When summer weather rolls in, there is one item in your home that you are more thankful for than anything else: your air conditioner. For years, your air conditioner has kept your cool and comfortable, having acted as a saving grace when the heat rages on outside. However, after years of serving your home, your air conditioner can start to develop a few problems that you won’t be able to ignore — unless you want to be left completely without AC.
When those issues arise, you may wonder if a simple repair will suffice or if your unit will need to be replaced entirely. Well, a few factors will determine the answer to that question.
HOW OLD IS THE UNIT?
As long as it’s properly maintained, a typical air conditioning unit lasts for about 15 years. However, if you haven’t had it properly maintained over the years, it may not even last that long. If your unit starts having issues only a few years into its life, you may be fine just having a repair performed by a professional. But if your unit has seen a good number of birthdays, you’re probably better off replacing the unit.
HOW OFTEN ARE YOU MAKING REPAIRS?
It’s not uncommon to have to have a repair performed on your unit every now and again, but you shouldn’t need them so often that you basically have your HVAC technician on speed dial. If you find yourself making repairs every few months, especially if it’s the same repair, you should consider replacing your unit since all the money you would spend on more repairs can sometimes add up to the cost of a new unit.
HOW EXPENSIVE ARE YOUR ENERGY BILLS?
Like most machines that are made these days, newer AC units are simply more energy efficient than older ones. Take a few minutes to compare your current energy bills to those from the previous year at the same time. If you notice a large increase in how much you’re paying currently, the issue may lie with an old and inefficient air conditioner. You may be able to remedy this by having a more modern, energy-efficient unit installed in your home.
HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED A REFRIGERANT LEAK?
If you find that your air conditioner isn’t producing cold air, it may be the result of a refrigerant leak. Unlike other repair jobs, refrigerant leaks can be difficult to repair, since it isn’t always easy to tell where the leak is coming from. This is especially true if the leak is small and allows refrigerant to escape slowly. Besides being difficult to repair, refrigerant leaks are often very expensive to repair, sometimes costing as much as a new central air system.
If you experience this issue, you’re likely better off installing a new unit and having the benefits of a new system, rather than spending (potentially) the same amount of money only for the issue to potentially return.
HAVE YOU REMODELED YOUR HOME?
Any time the size of the space your air conditioner needs to cool changes, a change also needs to be made to the unit itself. If you have downsized your home, you don’t need a large unit to cool that space — it will only use unnecessary energy doing so. On the contrary, if you added a few rooms to your home, a smaller unit won’t be able to keep up with the demand for cool air and can leave you with high energy bills and an uncomfortable space.
When you remodel your home, speak to an HVAC technician about potentially replacing your air conditioner with a better-sized model. This will help ensure your home stays cool and comfortable and you don’t overpay on your utility bills.
TRUST ROCKY TOP HVAC WITH YOUR COOLING NEEDS
With over 150 years of combined HVAC experience, we are experts in AC installation and repair, as well as routine maintenance to keep your system running optimally all year-round. We’re proud to be the #1 Heating and Air Conditioning Company, according to Best of Knoxville 2017, and we are the only contractor in the area to offer a lifetime warranty on parts and labor.
Need AC installation, replacement, or repairs? Call us at (865) 474-1511 or contact us online to make an appointment today!