How to Tell if You Need Your A/C Replaced

According to the US Energy Information Administration, 87 percent of all US households have air conditioning units. Surprisingly, many homeowners do not know when it is time to replace their old but still working A/C. So, here are three factors that you need to consider in order to determine whether you need to retire that old A/C and buy a new one:

Age – Air conditioners generally last up to fifteen years if they are properly maintained. So, if you are thinking, why replace a perfectly good A/C unit with a new one, the answer is technology. One of the most significant aspects of technological advances in cooling and heating system comes as energy efficiency. In fact, if your A/C is ten years old, and you replace it with a newer energy efficient one, you can save up to 50 percent on air conditioning cost. Now consider this: According to the US Energy Information Administration, of homes with older A/C units, more than 50 percent of the total energy consumption goes to the heating and cooling system. This means savings of up to 25 percent, if you switch to a newer energy efficient heating and cooling system.


Efficiency – The age of the unit is not the only factor that affects its efficiency. You should consider A/C replacement if your air conditioner has a high SEER rating and if it does not meet your room’s cooling needs. Read the energy guide of your unit and compare it with the energy guide of new models. You can then see your consumption and running cost compared to new units. When it comes to the needs of your room, oversized units waste a lot of energy. Similarly, if you notice that your system cannot seem to keep the room cool, it means you have an incorrectly sized unit or that it is no longer as efficient as it should.

Repairs and Maintenance Cost – If you notice that your unit is always breaking down and that the cost of repair, whether it is in parts or services, is high then it is time for an A/C replacement. What you have to remember is that the additional cost of repair and maintenance and the additional cost of having an old unit can really add up. A new unit will save you hundreds of dollars on repair and maintenance costs just on the first year of warranty alone.

Sources
http://www.nrdc.org/air/energy/fappl.asp
http://www.eia.gov/consumption/residential/reports/2009/air-conditioning.cfm
http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=10271