With adequate upkeep, your air conditioner will provide worry-free performance for many years. But, just like any other thing in your residence, it will ultimately need to be replaced. Knowing when to get a new one is important to avoid pricey repairs, higher electrical bills and interruptions to your comfort.

When it includes being cool and your house’s energy efficiency, our Fletcher Plumbing, Heating & AC professionals 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 points you should consider when you’re thinking about updating your 15-year-old air conditioner.

Age

On average, the Department of Energy says many air conditioners work for 15–20 years. If yours is 15 years old, it’s well past the midpoint. It’s recommended to get started preparing for air conditioning installation before it fails so you aren’t roasting while you’re waiting for a replacement.

Dependability

How dependable is your air conditioner? Does it cool well, even on the toastiest days? Or is it frequently malfunctioning? When your air conditioner is less reliable it’s time to start thinking about getting an updated one.

Repair Expenses

Over your air conditioner’s life cycle, it’s normal for it to need a few little repairs. But if your air conditioner repair cost is more than half the price of a new air conditioner, it’s smarter to just replace it.

Energy Efficiency

Every air conditioner has a SEER rating, which ranks how efficiently it consumes electricity to make cold air. If your air conditioner was installed in 2006, it will be at minimum 13 SEER according to federal mandates. However, your air conditioner loses efficiency as it gets older.

As of 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 could pay for themselves over their life span 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 added rebates.

Comfort

Are you comfortable when your air conditioner is running? Or are you continuously dialing down the temperature to remain cool? An older air conditioner could have problems keeping your residence comfy as a result 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 at full speed continuously, these air conditioners run at multiple speeds to adapt your comfort.

Noise

Your air conditioner should give cooling you can feel, not hear. If noise is a concern, call us about upgrading to a variable-speed air conditioner. The majority of these air conditioners operate 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 necessary 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 a greatly reduced price. Most of these thermostats can learn from your temperature preferences and then develop an energy-efficient schedule to match. They also know when you’re at home or out and about and change temperatures as necessary.

If you use an older air conditioner, a smart thermostat might not work with it. Upgrading your air conditioner is a surefire method to ensure smart thermostat compatibility.

Refrigerant Kind

If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it potentially runs on Freon®. Also known as R-22 refrigerant, Freon is no longer being manufactured because of its negative 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 style.

If your air conditioner is operating fine, you can keep on using it. However, if it ever has a refrigerant leak, repairing the problem will be expensive. That’s due to the fact Freon is only available in reduced, recycled amounts.

Newer air conditioners have Puron®, or R-410A. But you can’t just put Puron in a Freon air conditioner, since pressure requirements are different.

Our Pros Make Air Conditioning Installation Stress-Free

If you’re still debating 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 time.

We are aware that air conditioner cost is your top question. That’s why partnering with Fletcher Plumbing, Heating & AC for air conditioning installation in Smyrna and surrounding areas is stress-free and affordable. Our pros 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 302-653-0503 to request your free, no-pressure estimate today!