AC Repair vs. Replacement: Which Is the Right Choice for Your Home

Nothing you wouldn't want to deal with if your air conditioner malfunctions on a sweltering summer day than whether or not you should replace it or fix it. It's not that simple because it's more of something like fix something or get something new. It's everything about your home's level of comfort, energy consumption, and final bill. You will have outrageous electricity bills, increased repairs, or worse still, the possibility of needing to replace your unit out of nowhere just because you made some reckless decision. It is not just a question of cost in the form of AC repair vs replacement but also convenience and a saving.

Regardless of how your system sits today – whether it is relatively well maintained or in proof of impending full breakdown – having knowledge of the advantages and disadvantages of fixing or replacing it is important to making the most rational choice. Throughout this business report, we will guide you through what you will have remaining in order to make the most rational choice for your house.

2. Symptoms Your AC Does Not Need a Replacement

There are certain things that are symptoms that your air conditioner just needs to be repaired, and not replaced. A prompt response and getting the job done at its earliest phase will save your from spending millions of dollars and having the current unit removed from the grid earlier than it has to.

• Blowing warm air or short-cycling

If you find that your air conditioner is short-cycling ( constant operation) or is not cooling your house as it used to, you may have one of three suspects, your thermostat, refrigerant line, or a clogged filter. These are typically issues that one can correct and not necessarily have to replace it in its entirety.A professional can see what's happening and get your unit up and running like it should, maybe even save you from having to replace it in the first place.

• Unusual Noises or Odors

Unfamiliar sounds e.g. clunking, banging, grinding are one of the telltale signs that something is amiss in your AC unit. These are an indication of a bad fan motor, compressor or internal parts.On the same note, if you’re experiencing moldy smells, burning odor or even musty smell, it may indicate wiring problem and or growth of mold and or a clogged filter. Fortunately, whenever possible, the majority of such types of issues may be solved by professional air conditioner repair, rather than complete changes of one’s system.

• Unexplained Spike in Power Bills

Unusual and unjustified spike in your power bill is likely to be the first indication that your AC unit is consuming more energy than usual. It may be due to either of the two reasons, possibly a refrigerant leak or a malfunctioning machine that causes your AC to do an extra notch. Your AC inefficiency can be identified by a professional repair service technician in order to eliminate the cause and have your system running at its highest working capacity so that you pay less on bills.

• Small Issues in New Appliances

When your air conditioning system is not yet old and you are only facing little problems, it will be much cheaper to carry out repair procedures instead of a total replacement. Today air conditioners are designed to last for several years and small repairs can be even an easy solution for prolonging the functionality of the conditioner.In these cases, replacing the system may not be necessary unless the issues become frequent or more severe.

3. Tell-Tale Signs It's Time to Replace Your AC

While repairs will forever be the most economical choice, there are some situations where it would be worth the investment to replace your air conditioner unit. These are some tell-tale signs that it may be time to install a newer, more energy-efficient unit.

• Your System Is Over 10–15 Years Old

The longevity of an air conditioner is around 10 to 15 years. If your machine is already there or already there, then you might be ready to have a new one. Old machines consume too much power and they always get ruined, and it will cost you cash in the future. A new machine is measured using more performance, less power consumption, and more efficiency when cooling.

• Ridiculous Repair Bills and Daily Breakdowns

If your technician is calling on you annually, or even every quarter, to maintain your system, the total cost incurred on such upkeep would quickly be on the higher side. The same would even be more costly in the long term, bearing in mind the fact that your system has already started aging. Your AC unit replacement would, under such circumstances, be long run cost-saving by shunning costly maintenance work.

• Low Energy Efficiency

The older years your AC system is, the less efficient it becomes. Your old inefficient units with lower SEER ratings use an astronomical amount more energy to provide the same cooling output. It will pay for itself on your bill immediately by installing a new efficient system. Usually you can save up to 40% of your energy fee.

• Inconsistent Cooling or Hot Spots

When your air conditioning system fails to cool the rooms in your house evenly and you have hot spots in some of the rooms in your home then it might be your air conditioning system that is no longer effective. Old systems or obsolete technology which results in wear and tear can lead to uneven cooling. A new AC unit can fix these problems as it will ensure an even and efficient cooling of your whole home.

4. Cost Comparison: Repair vs Replacement

Homeowners will predominantly see one of the main deciding factors in choosing whether to repair or replace AC as being cost. Your repair charge may appear cheaper at first, but long-term, you may be actually saving more money by having your unit replaced.

• Repair Costs

The cost of AC repair to a great extent depends on the problem. For such minor issues like clogged filter or a faulty capacitor, $300 to $150 should work. More complex repairs like fixing a leak in refrigerant or replacing a compressor, though, can at most cost up to $1,000 or more. While you may think to identify small repairs in the beginning, chain breakdowns will quickly be a whopping figure.

• Replacement Costs

But the expense of replacing an air conditioner is much greater. Depending on the square footage of your home, the size of the unit, and specialty options or installation complexity, the entire cost to replace can be between $3,000 and $8,000. Yes, that's a huge initial outlay, but the energy efficiency dividend and cost of repair savings later on could very well pay for it and make it the more affordable option in the end.

5. Energy Efficiency Factors

In deciding to repair or replace your AC unit energy efficiency is one of the most significant aspects that will have to be considered.

• SEER Ratings Matter

Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) rating demonstrates the efficiency with which an air conditioner will be capable of cooling a house. The newer the AC unit is, the greater the SEER rating and lesser the energy it will use to cool your house. Older units with lesser SEER ratings (lower than 13) are less efficient and use humongous amounts of energy.

• Old Units Waste Energy

Even after being repaired, old systems still use more energy than they need to. This type of inefficiency is most expensive during the hot summer season of the year when your system uses longer to cool your home. Upgrading your old AC with newer energy-efficient unit can be colossal windfalls in the form of saved cooling bills.

• Energy Efficient HVAC Systems

New, energy-efficient HVAC system will cut cooling costs by as much as 40% by reducing heat loads. There will be less noise, cleaner air, and fewer chemicals in the environment, too. If cutting energy cost savings isn't a top priority for you, the best response is to replace your existing system and green your house.

6. Environmental Impact

In addition to saving your checkbook, an air conditioner system can be environmentally friendly.

• Older Refrigerants Are Bad

Older AC units are R-22 refrigerant, or Freon, and this is being phased out due to its ozone-depleting nature. R-22 fill is expensive and banned in most area because it is not environmental friendly.If your AC unit does use R-22, maybe it's time to replace it with a new one.

• Green AC Units Are the Future

The newer AC units are powered by soft refrigerants like R-410A, which are so much gentler on the earth. Newer units run on cleaner technology and are more efficient. Buying a green machine is buying a greener world.

7. Comfort & Performance

Ultimately, all your air conditioner machine can really do is provide you with comfort.

• Fixed Units May Fall Short

Despite a broken fix, old AC systems can still detect cool, bad battery air, and old thermostats. These systems will not cool your home within a reasonable range of temperatures.

1. New AC Systems Provide Comfort

The new AC system installation has some very good features to provide ultimate comfort and efficiency:

• Smart thermostats with temperature control through smartphone and scheduling.
• Variable-speed compressors to control cooling at different levels with requirements for individual comfort.
• Zoned cooling wherein you can cool more parts of your home.
• Filtration systems that purify the air for you by eliminating allergens and dust particles.

All these make your home comfortable throughout the year and conserve energy.

8. When to Call a Professional

In deciding to repair or replace your AC unit energy efficiency is one of the most significant aspects that will have to be considered.

• Get a Professional Evaluation

Professional analysis is a complete check on your system, identifying its age and capability, and complete cost analysis for repair and replacement. The analysis will enable you to know what you can do and make the appropriate choice.

• Selecting a Reliable HVAC Contractor

Look for a well-recommended, certified HVAC service professional with the right licenses. A great contractor should have great diagnosis, clear quotes, and reasonable service. Asking for warranties and guarantees before any installation or repair is ever performed is not unreasonable.

Conclusion

AC repair vs replacement is never a simple one. It is a question of balancing factors such as how new your machine is, how much it needs to be repaired, how power-saving, and long-term cost. If your machine AC is highly new and very little repairing is needed, then repair would be most appropriate. But if your equipment is old, wasteful, or needs to be repaired too often, replacement will be cheaper and less hassle in the long run. Stumped and still haven't got a clue what to do? Call Urban Mop today and receive a free consultation with one of our certified professionals. We will evaluate your system and put you on the way to the ideal solution for your home and wallet.

FAQs 

Do you repair a 10-year-old AC?

If your unit is relatively new at 10 years and the repair is outrageously small, then maybe it's an economic idea to get it fixed. But if it's constantly breaking down or running in a sub-par way, then perhaps it's the wise long-term decision just to replace it.

How much does it cost to replace an AC unit?

New installation of AC system typically range from cost of $3,000 to $7,500 depending on the size of your home, the make, and how difficult it is to install.

Is it less expensive to replace an AC unit than to repair one?

It will generally cost less to get your AC fixed if your unit is relatively new and the issue is relatively small. But if your system is old, out of date, or full of the things that will need to be fixed, then it will generally be more cost-effective in the long run to replace it.