With proper service, your air conditioner will provide worry-free performance for many years. But, similar to any other appliance in your residence, it will at some point need to be replaced. Knowing when to get a new one is important to avoid expensive repairs, higher electrical bills and comfort disruptions.
When it involves being cool and your residence’s energy efficiency, our Heartland Heating & Cooling 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 things 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 most air conditioners run for 15–20 years. If yours is 15 years old, it’s well past the center point. It’s wise to get started prepping for air conditioning installation before it fails so you aren’t sweating while you’re waiting for installation.
Trustworthiness
How dependable is your air conditioner? Does it cool dependably, even on the toastiest days? Or is it routinely needing repairs? When your air conditioner starts becoming less dependable it’s time to get started thinking about getting an updated one.
Repair Bills
Over your air conditioner’s life cycle, it’s expected for it to need a few small repairs. But if your air conditioner repair cost is more than half the cost of a new air conditioner, it’s recommended to just get a new one.
Energy Efficiency
Every air conditioner includes a SEER rating, which measures how proficiently it consumes electricity to make chilled air. If your air conditioner was installed in 2006, it will be at minimum 13 SEER per federal guidelines. However, your air conditioner loses efficiency as it gets older.
Now, 15–18 SEER is a popular ranking, but efficiency can go as high as the mid-20s. Air conditioners with greater SEER ratings are usually costlier but could pay for themselves over the years through more energy savings. And installing an energy-efficient air conditioner, especially one that’s an ENERGY STAR® air conditioner, can make you eligible for extra rebates.
Comfort
Are you comfy when your air conditioner is working? Or are you constantly switching the temperature to keep cool? An old air conditioner may have problems keeping your residence comfortable because of reduced 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 run at multiple speeds to adapt your comfort.
Noise
Your air conditioner should provide cooling you can feel, not hear. If noise is annoying you, check with us about upgrading to a variable-speed air conditioner. Most of these air conditioners cool at a sound level that’s similar to a normal conversation.
Smart Thermostat Compatibility
Adding a smart thermostat is a good method to maximize your energy efficiency, with very little effort necessary from you. And, depending on the rebates offered by your utility company, you might be able to get a free smart thermostat or get one for very little. Many of these thermostats can learn from 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 rely on an aging air conditioner, a smart thermostat might not work with it. Upgrading your air conditioner is a wise method to ensure smart thermostat compatibility.
Refrigerant Type
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it likely runs on Freon®. Also known as R-22 refrigerant, Freon is no longer being produced because of its negative effects on the ozone layer. You can see if your air conditioner uses R-22 by reviewing the sticker on the outside unit, which will include 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 add Puron in a Freon air conditioner, as pressure requirements are different.
Our Technicians Make Air Conditioning Installation Stress-Free
If you’re still deciding whether you should replace your 15-year-old air conditioner within the immediate future, consider 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 partnering with Heartland Heating & Cooling for air conditioning installation in Des Moines and surrounding areas is stress-free and affordable. Our professionals will help you find the right model 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 accommodate your budget.
Get in touch with us at 515-344-3579 to request your free, no-pressure estimate today!