Your Air Conditioner Replacement: Why Sooner Is Probably Better Than Later

A breakdown of the home’s air conditioner is many homeowners’ worst nightmare during a hot and humid South Florida summer. When presented with this situation, you need to weigh a number of factors while deciding to repair the problem or opting for a complete air conditioner replacement. A few things that need to be considered immediately are the cost of repair, the age of your current system, and the benefits of a more efficient new system.

Repair Costs

As a general rule, if the cost of repair is more than 50 percent of installing a new system, you should begin considering a full air conditioner replacement. However, even if the repair costs are less, the benefits of a replacement can prevent future breakdowns and further costly repairs. Additionally, depending on the age of your system, replacement parts may no longer be in production and can be hard to find or unavailable.

Age of your system

If your current air conditioner is more than 10 or 15 years old, you should be aware that A/C manufacturers are constantly improving the functionality of their systems. Any system available today will work much better for your home. The older your system is, the likelihood of more breakdowns in the future is extremely high, as well as the aforementioned discontinuing of replacement parts.

Efficiency

Air conditioning systems are much more efficient than those manufactured even a decade ago. The benefits of a more efficient system will certainly help lower your utility bill during the long summer. In addition, you could be eligible for a $300 federal tax credit if you replace your current central A/C or heat pump with a high-efficiency unit before the end of 2013. Along with monetary savings, new systems better regulate temperature and humidity throughout your home and will better prevent problems with mold and mildew.

For more expert advice when deciding if you should replace your air conditioner, please contact us at NisAir Air Conditioning & Heating. Since 1973, we have proudly served Martin, Palm Beach, St. Lucie and Indian River counties.