With proper upkeep, your air conditioner will deliver worry-free service for years. But, similar to any other machine in your house, it will eventually need to be updated. Knowing when to replace it is key to prevent pricey repairs, higher electrical bills and interruptions to your comfort.

When it includes being cool and your residence’s energy efficiency, our AC Sales specialists have your best interests at heart. There’s a lot that goes into deciding 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

Most of the time, 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 center point. It’s smart to begin preparing for air conditioning installation before it fails so you aren’t sweating while you’re waiting for a replacement.

Trustworthiness

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

Repair Expenses

Over your air conditioner’s lifetime, it’s expected for it to need several minor 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 comes with a SEER rating, which rates how well it consumes electricity to produce cold air. If your air conditioner was installed in 2006, it will be at minimum 13 SEER per federal mandates. However, your air conditioner becomes inefficient as it ages.

As of now, 15–18 SEER is a popular range, but efficiency can go as high as the mid-20s. Air conditioners with bigger SEER ratings are usually costlier but might pay for themselves over time 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 additional rebates.

Comfort

Are you comfortable when your air conditioner is working? Or are you often dialing down the temperature to remain cool? An aging air conditioner could have problems keeping your house comfy due to decreased efficiency. A new air conditioner, particularly a variable-speed air conditioner, can lower high humidity and hot and cold spots. Instead of operating at full speed all the time, these air conditioners run at multiple speeds to fine-tune your comfort.

Noise

Your air conditioner should provide 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 run at a sound level that’s comparable to a regular conversation.

Smart Thermostat Compatibility

Getting a smart thermostat is a smart approach to maximize your energy efficiency, with minimal effort necessary 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 not much. The majority of these thermostats can adjust to your temperature preferences and then make an energy-efficient schedule to match. They also know when you’re at home or gone and alter temps as necessary.

If you have an aging air conditioner, a smart thermostat might not work with it. Installing a new air conditioner is a smart method to ensure smart thermostat compatibility.

Refrigerant Kind

If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it probably 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 uses R-22 by looking at the sticker on the outside unit, which will include the refrigerant style.

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

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

Our Techs Make Air Conditioning Installation Hassle-Free

If you’re still debating whether you should replace your 15-year-old air conditioner now, think about 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 build up as time passes.

We realize that air conditioner cost is your number one question. That’s why collaborating with AC Sales for air conditioning installation in Lafayette and surrounding areas is simple and affordable. Our pros will help you choose the right option 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 work with your budget.

Reach us at (337) 234-2345 to request your free, no-pressure estimate right away!