With ample maintenance, your air conditioner will offer worry-free service for years. But, similar to any other thing in your residence, it will at some point need replacement. Knowing when to get a new one is important to skip costly repairs, expensive electrical bills and interrupted comfort.
When it involves being cool and your home’s energy efficiency, our Luikart Heating & Cooling professionals have your best interests at the forefront. There’s a lot that goes into determining when your air conditioner needs to be replaced. Here are a few points you should consider when you’re thinking about replacing your 15-year-old air conditioner.
Age
Most of the time, the Department of Energy says the majority of air conditioners run for 15–20 years. If yours is 15 years old, it’s well past the halfway point. It’s recommended to start prepping for air conditioning installation before it wears out so you aren’t sweltering while you’re waiting for a new one.
Dependability
How dependable is your air conditioner? Does it cool well, even on the toastiest days? Or is it routinely breaking down? When your air conditioner starts becoming less reliable it’s time to get started preparing to get a new one.
Repair Costs
Over your air conditioner’s lifetime, it’s expected for it to need several little repairs. But if your air conditioner repair cost is more than half the price of a new air conditioner, it’s wiser to just get a new one.
Energy Efficiency
Every air conditioner has a SEER rating, which ranks how efficiently it consumes electricity to produce cooling. If your air conditioner was installed in 2006, it will be at least 13 SEER according to federal laws. However, your air conditioner becomes less efficient as it ages.
As of now, 15–18 SEER is a popular number, but efficiency can go as high as the mid-20s. Air conditioners with greater SEER ratings are usually more expensive but might pay for themselves over their life span through more energy savings. And purchasing 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 on? Or are you constantly switching the temperature to keep cool? An aging air conditioner could struggle to keep your house comfy 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 running at full blast all the time, these air conditioners run at multiple speeds to fine-tune your comfort.
Noise
Your air conditioner should deliver cooling you can feel, not hear. If noise is bothering you, call us about getting a variable-speed air conditioner. Most of these air conditioners run at a sound level that’s similar to a normal conversation.
Smart Thermostat Compatibility
Installing a smart thermostat is a wise method to maximize your energy efficiency, with very little effort needed from you. And, depending on the rebates available by your utility company, you may be able to get a free smart thermostat or get one for not much. The majority of these thermostats can pick up on your temperature preferences and then make an energy-efficient schedule to match. They also know when you’re at home or gone and adjust settings accordingly.
If you use an outdated air conditioner, a smart thermostat might not work with it. Upgrading your air conditioner is a surefire way to ensure smart thermostat compatibility.
Refrigerant Type
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it likely uses Freon®. Also called R-22 refrigerant, Freon is no longer being manufactured as a result of its damaging effects on the ozone layer. You can see if your air conditioner has R-22 by reviewing the sticker on the outside unit, which will include the refrigerant style.
If your air conditioner is working fine, you can keep on using it. However, if it ever experiences a refrigerant leak, repairing the problem will be expensive. That’s due to the fact Freon is only available in limited, recycled amounts.
Newer air conditioners use Puron®, or R-410A. But you can’t just put Puron in a Freon air conditioner, as pressure requirements are different.
Our Professionals Make Air Conditioning Installation Stress-Free
If you’re still deciding whether you should replace your 15-year-old air conditioner now, consider this. The Department of Energy says doing air conditioning replacement for a 10-year-old model can provide 25–40% in energy savings! And those savings can really build as time goes by.
We are aware that air conditioner cost is your first question. That’s why collaborating with Luikart Heating & Cooling for air conditioning installation in Newark and surrounding areas is easy and affordable. Our pros will help you choose the right model 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 740-200-5591 to request your free, no-pressure estimate today!