How Do I Know if My Air Conditioner is Beyond Repair?

Knowing whether your air conditioner should be replaced or repaired can be difficult. You either have to hire a technician to perform the repair, which can get expensive, or get the whole thing replaced.

Replacing your AC with a new unit is a big process that not only requires your time and attention – but also opening up your wallet. But let’s take a step back. Obviously, you want to make the decision that will cost less, and you want to solve the problem as efficiently as possible. Realizing these are your goals will make things a lot simpler. Now, let’s assume your air conditioner is malfunctioning. If you don’t already know how old it is, that should be the first thing you find out. Air conditioners over 10 years old have a tendency to break, and if your unit is past or around that age, you need to consider the long-term benefits of a full replacement. You may decide that, even though your AC is older, it can stand to be repaired a few more times before taking drastic measures and replacing the whole thing. We completely get it! It seems easier to have a quick repair done by a technician than undergoing a full replacement.

But if you find yourself calling a technician more than two or three times a year, you are spending more on repairs than you should. It’s worth noting that we are talking about malfunctions with the air conditioner – different from annual check-ups. Regular maintenance is okay, and we absolutely encourage it. Your air conditioner breaking twice a month is not okay. Maybe you haven’t had to call in a technician for a repair too many times, but your energy bill has been steadily rising. On top of a few repairs a year, things can get expensive quickly. Replacing your old AC with a new unit is going to eliminate the need for those repairs, no matter how infrequent they may be, as well as cut down on your energy usage. Fortunately, requirements for making this type of equipment have drastically changed in the last few decades. Modern air conditioners are much more efficient. Your current AC may be old and faithful, but there will come a time when it needs to be replaced. Looking at this situation realistically is going to save you a lot of time and money. If you make your decision based on a loyalty to an old machine, you’ll have to be ready to pay the consequences – literally.

We aren’t saying that you should replace your old AC no matter what – some units have had regular maintenance throughout their entire lifespans, and they may be in perfect working condition well after the 10-year mark. That said, it is not wise to drag out the life expectancy of old AC units too far. Think of it this way: every time you spend money on repairs, it is only detracting from the amount that you would have been able to put towards a new unit. If you are interested in learning more about new AC units, and want to know how to go about replacing your old one, give us a call today!

Arco Home Services specializes in keeping people comfortable in their own homes, and we would love the chance to help you do the same! We recognize that everyone needs to save money, so we aren’t looking to break your bank. Contact us in our office, and we can discuss your options. “Rest In Peace!!!” by Natesh Ramasamy is licensed under CC BY 2.0