Air Conditioner Repair Company: Knowing When To Replace An AC Unit | Hinckley, IL
Photo By jjn
Many homeowners in Hinckley, IL struggle with deciding if it is time to replace the AC or call an air conditioner repair company for further repairs. I mean it is not like in Texas where AC units run 9 months or more out of the year, so we tend to like to try and squeeze as many years out of your AC units as we can. Who wants to call an air conditioner company for repairs anyway? Yet the decision to replace your AC unit or to call an air conditioner repair professional is never easy. Your air conditioner will serve you for many years until the day comes that it doesn’t. Just when that will happen, and when a call to your local air conditioner repair professional no longer is an even a helpful option is a question many ask themselves when their AC unit starts to reach 10 years old or more.
Most homeowners only call an HVAC company about their AC units in the dead of summer when their AC units have failed. When your AC unit has broken down it is a no-brainer to call for an air conditioner repair company for a quick fix. Yet what do you do when you know your AC is 10 years old or older? What if your AC unit has been breaking down for some years now? When do you choose to buy a new AC unit in Hinckley, IL, or make that call to an air conditioner repair professional for yet another repair? Many factors should come into play when you consider calling an air conditioner company for repairs or for an AC replacement in your home.
Just In Time your local air conditioner repair company is here to help you decide whether it is time to replace that aging AC unit or payout for yet another repair on your aging unit. All air conditioners age, that is just a fact. We all want a major investment to last as long as we can. Outside of our car and home purchase an AC unit is the next major purchase in our life. Let’s face it, they aren’t cheap so it is tempting to call our local air conditioner repair company for yet another repair when our aging AC unit has yet another breakdown or major repair. Yet at some point, we realize it is time to stop calling the air conditioner company for repairs and have that talk about AC replacement. Here are some helpful hints on when it is time to replace your AC unit versus calling an air conditioner repair company for repairs.
Break Down Frequency
How often does your AC break down to the point that you’re calling your local air conditioner repair company for repairs versus the age of your AC unit? You need to know that all AC units have a life span of 10 to 15 years of age. An AC unit at the top range of 15 years old is a well long-lived AC unit and has likely seen many calls to your local air conditioner repair company for repairs, while a unit that is only 10 years old may still have plenty of life left in it. A lot of how well your aging AC unit is doing depends on how well you have taken care of the unit. All AC units need attention every year in the form of an AC tune-up. Our company Just In Time recommends every customer receives an AC tune-up every spring to help prolong the life of their air conditioner. So on top of your AC units, age have you done yearly maintenance to it or not? If you have not it is unlikely your AC unit will last a full 15 years, as an AC unit lasting 15 years without any major repairs when it has not received yearly basic maintenance is slim. The fact of the matter is the older your AC unit is, the more often you will need to call an air conditioner repair company. As the years pass the repairs will go from minor repairs to major repairs. So when weighing when to replace your AC unit, you need to factor in repair costs with your local air conditioner repair company.
Cost of AC Repair Vs Replacement
If your AC is an older AC, chances are this is not your first major repair on the unit. There comes a time you have to weigh the cost of calling an air conditioner repair company for repairs versus simply saying enough is enough and replacing the entire unit. This is never an easy choice as an AC unit is not a minor expense. Another scenario many of our customers experience is this, perhaps the HVAC technician tells you today it is a minor repair but a major repair is looming. This is the same as if you were at the auto mechanics shop and the shop owner tells you your car may break down before long. You ask how long the car has and the mechanic does not have an answer but points out the age and mileage of your car. An AC unit is much the same, save they do not have an odometer. Sure, you can escape for now with a minor repair but the mechanic’s words weigh on your mind and it is just a matter of time. If your AC unit is getting rather old and the repairs keep mounting up, it is time for AC replacement instead of calling the air conditioner repair company for repairs.
AC Efficiency
How efficient your AC unit is should be the next thing to consider. All AC units these days have what is called a SEER rating which stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. This is a measure of how much power your AC takes to run. A lower number is not as good as a higher number. These days most AC units start at a SEER of 14 or 15 but you can get an AC unit with a SEER rating as high as 25 SEER. Most people opting for energy efficiency vs cost of the unit opt for a SEER rating or 20 to 22. In northern states, a 20 SEER rating makes sense, while saying in a state like Texas where your AC unit is running 9 months of the year you might want a unit with the max SEER rating of 25. Where it adds up is the utility bills you can save money in the long term with an AC unit with a SEER rating of say around 20 or 21, even a SEER rating or 18 to 19 will save you money in the long run versus an AC unit with a SEER rating of sat only 15. AC units use a lot of power to run and cool down your home so the energy your unit uses should be a factor in your choice for your home. If your current unit uses a lot of power and you are calling an air conditioner repair company every summer for repairs, a new AC may be the choice for you.
If your AC is getting too old, call Just In Time of Hinckley, IL to talk about a replacement. If you opt for trying to maintain your AC even if it has had a breakdown, Just In Time has you covered! We have decades of experience behind us so we can repair your aging AC unit and give it that extra love and care it needs. If you have any questions about AC repair or replacement, we are here to answer any of your questions!