AC Replacement – When Is It Time?

In many cases, an air conditioner can be one of those appliances that is installed once, and then benefited from for literally decades. With the right air conditioning installer, your investment in your home’s comfort will pay dividends for quite some time. And yet, sometimes central air conditioners can age quicker than you might like. Heavy use tends to make for this kind of situation, and in Southeast Houston, pretty much every air conditioner qualifies as “heavy use”. But when should you start thinking about replacement instead of repair? The following are some indicators that your heating and cooling system should be replaced.

As mentioned above, in Texas we place a high demand on our cooling systems throughout the year. Many homeowners in northern states only use their heating and cooling systems for a few months at a time. Everyday use can cause our Texas air conditioners to wear down more quickly, resulting in the need for a replacement sooner. When it’s time to replace your system, you should look for the following signs:

Ten Years Is Where Things Begin To Deteriorate

Cooling systems that have been in operation for more than ten years will begin to show signs of wear and tear, no matter the building. Despite the fact that it may continue to operate, the system will be less efficient than it was previously, resulting in higher energy bills for you. In some cases, the increase in rates will be fairly minimal, while in some cases, it will be extreme. Your air conditioning system will also be more susceptible to breakdowns as it ages. As older systems reach the end of their warranty period, breakdowns will become more expensive for you, and major component failures can mean large surprise expenses.

AC Repairs Will Be Expensive

In many cases, homeowners find themselves spending more money on air conditioning repairs than they would have spent on a new home system altogether. While this may allow the system to last a little longer, repeated visits mean it will ultimately need to be replaced in the not-too-distant future. A unit should be replaced if the cost of repair exceeds half the cost of a new unit. This is a fair indication that it’s time for replacement.

AC Unit Is Leaking

When your cooling system begins to leak, it is a sure sign that something is not functioning as it should. Because repairs can be time-consuming and expensive, it’s important to keep an eye out for puddles and drips. These can suggest not only unit issues, but also the potential for failure and poor cooling. Best to make an appointment with an Air Check Mechanical Service technician ASAP!

Old Units Have Low SEER Ratings

The SEER (Standard Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating of your cooling system measures how efficient it is at conserving energy. In Texas, it is now mandatory for systems to have a SEER rating of at least 14, and that might not be where they stop. Frankly, you should consider replacing your HVAC system if your SEER rating is less than 14 anyway. The SEER rating of your unit can be found on the outside of the unit or in the user guide that is included with the unit’s make and model.

AC Replacement Dos And Don’ts

Choosing to replace your cooling system is a complicated decision that involves many considerations. In order to be comfortable at home in Texas, you simply must have cool air conditioning! It is critical to replace your system at the appropriate time intervals in order to get the most value and comfort out of your investment. Here are some dos and don’ts when it comes to replacements:

DO


Make sure you have the correct size. Investing in a more powerful cooling system may appear to be a sensible strategy for dealing with the Texas heat. However, what many folks don’t understand is that an air conditioning system that is too large for the square footage of your home is inefficient and ineffective when it comes to maintaining your indoor comfort level. You can easily end up with a warm, humid house with a unit that cycles on and off constantly. Our professional technicians will determine the optimal system size for your home based on the square footage of your home, as well as other critical HVAC design calculations.

Understand your financial situation. As you replace more HVAC components such as boilers, radiators, and heat pumps, the cost of the job will rise. Depending on your budget, replacing only the Central A/C may be a more cost-effective option. Aspects such as energy efficiency will be more expensive up front, but will result in lower monthly energy bills in the long run. When it comes time to replace, it’s critical to consider these considerations.

Try out the new system for a while. Despite the fact that your system will most likely continue to function as intended, it is always better to be safe than sorry. Our technicians will assist you in testing the cooling system to ensure that you are properly taken care of. This provides homeowners with a thorough understanding of how their new cooling system should be operated.

Never be afraid to contact us! Air Check Mechanical technicians are always ready to assist you in whatever way we can. Our team understands how critical it is to keep South Texas homes cool during the summer months. Allow our highly knowledgeable and experienced technicians to take care of you and your new installation needs.

DON’T

Wait On Proper AC Repair – Many homeowners only repair their air conditioning system when it is causing them significant discomfort. Waiting for repairs may appear to be a good way to go because it can save money in the short term, but it is not as cost-effective as one would expect given the circumstances. Parts that are broken will quickly wear down other parts of the system, putting the system at risk of a complete failure. So short term savings may actually create medium term pain!


Forget To Read Your System Warranty! The air conditioning system components tend to be complex, and your warranty is intended to assist you if something goes wrong. Sadly, many homeowners completely forget about their warranty and end up paying high replacement costs or skipping their annual tune-ups, essentially nullifying their coverage.

Slack Off With Air Conditioning Maintenance Preventative maintenance is the only way to ensure that your system continues to operate as intended. Normal wear and tear is to be expected, but cleaning is required to keep your central air conditioning running smoothly. When you have your system tuned up on a regular basis, it will operate more efficiently and will always keep your home feeling cool and comfortable.

Contact us today if you need any kind of HVAC help in South Houston.



from Air Check Mechanical Service
via https://www.aircheckms.com/ac-installation/ac-replacement/

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