With ample upkeep, your air conditioner will offer worry-free performance for many years. But, like any other machine in your residence, it will at some point need to be replaced. Knowing when to install a new one is important to avoid pricey repairs, higher electrical bills and comfort disruptions.

When it comes to being cool and your house’s energy efficiency, our Siloam Springs Heating & AC professionals have your best interests at heart. There’s a lot that goes into figuring out when your air conditioner requires replacement. Here are a couple of points you should consider when you’re thinking about updating your 15-year-old air conditioner.

Age

Typically, the Department of Energy says most air conditioners run for 15–20 years. If yours is 15 years old, it’s well past the center point. It’s smart to begin preparing for air conditioning installation before it goes out so you aren’t sweltering while you’re waiting for a replacement.

Reliability

How dependable is your air conditioner? Does it cool well, even on the warmest days? Or is it regularly malfunctioning? When your air conditioner starts becoming less trustworthy it’s time to begin thinking about getting an updated one.

Repair Expenses

Over your air conditioner’s life cycle, it’s normal for it to need several little repairs. But if your air conditioner repair cost is more than half the price of a new air conditioner, it’s wiser to just install a new one.

Energy Efficiency

Every air conditioner comes with a SEER rating, which ranks how well it uses electricity to create cold air. If your air conditioner was installed in 2006, it will be at minimum 13 SEER to meet federal laws. However, your air conditioner loses efficiency as it gets older.

As of now, 15–18 SEER is a popular range, but efficiency can go as high as the mid-20s. Air conditioners with greater SEER ratings are often costlier but might pay for themselves over time through increased energy savings. And installing an energy-efficient air conditioner, especially one that’s an ENERGY STAR® air conditioner, can make you eligible for added rebates.

Comfort

Are you comfy when your air conditioner is on? Or are you often dialing down the temperature to stay cool? An older air conditioner might struggle to keep your home comfy as a result of decreased efficiency. A new air conditioner, particularly a variable-speed air conditioner, can minimize high humidity and hot and cold spots. Instead of cooling at full speed all the time, these air conditioners run at multiple speeds to adjust your comfort.

Noise

Your air conditioner should give cooling you can feel, not hear. If noise is annoying you, check with us about upgrading to a variable-speed air conditioner. Many of these air conditioners run at a sound level that’s like a regular conversation.

Smart Thermostat Compatibility

Installing a smart thermostat is a good way to maximize your energy efficiency, with very little effort necessary from you. And, depending on the rebates provided by your utility company, you could be able to get a free smart thermostat or get one for very little. Most of these thermostats can pick up on your temperature preferences and then develop an energy-efficient schedule to match. They also know when you’re at home or away and change settings as necessary.

If you have an older air conditioner, a smart thermostat might not work with it. Getting a new air conditioner is a smart method to ensure smart thermostat compatibility.

Refrigerant Style

If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it potentially runs on Freon®. Also called R-22 refrigerant, Freon is no longer being produced because of its negative effects on the ozone layer. You can see if your air conditioner has R-22 by reviewing the sticker on the outside unit, which will include the refrigerant kind.

If your air conditioner is operating fine, you can keep on using it. However, if it ever has a refrigerant leak, solving the problem will be costly. That’s due to the fact Freon is only available in reduced, recycled amounts.

Newer air conditioners run on Puron®, or R-410A. But you can’t just use Puron in a Freon air conditioner, since pressure requirements are different.

Our Pros Make Air Conditioning Installation Easy

If you’re still deciding whether you should replace your 15-year-old air conditioner now, think about this. The Department of Energy says doing air conditioning replacement for a 10-year-old model can provide 25–40% in energy savings! And those savings can really accumulate as time goes by.

We realize that air conditioner cost is your number one question. That’s why collaborating with Siloam Springs Heating & AC for air conditioning installation in Siloam Springs and surrounding areas is simple and affordable. Our technicians will help you choose the right model for your needs and then discuss all the possibilities. These include special offers to help you save more and financing for qualified customers to make your new air conditioner accommodate your budget.

Get in touch with us at 479-308-8176 to request your free, no-pressure estimate now!