With proper upkeep, your air conditioner will deliver worry-free performance for many years. But, like any other thing in your home, it will eventually need to be upgraded. Knowing when to get a new one is important to skip pricey repairs, expensive electrical bills and interruptions to your comfort.

When it includes being cool and your residence’s energy efficiency, our Contra Costa Heating & AC professionals 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 updating your 15-year-old air conditioner.

Age

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

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 starts becoming less trustworthy it’s time to begin considering getting an updated one.

Repair Bills

Over your air conditioner’s life span, it’s expected for it to need a few minor repairs. But if your air conditioner repair cost is more than half the price of a new air conditioner, it’s recommended to just install a new one.

Energy Efficiency

Every air conditioner includes a SEER rating, which ranks how efficiently it expends electricity to produce cold air. If your air conditioner was installed in 2006, it will be at minimum 13 SEER per federal rules. However, your air conditioner becomes less efficient as it gets older.

As of 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 typically costlier but might pay for themselves over time 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 added rebates.

Comfort

Are you comfortable when your air conditioner is working? Or are you continuously dialing down the temperature to remain cool? An aging air conditioner could struggle to keep your residence comfy due to lower efficiency. A new air conditioner, particularly a variable-speed air conditioner, can reduce high humidity and hot and cold spots. Instead of running at full speed continuously, these air conditioners work at multiple speeds to adapt your comfort.

Noise

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

Smart Thermostat Compatibility

Getting a smart thermostat is a wise approach to maximize your energy efficiency, with not much effort necessary from you. And, depending on the rebates available from your utility company, you could be able to get a free smart thermostat or get one for not much. Many of these thermostats can pick up on your temperature preferences and then develop an energy-efficient schedule to match. They also know when you’re at home or away and change temps as necessary.

If you rely on an older air conditioner, a smart thermostat might not work with it. Getting a new air conditioner is a wise method to ensure smart thermostat compatibility.

Refrigerant Kind

If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it probably runs on Freon®. Also known as R-22 refrigerant, Freon is no longer being made because of its damaging effects on the ozone layer. You can see if your air conditioner has R-22 by checking the sticker on the outside unit, which will show the refrigerant kind.

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

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

Our Techs Make Air Conditioning Installation Stress-Free

If you’re still trying to decide whether you should replace your 15-year-old air conditioner soon, 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 are aware that air conditioner cost is your first question. That’s why partnering with Contra Costa Heating & AC for air conditioning installation in The Bay Area and surrounding areas is stress-free and affordable. Our techs will help you find the right solution for your needs and then review 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.

Call us at 510-343-9841 to request your free, no-pressure estimate now!