With proper maintenance, your air conditioner will deliver worry-free service for a long time. But, similar to any other thing in your home, it will eventually need to be upgraded. Knowing when to install a new one is essential to skip pricey repairs, costly electrical bills and comfort disruptions.
When it comes to keeping cool and your residence’s energy efficiency, our Lakeside Heating & Air pros are looking out for your best interests. 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 updating your 15-year-old air conditioner.
Age
Most of the time, the Department of Energy says most air conditioners last for 15–20 years. If yours is 15 years old, it’s well past the halfway point. It’s wise to get started prepping for air conditioning installation before it fails so you aren’t sweltering while you’re waiting for a replacement.
Trustworthiness
How dependable is your air conditioner? Does it cool well, even on the warmest days? Or is it frequently breaking down? When your air conditioner starts becoming less dependable it’s time to start preparing to get a new one.
Repair Costs
Over your air conditioner’s lifetime, it’s normal for it to need several 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 get a new one.
Energy Efficiency
Every air conditioner includes a SEER rating, which rates how efficiently it consumes electricity to create cold air. If your air conditioner was installed in 2006, it will be at minimum 13 SEER according to federal laws. However, your air conditioner becomes less efficient 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 costlier but could 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 additional rebates.
Comfort
Are you comfortable when your air conditioner is on? Or are you often dialing down the temperature to keep cool? An aging air conditioner might struggle to keep your house comfortable because of reduced efficiency. A modern air conditioner, particularly a variable-speed air conditioner, can lower high humidity and hot and cold spots. Instead of running at full blast all the time, these air conditioners run at multiple speeds to fine-tune your comfort.
Noise
Your air conditioner should deliver cooling you can feel, not hear. If noise is bothering you, call us about upgrading to a variable-speed air conditioner. Most of these air conditioners operate at a sound level that’s similar to an everyday conversation.
Smart Thermostat Compatibility
Installing a smart thermostat is a wise approach to keep up with energy efficiency, with very little effort necessary from you. And, depending on the rebates provided by your utility company, you could 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 create an energy-efficient schedule to match. They also know when you’re at home or away and change temps as necessary.
If you use an outdated air conditioner, a smart thermostat might not work with it. Getting a new air conditioner is a smart approach to ensure smart thermostat compatibility.
Refrigerant Type
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it probably runs on Freon®. Also known as R-22 refrigerant, Freon is no longer being manufactured because of its damaging 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 kind.
If your air conditioner is running fine, you can keep on using it. However, if it ever experiences a refrigerant leak, fixing the problem will be expensive. That’s because Freon is only available in decreased, recycled amounts.
Newer air conditioners use Puron®, or R-410A. But you can’t just use Puron in a Freon air conditioner, as pressure requirements are different.
Our Pros Make Air Conditioning Installation Easy
If you’re still debating whether you should replace your 15-year-old air conditioner soon, think about 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 goes by.
We realize that air conditioner cost is your top question. That’s why working with Lakeside Heating & Air for air conditioning installation in Chelan and Wenatchee and surrounding areas is simple and affordable. Our technicians will help you select the right solution 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 fit your budget.
Get in touch with us at 509-284-4265 to request your free, no-pressure estimate right away!