As a homeowner you will probably be faced with this question at one time or another. Keep in mind that this affects both your AC and your furnace.
When weighing your options, accurate information will help in your decision making process. Consider the following when making a decision:
- Age of the unit
- Outdated technology
- Does your current unit use R22 refrigerant?
- Impact on environment
- Overall cost over time
AGE OF THE UNIT
There isn’t any set rule or method, but a simple rule of thumb is to take the cost of the air conditioner repair and multiply by the age of the unit. That number should be less than the cost of a new unit.
For instance, if a repair is $400 and the unit is 10 years old, your number is 4000. If the cost to replace a unit is $4000 then that is your smartest option.
OUTDATED TECHNOLOGY
Your current compressor and both indoor and outdoor fan motors can draw more amperage which in return results in higher energy costs. New A/C systems will have more protection sensors to prevent major failure including an internal overload sensor inside your compressor to prevent over heating or compressor failure. New units include refrigerant low and high pressures switches to tell the A/C unit to shut off if the refrigerant pressure becomes too low from a refrigerant leak in the system or the pressure is too high from a dirty coil. These sensors will engage and shut the system off to prevent failure of a major component. Most importantly a new air conditioning system will come with a flood protection sensor.
R-22 REFRIGERANT
There should be a model plate on your outside condensing unit that will tell you the type of refrigerant your systems uses. Chances are if your system is over 13 years old, it uses R-22 refrigerant. If you can’t locate this information, your Precision air conditioning technician will be able to quickly let you know. THIS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST FACTORS TO CONSIDER because R-22 refrigerant is toxic to the environment and the ozone layer. The EPA has mandated that manufacturing or importing R-22 refrigerant will be illegal in the United States effective January 1, 2020. As a result when repairing a refrigerant leak in a R-22 system, the repair bills will become steep as the system will need to be modified.
SYSTEM PERFORMANCE
Do you notice that the noise coming from your outside air conditioning system is loud? Does the system run non stop? Are the condensing coils corroded, bent or deteriorating? Does the inside of your furnace have mold or bacteria growth? Do you notice that your air conditioning system struggles to bring it to your desired temperature in the middle of summer ? If you have answered yes to 3 or more of these questions, consider speaking with your Precision Air expert technician about replacing your unit.
OVERALL COST OVER TIME
Your air conditioning system may still cool down your home or business, but it might be doing it inefficiently.
Consider the number of repairs you have made to your current air conditioning system and the frequency of those repairs. If you are having to service your system annually to keep your home cool, that cost should be factored in. Sometimes the peace of mind of knowing you won’t need to repair annually is worth a new unit.