Signs You Know When to Replace Your AC and During Which Season
For some time now you’ve been listening to your extra loud air conditioner and have been wondering if it’s ready to surrender its effectiveness. You’ve put in several repairs and it just doesn’t seem to be cooling your home as well as it used to. Is it time to replace the entire system? Most air conditioners last between 15 and 20 years. Almost everyone at some point needs to go through the process, so it is helpful to know what to expect. Today we talk about knowing when to replace your AC and the optimal season during which to buy a new unit.
Calculate Age in “AC” Years
One of the biggest factors you should consider is the age of the AC unit. Many HVAC professionals state that there are two ages: the actual age and the repair cost age. The actual age, of course, is how old the unit is from the day of its manufacturing. The repair cost age is the product after you multiply the actual age by the repair cost.
As a general rule, do not exceed 5,000. For example, if your AC is 10 years old and the repair cost is $400, the resulting number is 4,000. You would still be justified to fix this system, but if the overall cost was $500 (5,000), you would want to consider fully replacing the HVAC unit.
Measure Energy Efficiency
Another major factor to weigh is energy efficiency. You can assess energy efficiency when you first buy an air conditioner by looking at the SEER rating. SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. The higher the number, the more efficient the unit, given that you’ve purchased the correct sized system for your home or business. Most modern air conditioners bear ratings from 13 or 14 (least efficient) to 21 or 25. Older models only had a SEER rating of 8 or 9, making the 13 or 14 a major step up.
However, as your AC unit ages, the energy efficiency depletes. You can maintain the efficiency of your unit through regularly scheduled AC maintenance tune-ups and taking steps to lower your AC costs. However, eventually all systems break down and lose their efficiency, rendering it necessary to buy a replacement.
Strategize the Ideal Time to Buy
If you and your HVAC professional have decided it’s time to replace your old system, you will be grateful to know about the “off season” for AC units. Buying an air conditioner is never cheap, especially if you want quality you can rely on for years to come. However, when you buy during the optimal season, you may find special product discounts.
The best season to shop for a new air conditioner is during the cooler months, especially during the fall. Spring can also be an opportune time to replace your system. Some air conditioner dealers offer attractive discounts when demand for AC units slacks off and HVAC repair companies may also offer a seasonal discounted rate.
How well is your air conditioner running? Based on these tips, you may have a better idea of when to replace your AC. And if you can hang on a couple more months, you may find a good deal in the fall. For information on updating your air conditioner through Gorman Mechanical, visit our website today.
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Residential Customer Testimonials
Gorman Mechanical is interested in complete customer satisfaction and delivers on promises made. I have been completely satisfied with their integrity, honesty, customer loyalty, thoroughness and continued to follow up. I feel fortunate to have located their outstanding company among the many in the industry.
- Mark
Gorman Mechanical installed a brand new cooling and heating system in my home. The replacement unit was larger and more energy-efficient. Our house has never been cooler and our energy bill even went down…. I highly recommend them and their services.
- Thomas
I had an issue with my A/C unit not cooling properly. The technician, Stacy, arrived during the time frame I was given, and I received a phone call about 30 minutes prior to his arrival, letting me know he was on his way. He was very professional and conscientious in figuring out and explaining the issue to me. He work was complete in a little over an hour and my house is cool once again! I will definitely refer Gorman Mechanical to others.
- S.M.
A Gorman technician came over to set us up with a new A/C unit and he did a phenomenal job. He was very up front with any cost and got our install scheduled in one day. He did a great job at getting me the unit needed without running the price through the roof.
- Allen
I met with Gorman Mechanical’s Sales Manager. When he came out I had a bad taste in my mouth due to some misrepresentations made by another company that happened to be A rated on Angie’s List. Because of this I’m certain I was on the defensive and asked a million questions. He was very patient and took plenty of time answering all my questions. He was very knowledgeable and helped educate me on my options and the advantages/shortfalls of each. When I came to the actual bid, I felt it was very competitive compared to other bids I’d received. I felt so well informed and confident at that point I cancelled two other appointments I’d made for that day and signed up with Gorman Mechanical. He was able to promptly arrange a great deal on financing the bulk of the cost, leaving me to pay out of pocket for a couple last minute additions (extended warranty/Reme Halo). They did not want this until installation was complete. A couple days later they installed my new system and I’ve been very happy with it. Shortly after installation I had several other questions about maintenance and a small amount that was overcharged upon installation. He was very responsive answering my questions and arranging for a prompt refund check to be sent. Fortunately, it isn’t often that I need to spend so much money on an important purchase like this, but I felt very confident with my decision and going through the process with him and Gorman Mechanical made it painless. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Gorman Mechanical to friends and family.
- Rick
The repairman, Tim H., was prompt and courteous. I explained that he was a second opinion for our 21-year-old AC. The first company said that I would need 2 parts totaling $600 plus a coil that they would have to send a salesman out to quote me a price. Also first company was suggesting that I really needed whole new system. After inspection, Tim showed me how a part was wired the wrong way and he replaced a compactor and repaired a burnt wire. 2 lbs Freon were added. Total cost was retail: $217.75. I had a warranty so I paid less but what a difference in $600.00+ and $217.75! AC is working fine now. And we didn’t have to buy a new system. Thanks, Gorman Mechanical and Tim H.! The world needs more honest repairmen like you!
- Jeannie
