Hopefully, as spring arrives in Northern Virginia, you’ll schedule an air conditioning maintenance appointment with Snell. During this visit we can make sure your unit is working well enough to make it through another warm summer and let you know if we see any issues that need to be addressed before running your air conditioner.
If we do find an issue, there’s usually a common question that comes from our customers: Should I invest in an AC replacement, tune-up, or repair? All of us want to avoid spending a lot of money, but you can end up spending more in the long run if you try to prolong a system past its life expectancy. Let’s take a look at a few things that can help you decide what to do when faced with this question.
Life Expectancy of Your Air Conditioning Unit
Most air conditioning systems are made to last 12 to 15 years, but with proper maintenance, they can last up to 20. If you’ve had your system for at least 12 years, you may start to experience small problems with internal components that may indicate it’s time to perform an ac replacement. A few quick fixes are a breeze for a licensed technicians and won’t empty your bank account, but after some time those little fixes turn into big fixes, and start to add up.
Long story short: You can’t prevent age problems from happening, so the longer you delay performing an AC replacement, the more money you’ll continue to spend. A Snell technician will be able to tell how well your unit has been taken care of and will give you an honest opinion about future potential problems.
Operating Cost and Energy Efficiency
An older system is not going to work as efficiently as today’s ENERGY STAR models. If you’re trying debating about replacing or repairing your air conditioner, it’s important to remember that you may be wasting money each month on high energy bills because your system is inefficient. In fact, having a new, energy-efficient air conditioning installed could save you up to 60% on your monthly bill.
Cost of Certain Components
Each part of your system works with the others to boost efficiency and reliability, so when one component quits, it sometimes doesn’t make sense to put a brand new one in and old system. For instance, replacing your outdoor condenser but keeping the indoor coil can affect the efficiency and longevity of the unit. Replacing your old AC unit with a new higher-efficiency model but leaving your old mechanical thermostat in place will not get you all the savings you could be enjoying with a programmable thermostat. There’s a lot to think about, and Snell is always happy to have an open conversation with our customers.
Talk to Snell
Our team will help you save money on an AC replacement or repair for your home. If our HVAC experts believe you can get more time out of your air conditioner, we’ll let you know, and if we think you’re better off replacing the unit, we’ll tell you. With Snell Heating and Air Conditioning, you can expect honest expert knowledge every time. Just give us a call.