Repairing vs. Replacing Your AC

Considering Replacing Your AC Unit? Things to Know 

If your air conditioner unit is getting up in years, you might be wondering if it’s a good idea to invest in a new unit, rather than continuing to maintain and repair your current one. New, high-quality air conditioners do not come cheap, so the decision to purchase is a new unit is something that most people will put off for as long as they can… but what if hanging onto your old unit is actually costing you more money in the long run?

If this is your current dilemma, here are 3 key indicators that you are probably better off replacing your old AC unit than repairing it.

Would you like to get in touch with an expert about your AC issues? With over 30 years of experience, you can count on the professionals at M.A. Williams to handle all of your AC needs.

1. Your air conditioner is 10+ years old.

Some well-made and well-maintained air conditioners can run for as long as 20 years. However, this is the exception rather than the rule. No matter how diligent you are with HVAC maintenance, if nothing else, eventually your air conditioner is going to lose efficiency and give out due to old age.

In general, air conditioners usually have a lifespan of 10 to 15 years. If your air conditioner has crossed the 10-year mark and seems to be lacking a lot of its former efficiency or is requiring some expensive repairs, it’s probably best to let it retire.

2. Your cooling costs keep rising.

The older air conditioners get, the more efficiency they lose. If you have an older AC unit, you’ll find evidence of this loss of efficiency in your energy bills. You’ll see that your costs have probably increased year over year, particularly during warm months with a lot of air conditioner usage.

If you notice that the cost of cooling your home has really jumped up from what it was the same time the last couple of years, it’s a pretty fair indicator that your AC is on its way out.

3. The cost of repairs could pay for half of a new unit.

At some point, it may become so costly to repair your old air conditioner that it would make more sense financially to instead invest in a new unit, especially when you consider that you will need to replace your old unit eventually anyway. If your air conditioner is in need of a repair or repairs that would cost approximately half as much as a new unit, it’s generally wiser to put that money toward the purchase of a new unit. Plus, after installing a new air conditioner, you’ll benefit from lower cooling costs because of its superior efficiency.

At M.A. Williams, we have the manpower, training, equipment, and experience necessary to help you address and correct all AC concerns. We have been serving the Richmond community since 2001 and we will use our knowledge of various cooling systems to get your air conditioning up and running in no time.