Replacing your home’s heating and air conditioning systems is definitely one of the bigger expenses you’ll face as a homeowner. It’s for this reason that it’s important to know how long you should wait before replacing your home’s A/C and heating systems. After all, you really don’t want to have to wait for your new system to be installed in the heat of the summer!
When Should I Replace my AC Unit? 3 Important Signs
1. It’s Time To Replace Your A/C Unit If It’s More Than 10-15 years Old
10-15 years is pretty much standard when it comes to the life of an A/C unit. This can be affected by how large your home is in comparison to the unit that was installed, how cold you keep your home in the summer, how often people are coming in and out of your home, and many other factors. As a rule of thumb, however, it’s a good idea to start budgeting for a new system around 10 years so that you are ready for that replacement.
If you notice that your unit is needing more consistent repairs then chances are it is on its way out so it’s time to start planning the replacement of your A/C system.
Typically a good rule of thumb is if the unit is under 10 years old repairing it makes the most sense but if it’s over 10 years old, it may make more sense to get into a new system.
2. A/C Repair Costs In Tampa
In the case of more major repairs, like needing a new compressor, for instance, it would often make more sense to invest that money into a new A/C system rather than replacing the compressor.
Our RUUD air conditioning systems actually come with a 10-year warranty so with our systems you are covered for what is considered the useful life of the system. After that 10-year warranty is up it oftentimes makes sense to either replace the unit if a larger problem occurs or at least start planning the replacement.
Another A/C repair that can be expensive is re-charging a leaky system. A/C systems are supposed to be closed meaning their refrigerant should never get low unless there is a leak somewhere. On older systems using R-22 refrigerant, it can cost $500-$1000 or more to refill a system using this old refrigerant since it’s not as widely produced anymore.
If your A/C and heating system has not completely failed yet but it’s 10 years old it’s only a matter of time before it does fail, resulting in expensive repairs. Typically units tend to fail when it gets really hot out since the unit has to push much harder to keep up with the demand for cool air. In Tampa that starts happening around this time of year and progresses through summer.
3. Heating and Cooling Costs Skyrocketing
Seem like your heating and cooling bills are going up? You’re not imagining things! While electricity expenses do go up, as your system ages it becomes less and less efficient, especially if it has not been maintained properly. This drop-in efficiency will result in your electric bills slowly creeping up over the years.
Typically after the life of your current A/C unit, the newer units are always significantly more efficient due to technology advances and that alone will have an impact on your electricity bills.
As units age, they tend to become less and less effective as parts age and wear out.
Replacing Your A/C Unit Has A Lot Of Benefits
Like any maintenance project around your home, there are expenses tied to replacing your home’s A/C and heating systems however those expenses come with a lot of benefits.
If you are looking to sell your home and you have an old A/C system buyers will look at that, Having a new A/C system provides peace of mind especially in our hot Tampa weather!
Peace of mind aside as mentioned earlier some of the other benefits are decreased electricity expenses, having a warranty that covers possible repairs, a more comfortable home since the system is working properly, etc.
If your A/C system is on the fritz or nearing its end of life, give us a call for a free estimate to replace your system with one of our new 10 year warrantied systems.