With adequate service, your air conditioner will provide worry-free performance for years. But, just like any other machine in your residence, it will ultimately need to be updated. Knowing when to replace it is key to avoid expensive repairs, expensive energy bills and comfort disruptions.
When it includes being cool and your house’s energy efficiency, our Premium Air Services LLC specialists 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 things you should consider when you’re thinking about upgrading 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 wise to get started preparing for air conditioning installation before it wears out so you aren’t sweltering while you’re waiting for a replacement.
Reliability
How reliable is your air conditioner? Does it cool well, even on the toastiest days? Or is it regularly breaking down? When your air conditioner starts becoming less trustworthy it’s time to get started considering getting an updated one.
Repair Expenses
Over your air conditioner’s lifetime, it’s expected for it to need a few small 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 includes a SEER rating, which measures how efficiently it expends electricity to make cold air. If your air conditioner was installed in 2006, it will be at least 13 SEER per federal laws. However, your air conditioner becomes inefficient as it wears out.
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 costlier but may pay for themselves over their life span through increased energy savings. And purchasing 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 switching the temperature to remain cool? An old air conditioner might have trouble keeping your house comfy because of lower efficiency. A modern air conditioner, particularly a variable-speed air conditioner, can reduce high humidity and hot and cold spots. Instead of operating at full speed continuously, these air conditioners run at multiple speeds to adapt your comfort.
Noise
Your air conditioner should deliver cooling you can feel, not hear. If noise is annoying you, call us about getting a variable-speed air conditioner. Most of these air conditioners run at a sound level that’s comparable to a regular conversation.
Smart Thermostat Compatibility
Adding a smart thermostat is a wise method to maximize your energy efficiency, with minimal effort needed from you. And, depending on the rebates offered by your utility company, you could be able to get a free smart thermostat or get one for not much. The majority of these thermostats can adjust to 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 change temps accordingly.
If you use an outdated air conditioner, a smart thermostat might not work with it. Getting a new air conditioner is a wise method to ensure smart thermostat compatibility.
Refrigerant Type
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it likely uses Freon®. Also referred to as R-22 refrigerant, Freon is no longer being produced as a result of its damaging effects on the ozone layer. You can see if your air conditioner uses R-22 by looking at the sticker on the outside unit, which will list the refrigerant type.
If your air conditioner is working fine, you can keep on using it. However, if it ever experiences a refrigerant leak, solving the problem will be costly. 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 put Puron in a Freon air conditioner, as pressure requirements are different.
Our Technicians Make Air Conditioning Installation Hassle-Free
If you’re still debating whether you should replace your 15-year-old air conditioner soon, think over 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 accumulate over time.
We know that air conditioner cost is your first question. That’s why working with Premium Air Services LLC for air conditioning installation in Tomball and surrounding areas is easy and affordable. Our techs will help you select the right option 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.
Call us at 713-364-9957 to request your free, no-pressure estimate right away!