Struggling to decide whether you should repair or replace air conditioner? Well, you are not alone friend, there are thousands of people facing the same dilemma. While repairing seems to be an intuitive decision for many, it’s not the smartest decision all the time.
So, how can you make the right decision? To find that out, we have to dig a bit deep into the matter and figure out what scenarios line up with your situation better.
Let’s go ahead and see how you can make the right decision every time.
Before you even decide between repairing or replacing a central air conditioner, you need to look out for indications you need to check your air conditioner. Some of these common signs include:
One of the key things you need to take into account when checking your AC is the age of the unit. After a certain age, it becomes pointless to repair your AC because of how inefficient it gets over time. Usually, the ideal timeline for that is 10 years or more. If your AC has crossed that mark, go for a replacement air conditioner unit right away.
If your AC is not 10 years old, then the next thing you should think about is the level of comfort and the indoor air quality you get due to the AC.
By level of comfort, we mean, how effectively is your AC unit cooling your home. Is the temperature right? Are there any hot spots in your home? Check up on these things first. Then you can move to the air quality factor.
In air quality, you should check whether you get any smells, dust, or debris, in your home or not. Most HVAC units come with filters to keep the air quality clean, if you notice poor air quality, then it’s a sign that your AC is failing for sure.
The next crucial factor you have to keep track of is the energy usage of your AC unit. Let’s be real, no one wants to pay extra on their energy bills. Typically, an AC that is quite old will always struggle with efficiency resulting in higher energy bills. Whereas newer models prove to be more energy efficient, saving you money.
To understand whether your AC unit is performing as it is intended to or not, you can check out the SEER rating of your unit. Then, match it with the current rating, if it goes lower then it has lost its efficiency, and you better replace the unit to save on energy usage.
Deciding on replacement or repairs is also easy if you can identify the severity of the issue that you are dealing with with your AC. In cases of severe issues like compressor failure, coil corrosion, or multiple components failing, you should definitely for an AC replacement without any doubts.
But if you see that the issues are minor electrical problems, small refrigerant leaks, thermostat issues, or duct repairs, then repairing can get you by. Of course, you should consider the primary factors like the age, or frequency of repairs before opting for repairing.
If you are someone who is always trying to be eco-friendly and worried about the environment, then this is a crucial consideration for you. Typically, old AC units often use a refrigerant called R-22. The impact of R-22 on the environment is quite brutal according to plenty of studies.
So, from an environmental point of view, if you have a system that uses R-22 refrigerant, then you should definitely replace the unit right away. The use of this refrigerant has been phased out in newer AC units to promote eco-friendliness.
Well, it’s pretty straightforward that you should always opt for repairs as long as your AC is under warranty coverage. But if it doesn’t have a warranty anymore, then you should check the maintenance history.
A unit that always goes through maintenance, shouldn’t have many issues. So, if you are still facing issues with regular maintenance, then there is a chance that the unit itself is faulty. In that case, replacing the unit is the smartest move to make.
By now you should have an idea of when you should repair and when you should replace. But in some cases, the decision is still not clear. That’s when you can weigh the advantages and disadvantages of these options.
First, let’s take a look at the benefits and drawbacks of air conditioner repair services.
There are quite a lot of benefits you get from air conditioner repair:
It’s not all sunshine with AC repair, there are dark sides to it as well, such as -
Now, let’s talk about the benefits and drawbacks of the replacement of air conditioners so that you can compare the two easily.
Here’s what you get when you replace an air conditioner:
Well, there are some downsides to air conditioner replacement as well. Such as -
Yes, if you are having difficulty in determining issues with your AC, then a professional evaluation can help you. With a professional evaluation, you can identify any issues, before it gets severe.
So, they can surely help you extend the life of your AC system by suggesting you the right course of action. If you suspect a problem, contact an air conditioner repair service provider right away.
So, what’s the verdict? Well, it’s simple, consider the factors we discussed above, and you will wind up with the right choice. We have explained when you should go for repair and when you should go for replacement. But if you still struggle with what to do, then we urge you to get help from HVAC professionals around you.
