With proper upkeep, your air conditioner will provide worry-free cooling for a long time. But, like any other machine in your residence, it will ultimately need replacement. Knowing when to get a new one is key to skip pricey repairs, costly energy bills and interruptions to your comfort.

When it involves being cool and your residence’s energy efficiency, our Pratt Brothers pros have your best interests at heart. There’s a lot that goes into deciding when your air conditioner should 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 the majority of air conditioners last for 15–20 years. If yours is 15 years old, it’s well past the center point. It’s wise to get started preparing for air conditioning installation before it fails so you aren’t sweltering while you’re waiting for a replacement.

Dependability

How dependable is your air conditioner? Does it cool well, even on the hottest days? Or is it frequently malfunctioning? When your air conditioner is less trustworthy it’s time to begin preparing to get an updated one.

Repair Costs

Over your air conditioner’s life cycle, it’s anticipated for it to need several minor repairs. But if your air conditioner repair cost is more than half the expenses of a new air conditioner, it’s wiser to just install a new one.

Energy Efficiency

Every air conditioner has a SEER rating, which rates how well it expends electricity to produce cold air. If your air conditioner was installed in 2006, it will be at minimum 13 SEER to meet federal guidelines. However, your air conditioner becomes inefficient as it wears out.

As of now, 15–18 SEER is a popular number, but efficiency can go as high as the mid-20s. Air conditioners with bigger SEER ratings are typically costlier but might pay for themselves over their life span 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 extra rebates.

Comfort

Are you comfortable when your air conditioner is running? Or are you constantly dialing down the temperature to keep cool? An aging air conditioner could struggle to keep your house comfy as a result of decreased 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 run at multiple speeds to fine-tune your comfort.

Noise

Your air conditioner should deliver cooling you can feel, not hear. If noise is a concern, call us about getting a variable-speed air conditioner. Many of these air conditioners cool at a sound level that’s comparable to a regular conversation.

Smart Thermostat Compatibility

Getting a smart thermostat is a smart method to maximize your energy efficiency, with not much effort necessary from you. And, depending on the rebates available from your utility company, you might be able to get a free smart thermostat or get one for very little. 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 away and change settings 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 Style

If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it likely runs on Freon®. Also called R-22 refrigerant, Freon is no longer being made because of its bad effects on the ozone layer. You can see if your air conditioner uses R-22 by checking 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 experiences a refrigerant leak, solving the problem will be costly. That’s due to the fact Freon is only available in decreased, recycled amounts.

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

Our Techs Make Air Conditioning Installation Stress-Free

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

We know that air conditioner cost is your first question. That’s why working with Pratt Brothers for air conditioning installation in Jefferson and surrounding areas is stress-free and affordable. Our techs will help you select 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.

Reach us at 920-347-8495 to request your free, no-pressure estimate now!