There will come a time in every homeowner’s life when they will need to replace a major appliance. Hopefully, you won’t need to replace more than one at once! But if it’s your air conditioner, it’s going to be an expensive replacement for sure.
This may lead you to trying to go with the lowest priced air conditioner you can, but we really encourage you to remember the adage, “you get what you pay for.” So long as your air conditioner is properly maintained throughout the years, a well-installed and properly matched air conditioner will work very efficiently, lowering your monthly energy costs.
But what if you don’t know how to tell when it’s time for an AC upgrade? Well fortunately, we’ve shared some signs below!
Your Air Conditioner Is Old
So… what’s “old” for an air conditioner? Well, let’s put it this way–a professionally installed and properly maintained air conditioner is designed to last about 10-15 years. So anything in that range or over it is considered “old.”
Your air conditioner may still be able to run past this age, but it doesn’t mean that it’s doing so as powerfully or efficiently as it should be able to. This is why we tend to call that 10-15 year range an air conditioner’s “useful” service life. Once your air conditioner reaches that age, and is coupled with the other problems we’re about to highlight, it really is time to consider an upgrade!
Your System Needs Frequent Repairs
It’s natural for your air conditioner to need repairs every now and then. Oftentimes, during maintenance, our professionals will catch a small problem that needs to be fixed. This is great news, since this is what maintenance is essentially for. But beyond this, you shouldn’t have to call for repairs more than once every couple of years.
So if you find yourself calling for repairs 2-3 times a year, what gives?
Chances are that your air conditioner simply can’t keep up with the demand being placed on it anymore. You can keep trying to repair it, replace components within it, but it may just be time to let it go.
A good rule of thumb to go by is if your next repair or set of repairs is going to cost over half of what the air conditioner is worth, it makes more economic sense to replace it, and we’re happy to talk to you about your upgrade options!
Your Energy Bills Are Too High
Look at your energy bills compared to that of last year. Or, ask your neighbors what they’re paying for similar energy use. If your bills are drastically higher, it’s a sign that something in your household is working inefficiently, and your air conditioner could certainly be to blame.
After all, your HVAC systems account for half of all your home’s energy use.
It may end up that some type of AC repair can fix the inefficiency, but as we mentioned above, if this is coupled with old age, then it probably makes more financial sense to go ahead and make an upgrade.
For professional air conditioning replacement in Maumee, OH, contact AW Heating & Cooling.