When you’re evaluating whether or when to replace your air conditioner, it’s important to have all the facts about your options. This includes knowing the needs of your home, being able to compare various cooling systems, and understanding all of the costs involved.
We strongly believe that our customers should have everything they need in order to make an informed decision. Right now, there are some additional factors that you should weigh when making the decision to replace your air conditioner or put it off.
New Factors to Consider
As of January 1st, 2023, new standards for air conditioners will go into effect. This is because of requirements from the Department of Energy. Many of the currently-produced models will cease to be available because their energy rating is too low. The air conditioners that will be produced after January 1st will be more efficient. This is great news for the environment and for your utility bills in the long run! But these new units will be more expensive. They will be somewhat larger than the less-efficient models, which translates to increased cost of materials for production as well as increased transportation costs because fewer units will fit on a truck or train car.
Other Existing Factors
When weighing whether your air conditioner is ready to retire, there are things you should evaluate before you need to think about what to replace it with.
Refrigerant Type: If your air conditioner uses R-22, an older type of refrigerant that causes damage to the ozone layer, you should replace it. Newer air conditioners use R410A, which is less dangerous to the environment. R-22 is no longer being manufactured, so if that air conditioner develops a refrigerant leak, you won’t be able to have it repaired and refilled. These units are also all over twelve years old, which leads us to the next point.
Age: An air conditioner that is more than a decade old is getting close to retirement age. While an air conditioner can last around fifteen years with consistent annual maintenance, it is more likely to require repairs in its last few years.
Condition: If you are calling for small repairs very frequently, or if you are facing the possibility of a very expensive repair, it may be much more cost-effective to invest in a new air conditioner.
Reasons Not to Replace Your AC
If your air conditioner is under ten years old, in good condition, does not require significant repairs, and you are happy with its performance, simply invest in regular maintenance to keep it that way for years to come.
How We Can Help
We simply want you to know and have access to all your options, and those options are about to change. If replacing your air conditioner in the near future is likely, you should consider whether doing it before the regulations go into effect would be better for you. Our team is happy to help evaluate what system would work best for your home, discuss our financing options, and provide AC installation in Melbourne, FL as well as maintenance in the future.
