With proper upkeep, your air conditioner will offer worry-free performance for years. But, similar to any other machine in your house, it will at some point need to be replaced. Knowing when to replace it is key to avoid pricey repairs, higher electrical bills and comfort disruptions.

When it involves being cool and your house’s energy efficiency, our Air Service Co. specialists have your best interests at heart. There’s a lot that goes into determining when your air conditioner requires replacement. Here are a few points you should consider when you’re thinking about replacing your 15-year-old air conditioner.

Age

On average, the Department of Energy says most air conditioners run for 15–20 years. If yours is 15 years old, it’s well past the center point. It’s smart to start preparing for air conditioning installation before it goes out so you aren’t sweltering while you’re waiting for installation.

Dependability

How trustworthy is your air conditioner? Does it cool well, even on the toastiest days? Or is it frequently malfunctioning? When your air conditioner starts becoming less trustworthy it’s time to initiate thinking about getting an updated one.

Repair Costs

Over your air conditioner’s life cycle, it’s normal for it to need a few minor repairs. But if your air conditioner repair cost is more than half the cost of a new air conditioner, it’s smarter to just replace it.

Energy Efficiency

Every air conditioner includes a SEER rating, which rates how well it uses electricity to create cold air. If your air conditioner was installed in 2006, it will be at least 13 SEER per federal mandates. However, your air conditioner loses efficiency as it gets older.

Today, 15–18 SEER is a popular range, but efficiency can go as high as the mid-20s. Air conditioners with greater SEER ratings are often costlier but may pay for themselves over the years through increased energy savings. And purchasing 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 running? Or are you often dialing down the temperature to keep cool? An aging air conditioner may struggle to keep your home comfy as a result of decreased efficiency. A new 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 give cooling you can feel, not hear. If noise is a concern, check with us about getting a variable-speed air conditioner. Most of these air conditioners run at a sound level that’s like a regular conversation.

Smart Thermostat Compatibility

Installing a smart thermostat is a smart approach to maximize your energy efficiency, with very little effort necessary from you. And, depending on the rebates provided by your utility company, you could be able to get a free smart thermostat or get one for very little. Most 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 gone and change settings as necessary.

If you rely on an aging air conditioner, a smart thermostat might not work with it. Upgrading your air conditioner is a surefire method to ensure smart thermostat compatibility.

Refrigerant Style

If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it potentially runs on Freon®. Also known as 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 runs on 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 experiences a refrigerant leak, fixing the problem will be expensive. That’s because Freon is only available in limited, recycled amounts.

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

Our Pros Make Air Conditioning Installation Easy

If you’re still deciding whether you should replace your 15-year-old air conditioner soon, consider 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 add up over time.

We realize that air conditioner cost is your first question. That’s why working with Air Service Co. for air conditioning installation in Muldrow and surrounding areas is stress-free and affordable. Our pros will help you select the right solution 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 accommodate your budget.

Get in touch with us at 918-212-8943 to request your free, no-pressure estimate right away!