Should I Repair or Replace My Air Conditioner? Ask These 2 Questions…

Already, 2016 is shaping up to be one of the hottest years on record, and many air conditioning units are already getting a workout. After the winter months, residential boilers and heating equipment are taking a well-deserved break. Unfortunately for many homeowners and landlords all over the country, this is an extremely busy time of the year for local HVAC technicians. Inevitably, many people will go to turn on their air conditioning unit only to find that it’s not working. Others will schedule their annual checkup with air conditioning services near them, only to be told they need to find the cash for a new air conditioning unit.

Hopefully, your local HVAC experts are dedicated professionals committed to serving their customers. If not, then they may try and sell you a new AC unit, even if a simple repair job is all that’s needed.

So how do you know if it’s time to repair or replace your air conditioning unit?
When HVAC equipment like air conditioners stop working, there could be a number of common problems. A thermal fuse could have blown, the filter may be clogged with dust, your unit’s condenser may be busted, or you may just be low on refrigerant. In extreme cases, you’ll hear about cheating contractors who sell homeowners a $1,500 air conditioning installation when the only problem was a broken thermostat! Every year, U.S. homeowners like you spend $11 billion on air conditioning services alone, so spend wisely.

Because there are so many different reasons your HVAC equipment might stop working, there are two primary factors to consider when choosing between replacement and repairs.

First, you have to consider the age of your equipment.
For instance, furnaces typically last 15 to 18 years, AC units typically last 10 to 20 years, while boilers will last 15 to 30 years.

If your air conditioner is relatively young, and if the problem can be easily fixed, then opting for air conditioning repair is a no-brainer. Likewise, if you live in an older home with a creaky old AC unit that’s on its last legs, then you’ll wind up paying for air conditioning repair again next summer, and the summer after that, and so on. But what about the scenarios that fall somewhere in the middle? That’s when you need an outside opinion.

What’s the second most important factor when choosing between AC repair or replacement?
Finding reputable, dedicated professionals for their expertise. Not all local HVAC services are created equal, which is why it’s so important to find trustworthy heating and cooling contractors near you. When the best HVAC contractors and dedicated professionals make a recommendation about your HVAC appliances, you should be able to trust their opinion.

If you’re still on the fence, then you should know that modern air conditioning installation can save you money on heating and cooling costs in the long run, even if air conditioning repair is cheaper in the short term. By installing high efficiency air conditioners and taking common sense steps to keep your home cool, you can cut your HVAC energy use by 20 to 50% this summer.