Should I Replace My 15-Year-Old Air Conditioner?

With ample maintenance, your air conditioner will offer worry-free cooling for many years. But, like any other appliance in your residence, it will eventually need replacement. Knowing when to install a new one is essential to skip costly repairs, higher energy bills, and interrupted comfort.

When it comes to staying cool and your home’s energy efficiency, our Winters Heating and Cooling professionals have your best interests at heart. There’s a lot that goes into figuring out when your air conditioner requires replacement. Here are a couple of things you should consider when you’re thinking about updating your 15-year-old air conditioner.

Age

Most of the time, the Department of Energy says most air conditioners last for 15–20 years. If yours is 15 years old, it’s well past the halfway point. It’s recommended to start planning for air conditioning installation before it fails so you aren’t sweltering while you’re waiting for a new one.

Trustworthiness

How reliable is your air conditioner? Does it cool reliably, even on the hottest days? Or is it regularly needing repairs? When your air conditioner is less trustworthy it’s time to begin preparing to get a new one.

Repair Costs

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

Energy Efficiency

Every air conditioner has a SEER rating, which measures how efficiently it consumes electricity to produce chilled 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.

As of now, 15–18 SEER is a popular range, but efficiency can go as high as the mid-20s. Air conditioners with bigger SEER ratings are often more expensive but might pay for themselves over their life span through improved energy savings. And purchasing an energy-efficient air conditioner, especially one that’s an ENERGY STAR® air conditioner, can make you eligible for added rebates.

Comfort

Are you cool when your air conditioner is running? Or are you continuously switching the temperature to keep cool? An older air conditioner might struggle to keep your home cool as a result of lower efficiency. An updated air conditioner, particularly an available speed air conditioner, can lower high humidity and hot and cold spots. Instead of running at full blast constantly, these air conditioners run at multiple speeds to adapt to your comfort.

Noise

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

Smart Thermostat Compatibility

Getting a smart thermostat is a smart method to stay on top of energy efficiency, with not much effort required from you. And, depending on the rebates available by your utility company, you might be able to get a free smart thermostat or get one for a greatly reduced price. Most of these thermostats can adjust to your temperature preferences and then create an energy-efficient schedule to match. They also know when you’re at home or away and adjust settings accordingly.

If you have an aging air conditioner, a smart thermostat might not work with it. Getting a new air conditioner is a surefire approach to ensure smart thermostat compatibility.

Refrigerant Style

If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it likely runs on Freon®. Also referred to as R-22 refrigerant, Freon is no longer being made as a result of its damaging effects on the ozone layer. You can see if your air conditioner has an R-22 by looking at 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 develops a refrigerant leak, repairing the problem will be costly. That’s due to the fact Freon is only available in reduced, recycled amounts.

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

Our Technicians Make Air Conditioning Installation Stress-Free

If you’re still deciding whether you should replace your 15-year-old air conditioner within the immediate future, think over 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 the years. We are aware that air conditioner cost is your top question. That’s why working with Winters Heating and Cooling for air conditioning installation in Franklin & South Indy and surrounding areas is simple and affordable. Our technicians will help you find 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 317-406-5382 to request your free, no-pressure estimate now!