Deciding When to Replace Your 20-Year-Old Air Conditioner

The air conditioner in your Anaheim, CA home is an important part of maintaining a comfortable and safe indoor environment. An AC usually lasts approximately 10 to 15 years. If your current model is beyond its life expectancy, it’s likely unreliable and inefficient. You may be dealing with indoor air quality concerns, like high concentrations of particulate matter and contaminants.

There are key considerations when contemplating a new AC unit from Associated Heating & Air to ensure you’re making the right decision for your budget and household needs.

Understanding an Aging Air Conditioner

As AC equipment ages, components start to wear out and fail due to ongoing use. The lifespan of your unit will also depend on whether you’ve scheduled routine HVAC maintenance over the years. Technology advances as time passes. For example, new refrigerants help protect the environment and support AC system efficiency. It can be expensive to source old, inefficient refrigerants, especially since many are now banned.

This severely limits the availability of new production and often requires technicians to rely on increasingly scarce recycled supplies or to retrofit systems for use with newer, compliant refrigerants. Outdated parts are also becoming increasingly difficult to find. There are several signs to consider that suggest it’s time for a new AC.

Frequent Repair Needs and Breakdowns

It’s common to need repairs occasionally, but frequent service points to an aging AC model. If you’re experiencing recurring issues like leaking refrigerant lines, failing capacitors or equipment failure, consider upgrading. It can be more cost-effective to buy a new unit than to keep up with repairs. Not to mention, frequent problems are inconvenient.

Decreasing AC Efficiency

Monitoring your energy consumption can alert you to increases in usage, whether gradual or sudden. This can indicate that your equipment is strained and working harder to cool your home. New air conditioning models come with helpful ENERGY STAR ratings, which boast savings. Updated technology allows air conditioning equipment to cool your home efficiently without having to use as much electricity.

Reaping the Benefits of Modern Features

New air conditioning equipment offers many modern features, such as smart thermostat connectivity, ultra-quiet operation and better filtration. These features are designed to provide convenience and comfort and allow you to maintain healthy indoor air quality throughout the summer months.

Experiencing Hot or Cold Spots

Inconsistent cooling throughout your home can be a sign that it’s time to invest in a new air conditioner. These hot or cold spots may be the result of strained or inefficient equipment that can’t meet your temperature demands. New AC units come with features like variable-speed fans and inverter-driven compressors to provide better control over your indoor temperature.

Since your air conditioner can also help control relative humidity (RH) levels in your home, you should see a more consistent RH as well.

Considering Smart Technology

If your air conditioning unit is 15 to 20 years old, it isn’t equipped with smart technology. Today’s smart devices, including smart AC units and smart thermostats, allow you to control and monitor your indoor environment easily and remotely using your phone or tablet. A new model can offer features, such as indoor air quality alerts, malfunction alerts, zoning abilities and more.

The Risk Factors Associated With Old AC Equipment

The older your AC unit gets, the more unreliable it becomes. After relying on the same machinery for nearly two decades, you’re likely to experience more frequent issues. This can even lead to a complete shutdown of your cooling setup. If this happens in the middle of a heatwave, your home can become an uncomfortable and unsafe place to be until you can have a new unit installed.

A new AC unit is much more reliable, especially when you have our team perform a professional installation. Also, you’ll have access to warranty coverage from the manufacturer of your unit. This is usually applicable for 5 to 10 years.

Your Impact on the Environment

Older air conditioners are less efficient, meaning you’ll run them more often to cool your home. This increases your carbon footprint, which is bad for the environment. Older refrigerants can have a substantial negative impact on the environment, particularly if a leak occurs in your refrigerant lines. Upgrading to a new AC unit will involve the use of safer and more eco-friendly refrigerants. You will also utilize less energy to power your equipment.

Considerations When Upgrading Your Air Conditioner

There are several factors we consider when we’re helping you choose a new air conditioner. This isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. If you choose a unit that is too small or too large, this can negatively impact efficiency and cooling ability. We will perform a load calculation to determine what size unit you need.

This process involves considering your cooling demands, energy requirements, the square footage of your home, the number of windows and doors and the level of insulation. The number of people in your household can also impact our decision. More people means more body heat being generated.

We will consider the seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) of a product. This ratio reflects performance and energy consumption.

We recommend that you always work with an experienced team of professionals for the selection and installation of your equipment. This ensures all work is done according to local code but also the specifications set forth by a manufacturer. Professional support can minimize issues later.

Make sure that you’re keeping up with an annual inspection for your AC, regardless of its age. This gives us an opportunity to catch issues early before they cause permanent damage. Routine maintenance will also help extend the lifespan of your equipment.

Financing a New AC Unit

We offer a variety of financing options to make it more affordable to invest in a new AC unit. There may also be tax incentives and rebates that can offset the initial cost. Knowing these discounts are available can help you make a financially sound decision for your household.

Boosting the Value of Your Home

Having a relatively new air conditioning unit in your home will increase home value. If you plan to sell at some point, the investment may be worth it. If you have a failing AC unit that doesn’t pass inspection, this can slow down the closing process and may require you to pay for a last-minute replacement or repairs. Given the current competitive housing market, a new AC unit can be a significant selling point. Potential buyers like knowing that they are going to move into a home that is going to be cool and comfortable all summer thanks to reliable cooling machinery.

Reach Out to the Pros for Help

Associated Heating & Air is available to help you invest in a new air conditioner. We can help determine if it’s time to replace your current model and perform the installation. We also offer routine maintenance and emergency repairs to help keep your air conditioner and the rest of your HVAC system in top shape.

Reach out to our team here at Associated Heating & Air in Anaheim for more information or to schedule an appointment.