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So, your air conditioner has broken down — again. Though you can schedule a quick repair and get excellent service from the technicians at Pipe Works Services, at some point it simply no longer makes sense to keep a dying A/C on life support. If you are struggling with the decision of whether it is finally time to pull the plug, here are some ways to determine whether you should repair or replace your old A/C.
You should probably replace your broken-down air conditioner if:
It is more than 10 years old: This is the biggest factor. Air conditioning systems have many parts that naturally wear out over time. If one part wears out because of age, you can repair that one part and have the system running again — but only temporarily. The other parts are just as old as the one that just needed repair and could be expected to also break down relatively soon. Repairing every part of an old A/C will eventually add up to more than the cost of a replacement system.
Its performance is suffering: If even after repair, your air conditioner does not do its job well, it should be replaced. Signs of a worn-out A/C include high humidity inside the house, excessive dust, equipment noise, or uneven cooling. Your electric bills are rising: Higher summer utility bills are a sign that your air conditioner is running less efficiently, wasting both energy and money. A new A/C will be much more efficient than those available in years past.
It needs refrigerant: older air conditioners typically use R-22 refrigerant, which is no longer used (in new systems) because it can damage the ozone layer. If your A/C needs R-22, that means it has a leak somewhere and is releasing this harmful gas into the atmosphere. R-22 prices are also rising dramatically as the substance is phased out, so refrigerant refills will be much more expensive.
At Pipe Works Services in Chatham, we would be happy to evaluate your A/C system and help you decide whether it should be replaced. Contact us today to schedule an appointment. Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about air conditioners and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide. Pipe Works Services serves Chatham, NJ, and the surrounding areas.
