If you’re not pleased with your air conditioner’s performance, you may be just about ready to throw in the towel. Is it really time to replace the A/C, or could a repair get it back up and running? Know for sure with these tips.
Consider the age: If your air conditioner is more than a decade old, it could be nearing the end of its lifespan. Even if the equipment hasn’t given you trouble lately, it’s wise to start browsing replacement options so it’s a planned investment, not a rushed emergency installation.
Assess efficiency: With age comes decreased efficiency. Take a look at your energy bills from past summers. Notice how your electricity usage has gone up? That’s because a well-worn, 10-year-old A/C rated at 10 SEER, or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, performs closer to an 8 SEER unit. The lowest efficiency models available today are 13 SEER, and the highest efficiency ratings climb into the mid-20s.
Evaluate repair frequency: There are only so many times you can fix an inefficient, aging air conditioner before you’ve had enough. Each individual repair is less expensive than a replacement, but if you’re having your equipment serviced more than once a year, that money could be going toward an efficient new replacement.
Understand refrigerant requirements: An air conditioner with a refrigerant leak could signal it’s time to replace the A/C. Older air conditioners run on R-22 refrigerant which is an ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbon. A gradual phase out has replaced R-22 with R-410A refrigerant, or Puron. Because R-22 refrigerant is now incredibly hard to come by, recharging an older system could cost far more than it used to. This could be the excuse you need to upgrade to a Puron-compatible system.
Analyze home comfort and system performance: Is your home overly humid? Are some rooms difficult to keep cool while others get too cold? Does the A/C operate noisily? A system replacement could resolve these comfort and performance issues.
If these tips make it clear it’s time to replace the A/C, please contact Air Assurance in Broken Arrow to begin the replacement process today.Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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