Repairing your air conditioner is often much cheaper than replacing it. However, if you’re constantly paying for repairs, replacement could be the most cost-effective choice. Recurring problems can indicate larger issues. Read on to discover five warning signs that replacing your AC is your best bet.
1. You’re Close to Paying for AC Replacement
As a general rule, HVAC companies recommend replacing air conditioners when total repair costs exceed half the cost of replacement. If your AC breaks down once or twice each cooling season, you can expect additional problems and additional spending in the years that lie ahead.
2. Air Conditioners Break Down More at the End of Their Lifespans
Air conditioners typically last 15 to 20 years. Most AC models will experience the majority of their problems within the last two years of their service lives. If your AC has supplied a decade or more of service and breaks down much of the time, replacing it now could help you avoid mid-season failure.
According to some estimates, air conditioners can lose up to half of their efficiency after one decade of use. These efficiency losses remain progressive until air conditioners reach the end of their lifespans. When frequent repairs are a symptom of advanced age, replacing your older AC will result in significant energy savings.
3. Avoid Cooling Emergencies
When local temperatures spike, having reliable home cooling is essential. Mid-season failure can lead to cooling emergencies that place residents at risk of heat stroke, dehydration, and heat exhaustion. Replacement is a sure way to avoid an ill-timed breakdown.
4. Your AC Could Be the Wrong Size
Whether too large or too small, improperly sized air conditioners experience excess stress throughout their service lives. Undersized ACs run nearly nonstop. They also lack the cooling power to create and maintain the temperatures residents want.
Oversized air conditioners run short and ineffective cooling cycles. They cycle on and then rapidly cycle back off before affecting any significant changes in temperature and humidity.
Improper sizing shortens the lifespan of air conditioners and creates the need for frequent repairs. Even if your AC was just right for your home before, changes in your home’s layout, new home additions, and household size may have altered your need for cooling power. When you schedule AC replacement, your installer will calculate your cooling needs based on your most current circumstances.
5. Loss of Warranty Protections
Just when older air conditioners start experiencing the need for recurring repairs, their manufacturers’ warranties end. Without warranty protection, you’ll pay out of pocket to repair or replace components even when problems result from defective parts or other manufacturing errors.
Installing a new air conditioner rather than paying for increasingly costly AC repairs will save you money and provide peace of mind. For expert AC installation in Montgomery, AL, contact Alabama Home Pros now!