With adequate service, your air conditioner will provide worry-free cooling for years. But, like any other machine in your home, it will at some point need to be replaced. Knowing when to get a new one is essential to avoid expensive repairs, higher electrical bills and comfort disruptions.
When it comes to staying cool and your house’s energy efficiency, our Knoechel Heating Company professionals have your best interests at the forefront. There’s a lot that goes into deciding when your air conditioner requires replacement. Here are a couple of points you should consider when you’re thinking about replacing your 15-year-old air conditioner.
Age
Typically, the Department of Energy says many air conditioners run for 15–20 years. If yours is 15 years old, it’s well past the center point. It’s smart to get started planning for air conditioning installation before it goes out so you aren’t roasting while you’re waiting for a new one.
Trustworthiness
How reliable is your air conditioner? Does it cool dependably, even on the toastiest days? Or is it regularly needing repairs? When your air conditioner becomes less dependable it’s time to get started preparing to get an updated one.
Repair Costs
Over your air conditioner’s life span, it’s anticipated for it to need several little 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 comes with a SEER rating, which rates how efficiently it consumes electricity to make cooling. If your air conditioner was installed in 2006, it will be at least 13 SEER per federal guidelines. However, your air conditioner becomes less efficient as it ages.
As of now, 15–18 SEER is a popular ranking, but efficiency can go as high as the mid-20s. Air conditioners with bigger SEER ratings are often pricier but may 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 comfy when your air conditioner is on? Or are you continuously turning down the temperature to stay cool? An old air conditioner may struggle to keep your residence comfortable due to reduced efficiency. A modern air conditioner, particularly a variable-speed air conditioner, can lower high humidity and hot and cold spots. Instead of operating at full blast all the time, these air conditioners work at multiple speeds to adjust your comfort.
Noise
Your air conditioner should deliver cooling you can feel, not hear. If noise is bothering you, ask us about installing a variable-speed air conditioner. The majority of these air conditioners run at a sound level that’s like an everyday conversation.
Smart Thermostat Compatibility
Installing a smart thermostat is a wise approach to maximize your energy efficiency, with not much effort needed 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 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 out and about and adjust temperatures as needed.
If you have an older air conditioner, a smart thermostat might not work with it. Upgrading your air conditioner is a wise method to ensure smart thermostat compatibility.
Refrigerant Kind
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it probably runs on Freon®. Also known as R-22 refrigerant, Freon is no longer being made as a result 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 expensive. That’s because Freon is only available in limited, recycled amounts.
Newer air conditioners use Puron®, or R-410A. But you can’t just add 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 within the immediate future, 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 add up as time passes.
We realize that air conditioner cost is your first question. That’s why working with Knoechel Heating Company for air conditioning installation in Zelienople and surrounding areas is simple and affordable. Our technicians will help you select 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 work with your budget.
Call us at 724-425-5852 to request your free, no-pressure estimate today!