With ample upkeep, your air conditioner will deliver worry-free cooling for many years. But, like any other thing in your home, it will ultimately need replacement. Knowing when to install a new one is essential to prevent pricey repairs, expensive electrical bills and comfort disruptions.

When it comes to being cool and your residence’s energy efficiency, our Comfort Concepts Heating & Air Conditioning pros have your best interests at heart. There’s a lot that goes into figuring out when your air conditioner needs to be replaced. Here are several points you should consider when you’re thinking about upgrading your 15-year-old air conditioner.

Age

Typically, the Department of Energy says many air conditioners run for 15–20 years. If yours is 15 years old, it’s well past the halfway point. It’s wise to start preparing for air conditioning installation before it wears out so you aren’t sweating while you’re waiting for a new one.

Dependability

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

Repair Bills

Over your air conditioner’s lifetime, it’s expected for it to need a handful of minor repairs. But if your air conditioner repair cost is more than half the cost of a new air conditioner, it’s recommended to just get a new one.

Energy Efficiency

Every air conditioner comes with a SEER rating, which ranks how efficiently it uses electricity to produce cold air. If your air conditioner was installed in 2006, it will be at least 13 SEER according to federal guidelines. However, your air conditioner becomes inefficient as it wears out.

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

Comfort

Are you comfortable when your air conditioner is on? Or are you often dialing down the temperature to remain cool? An aging air conditioner might have trouble keeping your home comfy because of lower efficiency. An updated air conditioner, particularly a variable-speed air conditioner, can minimize high humidity and hot and cold spots. Instead of operating at full speed continuously, these air conditioners run at multiple speeds to adapt your comfort.

Noise

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

Smart Thermostat Compatibility

Adding a smart thermostat is a good method to maximize your energy efficiency, with minimal effort needed 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 a greatly reduced price. The majority of these thermostats can adjust to your temperature preferences and then develop an energy-efficient schedule to match. They also know when you’re at home or out and about and adjust temps as necessary.

If you have an outdated air conditioner, a smart thermostat might not work with it. Upgrading your 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 negative 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 running fine, you can keep on using it. However, if it ever experiences a refrigerant leak, solving the problem will be pricey. That’s since Freon is only available in limited, recycled amounts.

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

Our Technicians Make Air Conditioning Installation Stress-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 lead to 25–40% in energy savings! And those savings can really accumulate as time goes by.

We know that air conditioner cost is your first question. That’s why partnering with Comfort Concepts Heating & Air Conditioning for air conditioning installation in Yukon and surrounding areas is stress-free and affordable. Our pros will help you find 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 work with your budget.

Call us at 405-494-7444 to request your free, no-pressure estimate now!