With ample upkeep, your air conditioner will offer worry-free performance for many years. But, like any other thing in your house, it will eventually need to be updated. Knowing when to replace it is essential to skip pricey repairs, higher energy bills and interrupted comfort.

When it involves being cool and your house’s energy efficiency, our Redhawk Heating & Air Conditioning professionals have your best interests at heart. There’s a lot that goes into figuring out when your air conditioner requires replacement. Here are several points you should consider when you’re thinking about updating your 15-year-old air conditioner.

Age

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

Reliability

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

Repair Bills

Over your air conditioner’s life span, it’s anticipated for it to need a few little repairs. But if your air conditioner repair cost is more than half the cost of a new air conditioner, it’s wiser to just get a new one.

Energy Efficiency

Every air conditioner has a SEER rating, which rates how proficiently it consumes electricity to produce cold air. If your air conditioner was installed in 2006, it will be at least 13 SEER per federal guidelines. However, your air conditioner becomes less efficient as it wears out.

Now, 15–18 SEER is a popular ranking, but efficiency can go as high as the mid-20s. Air conditioners with bigger SEER ratings are usually costlier but could pay for themselves over the years through more 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 comfy when your air conditioner is working? Or are you constantly dialing down the temperature to remain cool? An old air conditioner could have trouble keeping your home comfy due to lower efficiency. A modern air conditioner, particularly a variable-speed air conditioner, can lower high humidity and hot and cold spots. Instead of operating at full speed constantly, these air conditioners operate at multiple speeds to fine-tune your comfort.

Noise

Your air conditioner should provide cooling you can feel, not hear. If noise is bothering you, check with us about installing a variable-speed air conditioner. The majority of these air conditioners run at a sound level that’s comparable to a regular conversation.

Smart Thermostat Compatibility

Installing a smart thermostat is a smart approach to maximize your energy efficiency, with minimal effort required from you. And, depending on the rebates offered 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 learn from your temperature preferences and then make an energy-efficient schedule to match. They also know when you’re at home or away and adjust temperatures as necessary.

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

Refrigerant Kind

If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it potentially runs on Freon®. Also called R-22 refrigerant, Freon is no longer being produced because of its negative effects on the ozone layer. You can see if your air conditioner has R-22 by looking at the sticker on the outside unit, which will show the refrigerant style.

If your air conditioner is operating fine, you can keep on using it. However, if it ever develops a refrigerant leak, fixing the problem will be expensive. That’s since Freon is only available in reduced, recycled amounts.

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

Our Pros Make Air Conditioning Installation Easy

If you’re still debating whether you should replace your 15-year-old air conditioner within the immediate future, consider 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 add up as time passes.

We know that air conditioner cost is your first question. That’s why partnering with Redhawk Heating & Air Conditioning for air conditioning installation in Odessa and surrounding areas is easy and affordable. Our professionals will help you find the right model for your needs and then discuss all the possibilities. These include special offers to help you save more and financing for qualified customers to make your new air conditioner fit your budget.

Reach us at 432-237-0168 to request your free, no-pressure estimate right away!