As an air conditioning system moves into the second half of its service life, one crucial question starts to pop up: “Should I have my malfunctioning AC repaired? Or is it more cost-effective to have it replaced with a new air conditioner?”
No simple answer to this question exists because no two situations with air conditioners are identical. The best way to find the correct answer for your situation is to call our professionals for air conditioning service in Bryant, AR. We always believe in doing the right thing for customers, even when it’s difficult. Your comfort is our #1 priority, and you can trust us to provide you with honest answers to the “repair or replace?” question.
We can offer you some basic guidelines about repair vs. replace, but please delay making a final decision until after you’ve consulted with our technicians.
The Age of Your AC
The average service life of a residential central air conditioning system is 10 to 15 years—provided it has received regular maintenance. (More on that in a moment.) An AC reaching 10 years doesn’t automatically mean it needs replacement, although you may hear less reputable contractors tell you differently. However, when an AC ages past 15 years, we generally recommend replacing it, especially if it has malfunctions. It will soon cost more to operate and repair than to have a new one installed.
AC Maintenance History
For air conditioners to work well for their full estimated service life, they must have routine professional maintenance. This is why we make maintenance easily available through our Preventive Maintenance Plan. An AC that repeatedly misses annual maintenance will decline early. If your AC has a spotty maintenance history, it may need replacement a few years early.
The Cost of Repairs
There are several ways you can judge the quote for an AC repair to decide when the repair is worth it. One method is the “Rule of 5000”: if the quote for the repair multiplied by the age of the system in years is greater than 5,000, replacement is the superior option. For example, a 10-year-old AC that needs a $300 repair (10 * 300 = 3,000) is probably good with the repair. But a 14-year-old AC needing a $450 repair (12 * 450 = 6,300) is ready to retire.
Another method is to compare the quote for repair against the cost of a replacement: if the repair is more than half the cost of the replacement, the replacement is better.
Rising Cooling Bills
A well-maintained air conditioning system will keep 95% of its efficiency rating until the last two years of its service life. Then it will start to rapidly decline, driving up utility bills. If you’ve seen a rise in your annual cooling costs that you can’t explain, you probably have an AC nearing the end of its lifespan.
We guarantee your satisfaction when you work with us: you have nothing to lose and a great air conditioning system to gain!
Dewees HVAC proudly serves the Conway area. Call us today to find out the best future for your home cooling, whether it’s repair or replace.