With the heat of summer showing no signs of letting up in the Oklahoma City area, the last thing you need is problems with your central air conditioning. If your system doesn’t seem to be performing as well as it used to, it might be time for replacement or AC repair.
Frequent Repairs
A central air conditioner unit that requires repairs every year or less may indicate that it’s time for a replacement. A unit that requires a refrigerant top off regularly and still can’t sufficiently cool a home may be beyond saving. It’s important to examine the continued cost of repairs and the cost of replacement when considering an upgrade to a newer unit.
Age of AC Unit
How old your central air unit is and how often you require AC repair are critical factors when deciding between repairing and replacement. One way to look at it is to take the age in year of the unit and multiply that by the cost of repairs. If that number is greater than $5,000, a replacement may be ideal.
Energy Efficiency
If your current central air unit is older than 10-15 years, upgrading to a newer, more energy efficient unit can be a worthwhile investment. This is especially true if your unit no longer maintains optimal performance. The average lifespan of a central air unit is around 15 years, but maintenance and location can affect that number.
Additional Factors
Along with age and frequency of repairs, the cost of your energy bills is another factor to consider when deciding between repair and replacement. When your energy bills have shown a considerable increase due to your unit usage, an upgrade can help. The estimated savings on cooling and heating costs from installing a newer, more energy efficient central air unit is around 20%, according to Energy Star. However, if you know you won’t be in your current location long enough to justify an investment in a new unit, repairs may be the better, more affordable option.