There are so many considerations when you’re trying to decide if you should replace your air conditioner yet or keep putting it off. It’s a hard choice! You want to get as much out of your existing system as you can, but you don’t want to end up wasting money in the process. And you certainly don’t want to end up without an air conditioner if the old one finally dies during a heat wave!
There are a variety of things you should keep in mind during this decision-making process. We’ve got some helpful recommendations. Check out our suggestions for how to determine when to keep investing in your old system and when to move on to a new one.
Age and Condition
First, how old is your air conditioner? And is it in good shape, all things considered, or are you surprised it’s still running at all? An air conditioner should last at least a decade. With care, they can last twelve years or perhaps a little longer. But that care involves some work on your part—changing the air filter monthly, washing down the outdoor unit—as well as annual professional maintenance.
If you’ve been diligent about making sure your air conditioner gets the care it requires, it is much more likely to make it to that twelve-year point or beyond. If you haven’t, your air conditioner has been aging more quickly. With no professional maintenance ever, you’ll be lucky if your air conditioner makes it to seven or eight years of age!
Repair Needs
Does your air conditioner currently require a repair in order to keep running, or to get running again? Have you gotten an estimate of how costly that repair is likely to be? It’s often recommended that homeowners never choose AC repair if the cost is 50% of the price of a new unit or more. But in an older unit, you don’t want to put much money into a repair at all, because it simply won’t last more than another year or two.
Even if a repair is minor and affordable, you should consider the frequency with which the system has been requiring repair. Once a year is quite frequent. More than once a year is a sign that the system is on its last legs. It will only require more and more repair, and those costs, however small each one is, will add up quickly.
Efficiency
As an AC system ages, it becomes less efficient. For several years, consistent maintenance can keep the efficiency up, but at some point, it will drop and just keep dropping. This means that even if you’re not paying for repairs, you’re paying a lot more than you should every time your electric bill comes due.
The other thing to consider about efficiency is this: new AC units are tremendously more efficient. Even when it was brand-new, your old system was nowhere near as energy-efficient as today’s systems are. So if you’re concerned about your environmental impact or your utility bills, the right choice is a new, high-efficiency system for air conditioning in Kelowna, BC.
Whether you want to have your old system repaired, learn about your options for a new system, or just have questions to ask, we’re always happy to hear from you.
Schedule with Comfort Tech Heating & Cooling. We guarantee your comfort with every job we do.