With proper maintenance, your air conditioner will deliver worry-free cooling for years. But, similar to any other appliance in your residence, it will at some point need replacement. Knowing when to install a new one is important to prevent pricey repairs, higher energy bills and comfort disruptions.
When it comes to keeping cool and your residence’s energy efficiency, our The Frazier Company specialists have your best interests at the forefront. There’s a lot that goes into figuring out when your air conditioner needs to be replaced. Here are a couple of aspects you should consider when you’re thinking about updating your 15-year-old air conditioner.
Age
In most instances, the Department of Energy says many air conditioners work for 15–20 years. If yours is 15 years old, it’s well past the center point. It’s smart to begin preparing for air conditioning installation before it fails so you aren’t sweltering while you’re waiting for a replacement.
Reliability
How dependable is your air conditioner? Does it cool reliably, even on the hottest days? Or is it routinely needing repairs? When your air conditioner starts becoming less trustworthy it’s time to get started thinking about getting an updated one.
Repair Bills
Over your air conditioner’s life cycle, it’s anticipated for it to need several minor repairs. But if your air conditioner repair cost is more than half the cost of a new air conditioner, it’s wiser to just replace it.
Energy Efficiency
Every air conditioner has a SEER rating, which ranks how well it expends electricity to create cooling. If your air conditioner was installed in 2006, it will be at least 13 SEER according to federal mandates. However, your air conditioner becomes less efficient as it ages.
Now, 15–18 SEER is a popular ranking, but efficiency can go as high as the mid-20s. Air conditioners with higher SEER ratings are often costlier but might pay for themselves over the years through improved 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 on? Or are you often switching the temperature to remain cool? An older air conditioner might struggle to keep your house comfortable because of decreased efficiency. An updated 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 run at multiple speeds to adjust your comfort.
Noise
Your air conditioner should give cooling you can feel, not hear. If noise is annoying you, ask us about installing a variable-speed air conditioner. Most of these air conditioners operate at a sound level that’s comparable to a normal conversation.
Smart Thermostat Compatibility
Getting a smart thermostat is a smart approach to maximize your energy efficiency, with not much effort needed from you. And, depending on the rebates provided by your utility company, you might be able to get a free smart thermostat or get one for very little. The majority 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 away and change temperatures accordingly.
If you rely on an outdated air conditioner, a smart thermostat might not work with it. Getting a new air conditioner is a smart way 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 manufactured due to its negative effects on the ozone layer. You can see if your air conditioner has R-22 by checking the sticker on the outside unit, which will list the refrigerant style.
If your air conditioner is working fine, you can keep on using it. However, if it ever develops a refrigerant leak, repairing the problem will be expensive. That’s due to the fact Freon is only available in limited, recycled amounts.
Newer air conditioners use Puron®, or R-410A. But you can’t just use Puron in a Freon air conditioner, because pressure requirements are different.
Our Professionals Make Air Conditioning Installation Stress-Free
If you’re still debating whether you should replace your 15-year-old air conditioner now, 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 accumulate as time passes.
We know that air conditioner cost is your first question. That’s why partnering with The Frazier Company for air conditioning installation in Omaha and surrounding areas is simple and affordable. Our pros will help you select the right model 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.
Reach us at 402-628-0206 to request your free, no-pressure estimate right away!