With adequate upkeep, your air conditioner will offer worry-free cooling for a long time. But, like any other machine in your house, it will at some point need to be replaced. Knowing when to install a new one is important to avoid pricey repairs, costly energy bills and interrupted comfort.

When it involves being cool and your house’s energy efficiency, our Cooler Tymes LLC pros have your best interests at heart. There’s a lot that goes into deciding when your air conditioner requires replacement. Here are several points you should consider when you’re thinking about replacing your 15-year-old air conditioner.

Age

Most of the time, the Department of Energy says the majority of air conditioners last 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 goes out so you aren’t sweltering while you’re waiting for a new one.

Trustworthiness

How reliable is your air conditioner? Does it cool reliably, even on the toastiest days? Or is it regularly malfunctioning? When your air conditioner becomes less dependable it’s time to initiate considering getting an updated one.

Repair Costs

Over your air conditioner’s life span, it’s expected for it to need a handful of small repairs. But if your air conditioner repair cost is more than half the cost of a new air conditioner, it’s smarter to just replace it.

Energy Efficiency

Every air conditioner includes a SEER rating, which rates how well it uses electricity to make cold air. If your air conditioner was installed in 2006, it will be at minimum 13 SEER according to federal guidelines. However, your air conditioner becomes less efficient as it gets older.

Now, 15–18 SEER is a popular number, but efficiency can go as high as the mid-20s. Air conditioners with greater SEER ratings are usually costlier but might pay for themselves over the years 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 additional rebates.

Comfort

Are you comfy when your air conditioner is on? Or are you constantly dialing down the temperature to remain cool? An old air conditioner could struggle to keep your home comfy due to reduced efficiency. An updated air conditioner, particularly a variable-speed air conditioner, can minimize high humidity and hot and cold spots. Instead of running at full speed continuously, these air conditioners operate at multiple speeds to adapt your comfort.

Noise

Your air conditioner should give cooling you can feel, not hear. If noise is annoying you, ask us about getting a variable-speed air conditioner. Most of these air conditioners operate at a sound level that’s comparable to a regular conversation.

Smart Thermostat Compatibility

Installing a smart thermostat is a good way 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. 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 away and adjust temps as necessary.

If you use an aging air conditioner, a smart thermostat might not work with it. Installing 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 runs on Freon®. Also known as R-22 refrigerant, Freon is no longer being produced because of its bad effects on the ozone layer. You can see if your air conditioner runs on R-22 by checking the sticker on the outside unit, which will show the refrigerant kind.

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

Newer air conditioners use Puron®, or R-410A. But you can’t just put Puron in a Freon air conditioner, because 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 now, 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 over time.

We are aware that air conditioner cost is your first question. That’s why partnering with Cooler Tymes LLC for air conditioning installation in Litchfield Park 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 accommodate your budget.

Get in touch with us at 623-208-6444 to request your free, no-pressure estimate right away!