Learn How To Tell If Your Air Conditioner Is Worth Repairing – Or If It’s Time For A Replacement

Your air conditioner is a vital component to your home’s overall comfort and you want to make sure it’s always ready to go when you need it. If it’s not, and it suffers a breakdown of some sort, you’ll have to ponder the question – do I need to have my AC repaired or is it time to get it replaced? Both are big investments, both have a lot of advantages and disadvantages, so it can be difficult to tell what you need in any given situation.

At Comfort First, our primary consideration regarding whether an air conditioner should be repaired or replaced is ultimately about what is best for our customers. While our trained experts can help you make the decision, there are a lot of things you can consider on your own to determine whether you should get your current system fixed or get a new one entirely.

Things To Consider When Deciding The Future Of Your AC

So your AC is out and the summer heat and humidity are making you crazy. You’ve called Comfort First for help, but you’re wondering if it’s worth fixing or time to get a new unit. Here are some important things to think about to help you decide:

• The Age Of Your Unit – Without question, this is the biggest factor to consider. If your air conditioner is less than 10 years old, it might be better to have it fixed – most systems are expected to last from 10-15 years. Conversely, if it’s over 10 years old, it’s time to start working on a replacement. There’s a commonly used formula that can be used as a guide to help determine whether to repair or replace – multiplying the age of the unit by the cost of repairs. If the result exceeds $5000, you’re probably better off getting a new system.
  
  7 years old X $1,000 repair cost = $7,000 / replace the unit
  3 years old X $1,200 repair cost = $3.600 / repair the unit
• Is It Safe? – If the issues facing your AC raise the possibility of it leaking chemicals or being a fire hazard, it’s just not worth keeping it around. It’s much better to replace it with a safe and efficient unit rather than run the risk of something happening.
• Personal Comfort – Maybe you bought a house with an existing air conditioner and while it does its job okay, you’ve never felt fully comfortable, especially over the hottest summer months. It’s possible the house had the wrong-sized unit installed, or the installation was poorly done. It’s right there in our name – we believe in your Comfort First – so even if it seems to “work okay” but you aren’t comfortable, it’s in your best interest to seek a replacement.
• Take Advantage Of Advancements – Technology is improving literally every day. The newest units have smart systems to make them more energy efficient, use more environmentally friendly refrigerants and, generally speaking, are better than ever at providing the comfort you deserve. If your analog system just can’t keep up in a digital world, look into a new installation that has the tech you want.
• Multiple Repairs – If you’ve already had to go through this decision-making process several times in the past few years, it could be better for you in the long run financially to go ahead and have the unit replaced, rather than continuing to sink money into it only to have to replace it eventually anyway.

Always Putting Your Comfort First

Our trained technicians will always give it to you straight when we’re checking out your air conditioning system. If we think repair is the right way to go, we’ll say so. Likewise, if we honestly think it’s time to replace your AC, it’s not a statement we make lightly. Plus we’re always willing to answer any questions you have so you’re 100% comfortable with your decision. If you’re thinking it’s time for a replacement, send us a message online or call 800-279-4822 today!