A central air conditioning unit is a significant investment for any homeowner – but like any mechanical equipment, it won’t last forever.

The truth is that even with regular maintenance by a home cooling expert, a cooling system will only last somewhere between 10 and 15 years – and in the last few of those years, its efficiency might drop to the point where replacing it might be a better financial move than continuing to service it.

How do you know when it’s time to replace your central air conditioning system?

Three Questions To Consider For Your A/C System

• How old is your cooling system? An air conditioner can lose five percent efficiency or more every year it’s not professionally maintained – and toward the end of its life cycle, it will lose efficiency even if you maintain it. If you’re having problems with a system that’s more than 10 years old, more often than not replacing is the smarter choice; at less than that age, you will have a tougher decision…but here’s a rule of thumb: if a repair costs 50 percent or more of the replacement cost, it’s generally worth it to upgrade.

  Another factor to consider in the repair/replace discussion is refrigerant: older home cooling systems used Freon (known in the industry as R22), which was deemed illegal in the U.S. after January 1, 2020. Sources of R22 are becoming scarce, and as they do the refrigerant becomes more expensive. New central air conditioning units feature safer, EPA-compliant R410A refrigerant.

• How is your equipment performing? Have you noticed that your cooling bills are rising even though your usage has remained relatively constant? Are there pockets of warmer and cooler air in your home? Does your home not feel as cool as it used to, or cool as quickly as it once did? These are all signs that your central A/C could be on the decline.

  Two other signs to look out for are excessive noise and dust. If you’re constantly seeing dust in your home – even after cleaning – there’s a good chance you have leaky ductwork. Those leaks compromise the performance of your air conditioning system, which means your bills will rise; a new A/C installation will address this problem.

  If your air conditioner is excessively noisy, there is a chance your duct system isn’t large enough for the square footage of your home, or that you have a problem with the unit’s indoor coil – both reasons to consider an upgrade.

• Has my home’s cooling load changed? If you’ve added space to your house without changing your home cooling system, the next breakdown you have could be caused by pushing your furnace or A/C beyond its comfort zone to meet the demands of a new cooling load – a problem that is likely to recur if you keep your old, undersized system in place.

The bottom line

You may have noticed that when it comes to home cooling equipment, there are often significant advantages to replacing an older system. So is repair ever a viable option?

Yes, if:

• Your system is less than five years old
• You plan to move
• New rebates and efficiency incentives have been announced but not yet implemented
• You can’t afford a new system

A central air conditioner is an investment – and like any investment, you need to do your research to find the best way to spend your money. When it comes time to make your choice, be sure to call the pros at Fredericks Fuel & Heating Service.

Be ready – an A/C installation rush is coming! Once COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, we expect a surge in installations that could back us up for weeks. If you are ready to upgrade your home cooling system, lock in an appointment time with a deposit so you’ll be early on the list. Contact Fredericks today for a FREE, no obligation estimate on a cooling system installation in northern NJ.