Repair or Replace Your Air Conditioning System

How do you know when you should repair or replace your central air conditioning system? It is a common question in any home when household appliances begin to show their age.  Should you repair or replace them?  The average life expectancy of a central heating and air conditioning system depends considerably on where the system is located and if the system has had proper maintenance.

Generally speaking, if your air conditioning system is still under manufacturer warranty and is less than 5 years old, it is more economical to repair the system.  However; if your system is not covered under the manufacturer parts warranty and you are beginning to experience multiple costly breakdowns, there will be a couple of things for you to consider before jumping the gun on a costly repair.  Below are a couple of questions to ask yourself when faced with a decision to repair or replace:

1. Has your system had proper maintenance performed semi-annually? - It is a well proven and documented fact that proper maintenance prolongs the life of the equipment, results in fewer emergency repairs, keeps the equipment cleaner, and increases cooling and heating efficiency.
2. Do you live near the ocean? - Systems that are located on or near the ocean tend to have more break downs and a shorter average life span due to high salt content.
3. What is the age of the system? - The average life span of air conditioning and heating equipment is 8-12 years.  At this point, replacement parts can be more difficult to find and are not covered under the manufacturer warranty resulting in higher repair costs.
4. What is the operating SEER rating on the system? - As a system ages, it loses operating efficiency and new technology has enabled the creation of air conditioning systems that use far less energy than older models.  By upgrading to a higher efficiency unit, the amount of money that can be saved on costly repairs, monthly heating and cooling expenses, and available tax credits will pay for the investment in a short period of time.  More on SEER Ratings here.
5. Is the system noisy? - Noisy equipment may indicate an inefficient heating and cooling system.
6. Do you notice excessive dust or areas of your home that are more warm or cool than others? - Excessive dust and hot spots can be easily corrected and are indicators of an inefficient system.  Higher efficiency systems with variable speed motors can help eliminate the inconvenience of having rooms that are more warm or cool than other areas of your home.
7. Does you system run constantly or cycle on and off frequently? - If your system is having a difficult time cooling or heating your home to your desired temperature and is using an excessive amount of energy, it could be time to consider the savings and increased comfort of a new system.

As a general rule of thumb, continuing to repair is recommend if your system is under 10 years old, performing to your expectations, has been properly maintained, on/off cycling is not excessive, and only minor repairs are needed.  On the contrary, if your system is over 10 years old, has had repeat problems, excessive on/off cycling, is not performing to your expectations, and costly repairs are needed, I would strongly consider upgrading to a new heating and cooling system.

If you have any questions or would like a free equipment and energy evaluation please contact Star Quality Air Conditioning.