If your cooling equipment has been giving you trouble lately, you may be faced with choosing between repairs and a full-blown air conditioner replacement. To eliminate any guesswork from your decision, here are three clear-cut signs that an air conditioner replacement is necessary.
1. Your air conditioner is nearing its retirement age
If your air conditioner has been in service for 12 or more years, it’s probably ready to retire. Once cooling equipment reaches this age threshold, it will begin to consume excess energy and will require more frequent repairs in order to remain operational. Generally, if the cost to repair your system is 50 percent or more of the equipment’s value, it’s time to upgrade. Even if your equipment isn’t quite a dozen years old or hasn’t quite hit the 50 percent requirement, a replacement may still be in your best interest. The air conditioners being manufactured today are far more efficient than those on the market even just a few years ago. By making the switch now, you’ll start saving significantly on your monthly energy bills.
2. Your energy bills are on the rise
If your utility bills seem excessive, an inefficient air conditioner could be to blame. If you purchased your cooling system before 2006, it probably has a low seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER). By upgrading to an air conditioner with a higher SEER number, you could cut your energy bills significantly. In order to ensure that your new system runs at maximum efficiency, insist that your HVAC contractor conducts a professional load calculation to size your new A/C and evaluates your ductwork for system compatibility and efficiency.
3. Your house experiences high humidity levels
Poorly operating or incorrectly sized air conditioners can also cause moisture problems. If your home feels especially damp or sticky, request an evaluation from your contractor. A professional can determine if your air conditioner is to blame, or if the problem can be solved through simple repairs or duct sealing.
For more advice on selecting your air conditioner replacement, please contact us at Marsh Heating & Air Conditioning. We proudly serve residents of the Twin Cities area.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about replacing your air conditioner and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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