With proper upkeep, your air conditioner will deliver worry-free performance for a long time. But, like any other machine in your house, it will eventually need to be replaced. Knowing when to get a new one is key to skip pricey repairs, higher utility bills and interruptions to your comfort.

When it involves being cool and your house’s energy efficiency, our Luikart Heating & Cooling specialists have your best interests at heart. There’s a lot that goes into determining when your air conditioner needs to be replaced. Here are several 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 many 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 preparing for air conditioning installation before it fails so you aren’t roasting while you’re waiting for installation.

Trustworthiness

How dependable is your air conditioner? Does it cool well, even on the warmest days? Or is it frequently malfunctioning? When your air conditioner starts becoming less reliable it’s time to initiate considering getting an updated one.

Repair Expenses

Over your air conditioner’s life cycle, it’s anticipated 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 smarter to just install a new one.

Energy Efficiency

Every air conditioner comes with a SEER rating, which rates how proficiently it uses electricity to make cold air. If your air conditioner was installed in 2006, it will be at minimum 13 SEER per federal mandates. However, your air conditioner becomes inefficient as it wears out.

Now, 15–18 SEER is a popular number, but efficiency can go as high as the mid-20s. Air conditioners with bigger SEER ratings are usually costlier but may pay for themselves over their life span through increased energy savings. And getting 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 working? Or are you continuously dialing down the temperature to stay cool? An older air conditioner might struggle to keep your home comfy because of lower 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 all the time, these air conditioners operate at multiple speeds to fine-tune your comfort.

Noise

Your air conditioner should give cooling you can feel, not hear. If noise is a concern, call us about upgrading to a variable-speed air conditioner. Many 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 smart method to maximize your energy efficiency, with not much effort required from you. And, depending on the rebates available from your utility company, you could be able to get a free smart thermostat or get one for very little. Many of these thermostats can adjust to your temperature preferences and then create an energy-efficient schedule to match. They also know when you’re at home or gone and change settings as necessary.

If you have an older 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 Style

If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it likely runs on Freon®. Also referred to as 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 has R-22 by looking at the sticker on the outside unit, which will show the refrigerant kind.

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

Newer air conditioners use Puron®, or R-410A. But you can’t just add Puron in a Freon air conditioner, since pressure requirements are different.

Our Techs Make Air Conditioning Installation Stress-Free

If you’re still debating 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 provide 25–40% in energy savings! And those savings can really build up as time goes by.

We are aware that air conditioner cost is your number one question. That’s why partnering with Luikart Heating & Cooling for air conditioning installation in Newark and surrounding areas is stress-free and affordable. Our technicians 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 accommodate your budget.

Reach us at 740-200-5591 to request your free, no-pressure estimate right away!