’s due to the fact Freon is only available in limited, recycled amounts.

Newer air conditioners run on 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 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 lead to 25–40% in energy savings! And those savings can really accumulate over the years.

We realize that air conditioner cost is your number one question. That’s why working with Pliescott HVAC Services LLC for air conditioning installation in Cambridge and surrounding areas is stress-free and affordable. Our techs will help you choose the right solution 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 410-228-4822 to request your free, no-pressure estimate now!