You’re A/C just broke down and so did you. You called in an HVAC company to fix the problem only to be hit with a high repair bill. Or maybe he told you the A/C was beyond saving and it was time for replacement.
But how do you know if he’s telling the truth, or if he’s just trying to make a quick buck?
Here are 4 signs that your A/C needs to be replaced.
Signs you need an A/C Replacement
1. Your Air Conditioner Is Old
One of the biggest questions we get during A/C installations is how long do air conditioners last?
Whether you’ve just installed a new A/C or you’re looking to replace your air conditioner, you want to know how long the expensive piece of equipment that helps you stay comfortable is going to last.
The short answer is about 15 years.
The long answer is that A/C might last as long as 30 years or fail in as little as 10 years. It all depends on how hot it gets where you live, how long it stays hot throughout the year, and how much you run it each day.
But the average lifespan of an air conditioner is 15 years.
2. Your A/C is in Frequent Need of Repair
If your A/C is just over 10 years old, you might be able to squeak a few more years out of it. But anything over 15, count yourself lucky. At this point in an A/C’s lifespan, repairs will be more frequent and more costly. You’re better off considering replacement.
The general rule of thumb is that if a repair costs more than 25% of the cost of replacement, or if you need A/C repair more than 2 times a year, it’s better to replace than repair.
Why spend all that money patching a sinking ship only to have it go belly up in the end? You’re only delaying the inevitable by putting off replacement.
Some HVAC companies, like Precision Temperature, will refund the cost of your repair up to a certain amount if you get the replacement through them. This way we can patch you up and keep you cool while we’re ordering your equipment, then you get a replacement at a “discount” because we’ll lower the cost the amount (or a portion of the amount) you paid in repairs.
3. Your Energy Bills Are Through the Roof
Unless you’ve recently made drastic changes to your daily routine, your energy bills should generally be around the same amount each month. There will be minor fluctuations for A/C and furnace usage, but it should look the same from year to year.
If you notice a sudden (or gradual) spike that leads to several hundred dollars more each month due to your A/C usage, that is a clear sign that you need to replace your A/C.
In addition to savings on repairs, you’ll also notice a marked improvement in your energy bill if you replace your A/C. Air conditioners have become more energy efficient since your old fossil was made, plus older systems have to worker harder to keep up which uses more electricity.
As the system ages, that hard work gets slower and slower and consumes more and more energy.
At this point, a new A/C will practically pay for itself in a few years on energy savings alone.
4. You’re A/C still uses R-22 Freon.
Freon is a type of refrigerant that was very popular until just a few years ago. In fact, the EPA banned the manufacture of more Freon in 2020. This means that new batches of Freon are not being produced, but companies still have access to existing supply of Freon.
Once that supply runs out, however, there will be no way to service existing R-22 A/C units if a leak occurs.
For that reason, it’s recommend that if your A/C unit is more than 10 years old, that you consider replacement. A different type of refrigerant known as R-410 became standard back in 2010. Meaning that if you’ve purchase your A/C since then, it’s probably on R-410.
But any systems purchased pre-2010 very likely contain R-22 Freon. You aren’t at any significant health risk by owning such a system, it just means that repairing in the future may become more difficult or impossible.
Start planning now and setting aside money for a future replacement.
Need help with your A/C replacement?
Whether you’re just interested in an estimate or are seriously considering replacement of your A/C, give Precision Temperature a call.
We’ve been providing A/C installation services to San Diego since 1987. If cost is your primary concern, our financing plans can help you make A/C replacement affordable as low as $75/month.
Give us a call today at 619-588-5321 to schedule your free estimate and speak with our comfort advisor about Air Conditioning Solutions for your home.
