SHOULD YOU REPAIR OR REPLACE?
What if your air conditioner is not working the way it should or not working
at all? Repair might seem like the least expensive solution. But in the
long run, replacing your broken or under-performing unit might be the best
way to go. How do you decide? Remember that you want to make the
best decision, not just the cheapest one.
CONSIDER THESE THINGS:
- Age of the System- Generally, an air conditioner is expected to last 12 to
15 years. If your A/C has been operating for less than five years,
repairing it makes sense because it likely has several good service years
left. But, if your A/C is 7 years old or older, you may want to consider
replacement.
- Proper Sizing- if your existing unit is not properly sized, it could be
operating inefficiently. Proper sizing of a new unit should be determined
by a licensed HVAC contractor using an approved heat load calculation
method. Existing insulation, types of windows and doors and their
locations, square footage of your home, the location of your outside unit
are just some of the items that must be taken into consideration.
- Cost of Operation- A/C units 15-20 years old could have a SEER rating
that is 1/2 the rating of a new high-efficiency (13 SEER or higher) system.
This is essentially a 50% difference in energy savings. Now it's time to "do the math". Will the amount of money you save on your electric bill
offset the cost of the new unit? The answer is probably yes. Your Airstar
ServIce Technician can show you how to calculate your savings.
- Cost to Repair- If you are looking at spending $500 to $700 just to
repair one breakdown of your old system, now may be the time to
replace it. Often, when one component of your system breaks down that component may have been adversely affecting other components for a period of time. Over time, you could be facing multiple repairs to an aging system.
If you decide not to replace at this time, be sure to keep your system running at its best with Regular Seasonal Maintenance.
