With adequate upkeep, your air conditioner will provide worry-free service for years. But, just like any other appliance in your residence, it will ultimately need to be updated. Knowing when to replace it is essential to prevent pricey repairs, higher electrical bills and interrupted comfort.

When it includes being cool and your residence’s energy efficiency, our J & J Air Conditioning 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 several points you should consider when you’re thinking about upgrading your 15-year-old air conditioner.

Age

In most instances, the Department of Energy says the majority of air conditioners work for 15–20 years. If yours is 15 years old, it’s well past the midpoint. It’s recommended to begin preparing for air conditioning installation before it fails so you aren’t roasting while you’re waiting for installation.

Dependability

How reliable is your air conditioner? Does it cool well, even on the hottest days? Or is it regularly 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 span, it’s anticipated for it to need a handful of little repairs. But if your air conditioner repair cost is more than half the price of a new air conditioner, it’s recommended to just replace it.

Energy Efficiency

Every air conditioner has a SEER rating, which rates how well it consumes electricity to make cold air. If your air conditioner was installed in 2006, it will be at least 13 SEER per federal mandates. However, your air conditioner becomes less efficient as it ages.

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 often costlier but could pay for themselves over the years through increased energy savings. And installing an energy-efficient air conditioner, especially one that’s an ENERGY STAR® air conditioner, can make you eligible for extra rebates.

Comfort

Are you cool when your air conditioner is working? Or are you constantly dialing down the temperature to stay cool? An older air conditioner might struggle to keep your residence comfy due to decreased efficiency. A modern air conditioner, particularly a variable-speed air conditioner, can reduce high humidity and hot and cold spots. Instead of cooling at full speed continuously, these air conditioners work at multiple speeds to adapt your comfort.

Noise

Your air conditioner should provide cooling you can feel, not hear. If noise is a concern, ask us about upgrading to a variable-speed air conditioner. Many of these air conditioners cool at a sound level that’s comparable to a regular conversation.

Smart Thermostat Compatibility

Adding a smart thermostat is a smart approach to maximize your energy efficiency, with not much effort necessary from you. And, depending on the rebates available from your utility company, you may 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 create an energy-efficient schedule to match. They also know when you’re at home or away and alter settings as necessary.

If you have an older 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 Style

If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it potentially runs on Freon®. Also called 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 type.

If your air conditioner is operating fine, you can keep on using it. However, if it ever experiences a refrigerant leak, fixing the problem will be expensive. That’s since 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, because pressure requirements are different.

Our Professionals Make Air Conditioning Installation Hassle-Free

If you’re still deciding whether you should replace your 15-year-old air conditioner within the immediate future, 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 build up as time goes by.

We are aware that air conditioner cost is your number one question. That’s why partnering with J & J Air Conditioning for air conditioning installation in Eastland and surrounding areas is stress-free and affordable. Our techs will help you choose the right model for your needs and then go over 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 254-355-3833 to request your free, no-pressure estimate now!