Homeowner’s Guide to AC Replacement

AC Replacement: Key Factors to Consider for Your Family Budget

Making decisions that affect the family budget requires some very necessary skills, especially decisions that concern big-ticket items. For most families, replacing the air conditioner/furnace system would be considered a big-ticket purchase. The AC replacement decision requires some significant research to ensure that replacing the system is done at just the right time. Research the following:

The Age of the Existing System

Why is this important?

• The typical air conditioner system has a useful life of between 15 and 20 years, while the typical furnace lasts about 20 years. If your system is older than this, it is running on borrowed time.
• The typical air conditioner experiences a pretty predictable schedule of problems with performance, requiring similar repairs and replacements. The gaps between the repairs may vary, but the progression is very familiar to experienced technicians.
• A common repair is a very small leak that allows the refrigerant gas to escape. If the pressure begins to drop, all the gas will escape, since it is under pressure. Replacing the refrigerant used to be an easy fix, but that is not currently the case. The US Environmental Protection Agency has been researching/replacing the formula of refrigerant gases regularly, seeking a solution that is environmentally friendly. Several gases are no longer being manufactured, so the available quantities are extremely limited. This makes refrigerant gas replacement a very expensive proposition. The age of your existing system will determine which refrigerant was used and the availability of the gas needed for replacement.

A homeowner can find the approximate age of air conditioning components by finding the serial/model number plate. The manufacturer’s website should identify the year the component was manufactured, which is close to the installation year. This will also identify the refrigerant gas used and the size/capacity of the unit.

Assess the Performance and Efficiency of the Existing System

• Does the air conditioner struggle to keep the space cool during normal summer heat? This will become very apparent during those heat waves that come each summer, but an air conditioner that is performing poorly will struggle year-round.
• Does the air conditioner struggle to remove humidity? Are surfaces, including human skin, sticky?
• Does the electric bill indicate that the system is working harder than it should? Find this out by comparing the bills for July over the last three years. Don’t pay much attention to the total; look at the energy-use over successive years. The price of energy has increased, but if the energy use has risen without the introduction of a new high-use device to the home, the air conditioner may be using more energy than necessary to keep up with cooling needs.
• Has the amount of dust increased? A sure sign of poor air conditioner performance is poor indoor air quality.

Compare Repair Bills on the Existing System

Collect any repair bills that have accumulated and check:

• All repairs over the last few years. No single repair bill might be considered excessive, but the total of the repairs might be higher than desired.
• Have you replaced the same components several times? This is part of the predictable progression of an aging system.
• Are you facing the replacement of a major (expensive) component? The total for replacement/repair might be high enough to rival the cost of replacement of the entire system.

Is it Time? Decoding the AC Replacement Decision

Deciding when to replace your AC and furnace system is a significant financial consideration for any family. By carefully assessing your existing system’s age, performance, efficiency, and accumulated repair costs, you can make an informed decision that protects your budget and ensures your home’s comfort. When it’s time to explore your AC replacement options or if you need expert advice on your HVAC system, don’t hesitate to reach out. For reliable AC Replacement in College Station and guidance on AC replacement, contact R.M. Mullinix today.

For more information about R.M. Mullinix and our AC replacement College Station services, schedule an appointment or visit our AC repair and maintenance information page.