There comes a point in your air conditioner’s life where you have to make a decision about replacing it. Since an air conditioner has an average lifespan of 15 years, you have a pretty good idea of how long your AC will last based on how you have cared for it. But even at the end of your air conditioner’s life, there’s still a chance you can make some repairs that allow you to get another year or two out of it.
Before you schedule an appointment for air conditioning replacement in Auburn, WA, give us a chance to check it out. You can keep reading to learn more about how to know when to repair your air conditioner versus replacing it with a completely new unit.
When to Repair Your AC
There are many times that you can repair your air conditioner and get more life out of it. We know that investing in a completely new air conditioner is a very expensive job. You may need time to save and plan ahead for the expense.
If you can make a relatively minor financial investment in your air conditioner to keep it running, that’s a great idea. The rule that experts follow is that if a repair costs more than 50% of what it would cost you to install a completely new air conditioner, you should skip repairs and invest in a new unit. But, if repairs are affordable, they may make more sense.
You should definitely repair your air conditioner if it is still under warranty. If you still have some time left on your manufacturer’s warranty, there’s a chance that the problem you’re facing may even be covered at least partially. As long as your manufacturer’s warranty is valid, you want to continue investing in your air conditioner because if something major goes wrong, the manufacturer’s warranty can pick up the cost.
When to Replace Your AC
We already mentioned that if the repair costs 50% of what it would cost to install a new unit, you should skip repairs and go ahead with investing in a new AC. But we went to expand on this a little. That 50% cost could come from one single repair or multiple repairs.
If you’ve been having problems with your air conditioner for a while now and I’ve invested in multiple repairs over the last year, you may want to add up all of those costs, and see how much you’ve spent. If you’re spending thousands of dollars to repair your AC, it’s probably time for a new one.
You also want to consider the system’s age. The average air conditioner will last for around 10-15 years. Once it reaches that 10-15-year mark, it becomes more and more likely that you’ll have to replace the unit. If your air conditioner is older, it’s probably a good idea to go ahead and invest in a new unit rather than pouring money into an older one.
Getting an Expert Opinion
The bottom line is, there is no hard and fast rule about when to repair and when to replace. It’s really a judgment call based on the information at hand. You have to make the best decision with what you know about your current air conditioner.
And our team is here to help. You don’t have to make a “best guess.” We can offer our expert opinion and make a recommendation based on our decades of experience. No matter what you decide to do, we are here to help.
Contact Sound Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. today to schedule an appointment for AC service! We take your comfort as seriously as you do.