As with all equipment and appliances around your house, eventually they will need repair and eventual replacement. Depending on the age of your system, it may have a low SEER rating which means it’s less efficient to operate and cool your home. With lower efficiency meaning higher energy consumption, plus yearly repairs to keep an older system operating to the best of its ability, it may be more cost effective to replace your system with a higher SEER rated unit. So, when should you repair your system and when should you replace it?
What is the age of the system? Once your system is about 15-20 years old, you should probably be looking into the replacement of your system. By now your warranty has expired and all repairs will now be out of pocket. Yearly preventative maintenance can definitely help extend the life of your unit but the cost for repair and operating energy consumption may cost you more annually than investing in a new, high-efficient air conditioning system.
Are issues with your system infrequent? If your air conditioning system is between 5 and 10 years old and have only had minor issues that preventative maintenance or regularly changing your air filter may have prevented, have annual maintenance performed by an HVAC technician to stay ahead of repairs and help keep your system clean and functioning properly.
Are you having to recharge your system every season? If you’re having to call your HVAC technician yearly and they’re continually having to add refrigerant, this is an obvious sign of a leak in your coils or refrigerant lines. Depending on the age of the system and where the leak or leaks are present, this could cost hundreds of dollars to fix and it may be more beneficial to invest that money into a new system that would come with a warranty.
Are you hearing strange noises or noticing bad smells when the unit is turned on? If you hear squealing, grinding, clicking, or smell strange odors, you should turn your unit off and call an HVAC technician and have them assess your situation and see if repair or replacement would be most beneficial to you. Leaving a unit running could further damage components and cause more costly repairs.
Air conditioning in your home is no longer a luxury, it’s a necessity. During peak times, it’s easy for HVAC companies to be booked out for a few weeks in advance on service calls. This is why it’s best to stay proactive and not be left in the heat until a technician can diagnose an issue or to get a new system installed. To schedule your annual AC maintenance, to have a technician assess a current problem, or to get a FREE estimate done for a new system, call us at 785-341-4193!
De Hart Plumbing Heating and Cooling, serving Manhattan Kansas, Junction City Kansas, Wamego Kansas, Topeka Kansas, and some surrounding areas.
