Spring is here, and summer will arrive before you know it: bringing with it high temperatures and stifling humidity. If you have an older air conditioner, you may be wondering whether you should replace it now, or let it run for another summer or two. There’s no correct choice to make, since each air conditioner is different, and your circumstances may not resemble anyone else’s.
Now is the right time to ponder the issue, however. If you decide you need a new air conditioner, you still have several weeks to sort out the specifics, and can plan the installation at your leisure. Contrast that with a sudden breakdown in the middle of summer, forcing you to scramble to get a new system installed as quickly as possible.
The question of whether you need a new air conditioner or not is ultimately yours. However, there are a few factors involved which can help make the decision easier. We tend to cite three specific conditions the indicate a struggling older system. If your air conditioner meets two or more of these conditions, you’re probably ready to install a new one.
Has the Warranty Expired?
The warranty covers parts on the air conditioner for a certain period of time. If the system breaks down before the warranty expires, repair expenses are thus greatly reduced. After the expiration of the warranty, however, you’re apt to pay a lot more for repairs. That doesn’t mean a system can’t last for many years beyond the expiration of the warranty, especially if you schedule maintenance sessions on the system every year. But it the warranty has expired and you’re facing one of the two options below, it’s time to think about a new air conditioner.
Are Repair Bills Too High?
A breakdown after the warranty has expired will entail some rough cost calculations. If you’ve had to schedule more than two repair jobs in the same twelve-month period, the system has likely reached the point where you need to consider replacing it. Alternatively, it could only be one repair job, but the cost of it is larger enough that investing in a new system makes more sense than pouring money into the old one.
Are Monthly Costs Too High?
Wear and tear will take their toll on any piece of equipment as they get older, and while regular maintenance can help, sooner or later, age is going to contribute to the system’s inefficiency. You’ll likely notice that with the slow rise in your monthly air conditioning bills, and while the system will continue to run reliably, it’s going to cost you more and more every year to do it. Eventually, the cost will be so high that replacing the system becomes the best possible option for giving your monthly budget a break. The savings you enjoy in improved efficiency will help offset the cost.
If you’ve decided that you need a new air conditioner for your Plano, TX home, and you want the job done right, call the professionals at Hutchins Plumbing & Air Conditioning today!
