Telltale Signs You Should Replace Rather Repair Your A/C

An air conditioner is a must because of the hot Orlando weather, and regular maintenance is important. However, if your air conditioner (A/C) is reaching the end of its functional life — the average lifespan is 15 to 20 years —  then you may wonder whether it’s time to replace rather than repair your A/C. Now’s a good time to consider it, since the weather’s turned cooler and you don’t necessarily need your A/C as much.

So what are the telltale signs that you should replace rather than repair your A/C? Here are a few:

• Its age: If it’s more than a decade old, you may not want to repair your A/C if you have a major issue, but rather, consider replacing it instead. Replacement may be more cost-effective once parts for your older unit become harder to find and therefore more expensive, and a new unit means better efficiency, too. Newer models are at least 200 percent more efficient than those produced 20 years ago.
• Its refrigerant type: Today, most air-conditioners use R-410A coolant, instead of the older R-22, which the EPA is phasing out because the chlorine it contains damages the ozone layer. If your old air conditioner uses R-22, you really should replace it. By January 2020, it no longer will be available, and its cost will continue to skyrocket between now and then.
• How much it costs to run: If your electric bills are getting higher every year, you might want to consider upgrading to a more energy-efficient model. A 20-year-old system uses up to 50 percent more energy than a new model, while a 10-year-old system can use as much as 40 percent more energy. Look for the ENERGY STAR label and a high SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio), which indicates how much energy the unit expends to produce a specific cooling output. Today’s models must be at least a 13 and go up to 20, but in general, the higher the better.

Do you have a question about energy or home-comfort issues pertaining to A/C or your HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system? We’re here to help. Contact Rinaldi’s Energy Solutions Team, service experts serving the Central Florida area since 1969.