When Should I Replace my Air Conditioner in Elkhart?

Replacing your home’s air conditioner is likely one of the biggest decisions you will make this summer to keep your family comfortable. Whether to choose between an AC repair or an entire air conditioner replacement is a decision you may have to face. Fortunately there is a point at which you can know it’s time to stop putting money in to AC repairs and choose to replace your air conditioner. 

Increasing AC Age 

Something to keep in mind before getting too deep in to the process is the age of the air conditioner. Like most mechanical devices, air conditioners will wear out over time. With a new air conditioner, newer technology provides improved comfort and much longer reliability, for less money. While it’s not on the same scale, you could compare heating and air conditioning equipment to computers. The technology does have a lifespan and newer, more advanced upgrades are constantly being created. 

Increasing AC Repair Costs 

With an appliance as complex as a central air conditioner, there are parts that wear out and break down over time, especially if routine maintenance has not been done. A well-maintained system should work well throughout peak air conditioning season. A good rule of thumb when deciding to replace the air conditioner is that if annual AC repair costs approach $1,200, it’s probably a good time to replace. That’s because the average monthly payment of an entirely new air conditioning system is the equivalent of that single repair cost. 

Another way to think about this is, if the cost for the AC repair is 1/12 of the cost of a new AC replacement, the bonuses of the replacement air conditioner in low monthly payments, energy bill reduction and greater comfort likely compensates for the investment in the AC repair. 

Decreasing Efficiency 

Noticing decreases in your energy bill doesn’t take long when it happens month after month. It can be easy to write it off as an anomaly, but be sure to take a closer look at the energy you’re consuming and see if those increases are due to higher usage, or more likely due to something else like lower efficiency of your home’s air conditioner. The older your AC system gets (and the longer it goes before being maintained), the more inefficient it will become. It may also be an indicator that it’s time for air conditioner replacement. 

Noise Pollution 

Older air conditioners and ductwork operate much louder than today’s new AC systems. That constant clanking you’ve become accustomed to, or the overall noise level when the air conditioner is operating could mean the end is near for your current air conditioner. It’s possible that you don’t realize how much noise you and your family have been living with until you realize the extreme quiet that a newer, more modern air conditioning system can provide. 

Of course, these aren’t the only issues that indicate the need for air conditioner replacement, but they are a few of the more common ones that we see daily. BW/Cook Service Experts can help by offering a free assessment of your home’s air conditioning system to help determine whether the time has come for your air conditioner to be replaced, or if it’s best to move forward with an AC repair. Elkhart has trusted us for a reason, and that’s because your comfort is always top priority. Give us a call at 574-218-6404 or set up a free appointment today.