Is It Time to Replace Your Air Conditioner?

by Tom Olecki, Owner, Broadview Heating

Nobody wants to replace their air conditioner. It’s not fun. You can’t show it off like a shiny new car and it won’t make you “feel good.” But there comes a time when replacement is a good idea.

I like to be proactive when it comes to replacement. Why wait until that hot day for the air to quit? If you wait until the system cannot be repaired, for instance, it will break at the worst-possible moment. You might be away on vacation, it might be a summer holiday, or even worse, during a 90-degree hot spell when dealers are swamped and busy. At that point, you must have to decide on the spot without having done any research to learn all of your options. Don’t forget, you’ll have to live with your decision for about 20 years, so don’t put off the inevitable until it’s too late.

So what are the signs that the time is drawing near for an air conditioning replacement?

Most manufacturers include 10-year warranties on their air conditioners so it makes sense that you will get at least that many years out of your system. Of course, this depends on how well you have maintained the system over the years. Clean and checks go a long way in extending the useful life of your air conditioner. If your system is at 20-plus years, now is a good time to start thinking about replacement.

Have you had multiple repairs in the past or is your air conditioner very unreliable? Do you have to add refrigerant every year? Don’t throw good money after bad when you could be using the money spent for the repairs toward the replacement of the system – especially if the repair costs $500 or more.

Energy efficiency of a newer air conditioning system will be higher than your old one so there is a point when it pays to replace in terms of electrical savings alone. Sometimes these savings are more than 25%, so if your bills are getting out of hand, a new high-efficiency system will really help.

Certain times of the year (usually during spring and fall), manufacturers offer specials featuring rebates of hundreds of dollars on new systems. Many times, they also offer free financing for up to 5 years. This savings, plus tax credits awarded by the government – up to $600 – can  really help lower installation costs.

Tom Olecki, Owner, Broadview Heating

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Questions are always welcome. For free help with your heating/cooling system, ask the experts at broadviewheating@sbcglobal.net or call 440-526-7310.

Opinions and claims expressed above are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of ScripType Publishing.