When your air conditioner doesn’t work at its optimum best, you might be considering whether to replace or repair the system. Running a faulty or inefficient cooling solution can run up your energy bills, reduce the cooling efficiency, and increase the cost of repair or replacement.
To avoid making a last-minute panicked decision when your air conditioning unit decides to break down on a sultry hot day, we give you all the points that’ll help you make the right decision.
When should you repair or replace your aircon?
The decision to replace or repair your aircon is not an easy one as you have to consider quite a few things. Let’s list them out here.
The Air Con is not Cooling enough
It is perhaps the first sign that there is something wrong with your cooling system. When the system fails to do the one thing it is made to perform, that is a huge red flag waving at you.
The Air Con is constantly breaking down
It is another tell-tale sign of the air conditioning unit becoming tired and weary. It is natural for the aircon unit to have some troubles once in a while, but when the frequency and the cost of repairs increases, it might be time to seek repair or replacement.
The Air Con is giving off Unusual Emissions
Unusual emissions such as smells, moisture and noise could be indicating that repairs are in order. While most of these issues can be cleared with regular maintenance and cleaning, some could require immediate attention.
The Energy Bills are Heating up
If your air conditioning unit installation is heating your energy bills, it might be time to take a closer look at it. In the summers, your air conditioner could be working longer and harder than usual, causing the energy bills to spike. However, if the bills are in general higher than usual, you should consider repairs or replacement.
Should you repair or replace it?
Whether you should repair your air-con or replace it with a new one depends on several factors. Your technician, after thoroughly checking your cooling system, would be the right person to help you make the right decision.
When should you repair it?
Simple Repairs
Depending on the issue at hand, your technician would be able to suggest a simple fix or replace parts instead of installing an entirely new unit.
If the unit is less than 10 years old and is well-maintained, the occasional issues can be dealt with timely repairs. Issues like low refrigerant, slightly noisy parts, bent fan, or loud compressor, can be dealt with using simple repairs where the parts are replaced.
Cost of Repairs
When deciding whether to repair or replace your unit, you should also consider the costs involved. Unless the repairs are becoming frequent and running into hundreds of dollars, you might consider replacing only those parts that are faulty rather than giving the entire thing an overhaul.
When should you replace it?
The system is Old and Inefficient
There is no going past this red flag. You have to decide to replace your older, and inefficient system with a newer and energy efficient unit.
Generally, an aircon is made to last about 10 – 12 years. And, with regular maintenance, it can work a little while longer.
If your system has outlived more than 10 years, the warranty has expired, and the constant repairs are becoming expensive, it might be time for a complete replacement. If it is a single part that is causing trouble, it is enough if you replace the part. But the issue is system-wide, then replacing the unit is the smart thing to do.
How long will you be using the air conditioning unit?
Generally, people tend to go for a replacement if they know they are going to continue living in the same house for long, say three or four years.
A replacement will bring down your energy bills immediately, enhance comfort and remove the worry of repairs from your mind. Moreover, with the new system and warranty, you don’t have to deal with repairs anytime soon.
As you can see there is no one size fits all method here. It all boils down to you – your comfort and convenience. Whether you are repairing the unit or replacing it with a new one, we suggest you seek expert assistance from the Aircon Company for installation or repair.
