To Repair or Replace Your Air Conditioner

Your HVAC equipment is some of the most expensive pieces of machinery in your home. You know your air conditioner could impact your wallet if you needed to replace it. That’s a very good reason to keep it operating well. 

But then, on one of the warmest days of the year, it stops working. The cool air no longer flows through the vents. What now?

Is the Repair Worth the Cost?

An HVAC technician visits and gives you the bad news. It’s a major repair. Even the repair is going to wreak havoc on your monthly budget. But they warn that even fixing the part might not cure the issue. It may be even bigger, impacting your furnace operation as well. 

Do you risk it? Do you make the repair? Or is it time to invest in new equipment altogether? 

In general, we offer homeowners the following advice:

Refrigerant

Refrigerants have changed over the past decade. R-22 is now phased out, and is no longer in production. If your air conditioner still takes R-22, go with a new system that uses a more environmentally friendly R-410A refrigerant. 

SEER rating

SEER stands for seasonal energy efficiency rating. It measures air conditioner cooling efficiency. The higher the SEER rating, the more efficient the system. Most modern air conditioners have SEER ratings from 13 to 21. To have an EnergyStar qualified system, it has to be rated 14.5 or above. The lower the SEER rating on your current system, the more weight you should give towards replacing the air conditioner with a modern one with a better rating. 

Warranty

Are you facing more repairs each year? That could be a sign the air conditioner is reaching the end of life. A new system means better equipment, more efficient cooling, and a warranty to ensure you won’t have problems in the near future. That may be what pushes you into replacing your older system. 

Should you repair or replace? It’s often a difficult call. 

But if you need a second opinion or just some friendly advice, give us a call today.