Wondering If You Need a New Air Conditioner?
In our harsh Australian climate an air conditioner can make a world of difference to your home comfort. If you have an older unit you may have noticed that it isn’t as cool or efficient as it once was. Like anything, air conditioners have a limited lifespan and will one day need replacing. A well serviced and maintained machine will of course last longer than a neglected unit. Even with the best servicing, it will at some point run into problems. Here we’ll explore when and why you should replace your older air conditioners with a modern unit.
The Cost of Keeping
While it may seem like a large investment to buy a new AC unit, your current unit may be costing you more. The cost of keeping an AC unit is a combination of a few factors.
Power Bills
Technology is always advancing and this, of course, applies to AC units. New models will have greater energy efficiency than older models. Because of this they can actually save money over time. Also, you will find that your older machine will have degraded over time and may be far less efficient than it should be. An energy audit can help you to figure out of your unit is costing you more than it should.
Repair Costs
While repairing a unit is cheaper as a short-term option if your unit is old and the repairs are frequent the costs can escalate fast. If the cost to repair your unit is $500 and its 15 years old, and a new machine would be $5000 installed, then repairs should be out of the question. A good rule of thumb is that if the age of your machine, multiplied by the cost to repair it is more than a new unit then it needs replacing.
With these costs combined, you can see how a new unit may not be such a steep investment after all. Not replacing it could be costing you a lot on your bills. If you want to save even more money, and currently have a newer unit, we’ve got five pro tips to reduce your air conditioning costs.
Diminishing Performance
You may have noticed if you have an older machine that it doesn’t perform like it used to. Maybe you need to run it at higher fan speeds to get the same performance you used to from lower settings. Perhaps it takes longer to cool the house than it used to. Regardless, it’s likely causing you a cost to your comfort. Aging machines can begin to have diminished air flow which is a sign its compressor is on its last legs. Plus, as the unit degrades it may begin to emit strange sounds or smells.
Smells especially are an important reason to replace an old unit as they can point to serious problems. Foul odours can suggest mould or mildew in your unit which can circulate contaminated air through your home. Mould can cause serious health issues for you and your family, especially in people with existing allergies or respiratory conditions.
Responsibility for the Environment
As mentioned, newer AC units are undeniably more efficient than older models. Many AC manufacturers are committed to not only making units cheaper to run but also to make them more environmentally friendly through increased efficiency. Part of this commitment is the phasing out of R-22 refrigerant – a hydro-chlorofluorocarbon which contributes to ozone depletion for R-410a refrigerant. If your air conditioner was made before 2015, there is a fair chance it uses R-22 and is harmful to the environment.
There are plenty of reasons to upgrade your air conditioner. Whether its running costs have become too high or it has begun to operate poorly and deliver less comfort. Whatever your reason for wanting to replace an older unit, the experts here at Mannix Air Conditioning and Solar can help you choose a machine that’s perfect for you and your home. With over 50 years’ experience, nobody beats Mannix!