With adequate service, your air conditioner will deliver worry-free performance for years. But, just like any other machine in your house, it will eventually need replacement. Knowing when to replace it is essential to skip expensive repairs, higher electrical bills and interrupted comfort.
When it involves staying cool and your house’s energy efficiency, our Woody's Sudden Service Inc pros have your best interests at heart. There’s a lot that goes into figuring out when your air conditioner should be replaced. Here are a couple of aspects you should consider when you’re thinking about replacing your 15-year-old air conditioner.
Age
In most instances, 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 begin prepping for air conditioning installation before it fails so you aren’t roasting while you’re waiting for a replacement.
Dependability
How trustworthy is your air conditioner? Does it cool dependably, even on the hottest days? Or is it routinely breaking down? When your air conditioner starts becoming less trustworthy it’s time to get started thinking about getting a new one.
Repair Costs
Over your air conditioner’s life cycle, it’s expected for it to need a handful of minor repairs. But if your air conditioner repair cost is more than half the expenses of a new air conditioner, it’s wiser to just install a new one.
Energy Efficiency
Every air conditioner has a SEER rating, which rates how well it uses electricity to make chilled air. If your air conditioner was installed in 2006, it will be at least 13 SEER according to federal laws. However, your air conditioner loses efficiency 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 higher SEER ratings are typically more expensive but may pay for themselves over the years 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 extra rebates.
Comfort
Are you comfortable when your air conditioner is working? Or are you constantly turning down the temperature to keep cool? An old air conditioner could have trouble keeping your residence cool because of reduced efficiency. A new air conditioner, particularly a variable-speed air conditioner, can minimize high humidity and hot and cold spots. Instead of operating on high constantly, these air conditioners work at multiple speeds to adjust your comfort.
Noise
Your air conditioner should provide cooling you can feel, not hear. If noise is bothering you, call us about getting a variable-speed air conditioner. Many of these air conditioners run at a sound level that’s like a normal conversation.
Smart Thermostat Compatibility
Getting a smart thermostat is a smart method to maximize your energy efficiency, with not much effort required from you. And, depending on the rebates offered by your utility company, you may be able to get a free smart thermostat or get one for very little. Many of these thermostats can pick up on your temperature preferences and then develop an energy-efficient schedule to match. They also know when you’re at home or gone and adjust settings accordingly.
If you rely on an older air conditioner, a smart thermostat might not work with it. Upgrading your air conditioner is a smart method to ensure smart thermostat compatibility.
Refrigerant Type
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 runs on R-22 by looking at 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 has a refrigerant leak, fixing the problem will be pricey. That’s because Freon is only available in decreased, recycled amounts.
Newer air conditioners use Puron®, or R-410A. But you can’t just put Puron in a Freon air conditioner, because pressure requirements are different.
Our Technicians Make Air Conditioning Installation Stress-Free
If you’re still trying to decide whether you should replace your 15-year-old air conditioner soon, consider this. The Department of Energy says doing air conditioning replacement for a 10-year-old model can result in 25–40% in energy savings! And those savings can really add up over time.
We are aware that air conditioner cost is your number one question. That’s why collaborating with Woody's Sudden Service Inc for air conditioning installation in Manassas and surrounding areas is simple and affordable. Our technicians will help you find the right solution for your needs and then review all the possibilities. These include special offers to help you save more and financing for qualified customers to make your new air conditioner fit your budget.
Call us at 703-278-2036 to request your free, no-pressure estimate right away!