When temperatures rise, so do the chances of a malfunctioning air conditioner. During the hot and humid summers, your property’s air conditioning unit works harder to keep you comfortable. When your air conditioner malfunctions, your League City home can become too hot quickly. If you are a business owner, an air conditioner that doesn’t work properly can affect your bottom line.
As your a/c unit ages, you may notice a decline in performance. Many property owners think that repairing the air conditioning unit saves money and extends its lifespan. However, if your air conditioner is around 20 years old, it may be reaching the end of its lifespan. If you can’t decide between repairing and replacing your air conditioner, consider the following factors.
How Your Air Conditioner Cools Your Home
In order to understand if you should repair or replace your aging unit, let’s take a look at how your air conditioner functions. Many homeowners believe that an air conditioner works by pumping cold air into your home. Actually, the process of cooling your home or business’s interior is more complicated.
First, your air conditioner removes the warm air and humidity from your property. Inside your air conditioner is a compressor, condenser coil, and evaporator coil. A fan inside the unit blows the warm air from your home across the cold evaporator coil. The refrigerant inside the evaporator coil absorbs the heat from the air. The air conditioning unit then pumps the cooled air back into your home. Heated evaporated gas exits the unit into the outside air. This process repeats until your home reaches the temperature you set on your thermostat.
Modern air conditioning systems last approximately 10 to 12 years. If you schedule regular cooling maintenance, your unit should last even longer. However, even a properly-maintained unit may reach the end of its lifespan at the 20-year mark.
Top Signs You Should Repair Your A/C
With an average temperature in the mid-90s, Houston’s hot and humid summers mean your air conditioner needs to work harder to cool your home. Even when summer starts to wind down, you still may need your air conditioner to keep you comfortable.
Your air conditioning unit contains many parts that must operate smoothly in order to keep the unit functioning. You may notice signs that your air conditioner is malfunctioning, such as:
- Warm spots in your home
- Warm or room temperature air blowing from your vents
- Strange noises
- Unpleasant odors
- Condensation on walls or windows
- Leaks
- Rust
- Evidence of rodents around the unit
These signs indicate that your air conditioning unit needs to be repaired. However, as your unit reaches the 20-year mark, you may notice more frequent issues and spend more money on repairs. Small repairs can cascade into larger repair bills over time. You may question if it’s worth the money to continue repairing an old system.
When you call Mackey Services, our technicians will evaluate your system and give you an estimate. Some property owners use the Rule of 5,000 to determine if they should repair or replace an air conditioner. To use the Rule of 5,000, take the estimated cost of the repair and multiply it by the age of the air conditioner. If the number is more than 5,000, then you may be better off replacing the unit.
For example, if our technician at Mackey Services estimates that your repair is $200, multiply 200 by 20 (the age of your air conditioning unit). You’ll get 4,000. Since this number is lower than 5,000, you might prefer to repair your air conditioner.
Why You Should Replace Your Air Conditioner
Replacing your air conditioner with a brand-new model can give you peace of mind when temperatures in the League City area start to climb. When your air conditioner works harder, you may experience more frequent parts failures and higher repair bills. If you notice that you’re frequently scheduling repairs or your repair bills are climbing, contact Mackey Services to schedule your AC installation.
Even if your unit seems to perform well, you still may want to replace your 20-year-old air conditioner. Around the 15-year mark, your air conditioner starts to decline in efficiency. As efficiency declines, your electric bill will start to climb. Add in the cost of repairing your old air conditioner, and you could be spending too much money on your old air conditioner.
A new air conditioning unit offers several benefits to property owners. Current models offer more energy efficiency than older models, so you can save money on your electric bills. New air conditioners also include a warranty that covers any repairs.
At Mackey Services, we offer the latest technology in air conditioners. Our new systems offer features like smart thermostats. You can separate your property into zones and program your new air conditioner to operate at a particular time. You can control your smart thermostat from an easy-to-use phone app.
In addition to great efficiency, new models are better for the environment. Your old system probably uses R-22 refrigerant, commonly known by the brand name Freon. As your air conditioning unit operates, the system vents gases into the air that contain chlorine. Research shows that these gases are responsible for depleting the ozone layer.
Starting in 2010, new air conditioners switched to a more environmentally-friendly refrigerant called R-410a. In early 2023, new air conditioning units will use either R-32 or R-454b. These refrigerants improve the global warming potential rating of previous refrigerants. No matter which refrigerant your new air conditioning unit uses, you can trust that it will be better for the environment than your 20-year-old unit.
In addition to creating environmental hazards, your old unit may be a potential safety hazard. Over time, heavy rain and hot weather can cause corrosion and rust in your air conditioner. Heat and moisture also can create a breeding ground for bacteria and mold. Tree and grass pollen also may build up inside the unit. As your air conditioning unit operates, your old system may blow pollen, mold, and bacteria into your home. For people with allergies, asthma, or other medical conditions, these particulates can exacerbate respiratory ailments.
A new air conditioning unit may feature an air filter with a higher rating than your old unit. If you are concerned about the air quality inside your home or business, our team can recommend a system that uses a high-quality air filter or a HEPA filter.
Call the AC Experts at Mackey Services
In 1992, our team at Mackey Services began offering air conditioner installation, maintenance, and repairs for our neighbors all over League City and the surrounding areas. We are proud to be a Lennox Premier Dealer. Our team installs new air conditioning units for both residential and commercial customers. You can count on our professional technicians to provide the highest quality customer service. We will evaluate your home or business and recommend the best system to keep you cool during the hot Houston summers. Our experienced technicians are here to answer all of your questions. You can rely on us to offer a fair price for your new air conditioner unit.
Contact our AC team at Mackey Services, and schedule installation of your new air conditioning unit today.
