Should You Repair Or Replace Your Air Conditioner?

If your old air conditioner is racking up the repair bills and still not performing well, it may be time to consider if replacement is a better option than yet another repair. Because a new air conditioner is a major investment, the following should be taken into consideration:

1. Repairing the AC unit may be the least expensive immediate option, but could cost more in the long run. For example if the evaporator coil has numerous leaks or is severely corroded, it’s time to replace the unit.

2. Depending on the age of your current air conditioner, installing a new, energy efficient system could pay for itself over time. By looking at the Energy Star Label on new air conditioners you can find out how efficient the unit is, as indicated by a SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating). The SEER rating tells you how efficiently a unit uses electricity: the higher the number, the greater the efficiency.

The typical SEER rating of units manufactured prior to 1992 is about 6.0. In 1992, the government established a minimum cooling efficiency standard for units installed in new homes at 10.0 SEER. High efficiency units have a rating of at least 12.0 SEER.

3. New Features – Some HVAC systems come with additional features that provide greater comfort. Two-speed units can run on low-speed (using about 50 percent of the energy) 80 percent of the time. Consequently, they use fewer on/off cycles and produce fewer drafts and small temperature swings.

At ABC Southwest Plumbing & Air Conditioning our first priority is to keep your air conditioner running as reliably and efficiently for as long as possible. If you have questions about whether to repair or replace your current air conditioner our home comfort specialist can help.