Spring is a good time to make an assessment of your older air conditioner and determine if it needs to be replaced. Years of service usually take their toll on older systems, and months of sitting unused during the winter mean that dust and other contaminants can build up as well. If your air conditioner is ready to be put out to pasture, now is the time to do so. Otherwise, you risk a final, fatal breakdown in the middle of summer just when you need the system the most, forcing you to scramble to get a replacement put into place. Replacing your system now gives you the luxury of time to plan and the flexibility to schedule the replacement when you want, instead of what necessity dictates. Finally, it allows you to enjoy the benefits of a new system immediately, help you save money and worry during the summer when you really need it.
But how can you tell if the system needs replacing? That usually comes down to a combination of two specific factors:
1. Age
All air conditioners have a warranty covering parts in the event of a breakdown and as long as it’s in effect, repairing the problem is usually a better call than replacing the whole air conditioner. Indeed, with regular maintenance sessions once or twice a year and prompt repairs of earlier breakdown, the system can likely run for quite a while after the warranty has expired. It’s once trouble arises after the warranty expires that demands careful attention. “Trouble” usually means higher costs, but more specifically could mean one of the following:
2. Costs
Costs usually mean either repairs or monthly costs. Repairs are fairly easy to gauge when it comes to repairing or replacing. If you’ve had two or more repair jobs performed on the system in the last 12 months, you’re probably looking at a replacement. Otherwise, repairs are probably the best option. However, if a single repair job costs more than you think the system is worth, you might be better off investing that money in a new system instead of pouring it into the old one. Your technician can advise you on the best way to proceed once they have had a look at the system.
But repair bills aren’t the only way an old air conditioner can leech you of money. Wear and tear take their toll over the years, which translates to reduced efficiency and higher monthly bill. Eventually, the bills will get high enough that you’ll need to replace your system just to give your monthly budget a break. A new system means lower bills (assuming that you run it about as often as you ran the old system), as well as a new warranty covering parts in the unlikely event of a breakdown.
If you have an old system in need of replacing here in Dover, DE, or even if you just need a quality repair job from a professional team, call on Atlantic Refrigeration & Air Conditioning, Inc. today!