When your air conditioning system stops working on a hot day, you’ll not only worry about your immediate comfort, you’ll also worry about whether this breakdown is a permanent one. Is your air conditioning system finished and must be replaced?
This is a big question when it comes to any major air conditioning malfunction. In many cases, when an air conditioner stops working, professional repairs can restore it. In other cases, either repairs can’t restore it or the repairs are not a cost-effective solution and the next step is an AC replacement in Selma, TX. Either way, you’ll face a large decision about a failed AC, and the best way to make the right choice for you is to call on our experts. We can diagnose your current air conditioner’s failure and provide you with the information and options you need.
We’ll go a bit deeper into some of the different situations to give you an idea of what you might be looking at.
When the air conditioning system is too old
Age plays a large part in the choice of whether a failed AC needs to be replaced. The average lifespan of a central air conditioning system is from 10 to 15 years. An air conditioner that receives regular maintenance during its service life will usually make it to 15 years. If an AC is older than 15 years, continuing to repair it when it malfunctions is not a good investment: the system will face more repairs in the future and cost more to run as system efficiency drops.
Consider the warranty
If your air conditioning system is still under warranty, repairs are probably the best route. An AC under warranty is still young enough that repairs can often keep it going effectively and efficiently for several more years and at a reasonable price.
Repair cost vs. replacement cost
You can use some rules of thumb to compare the cost to repair a broken air conditioner to the cost of a replacement and determine which is better. One rule is that any repair that will cost more than half the price of a replacement system isn’t worth it. Another rule is the “Rule of 5,000”: multiply the cost of a repair by the age in years of the AC, and if the result is more than 5,000, the repair isn’t worth it.
These aren’t absolute rules, but they’ll give you a broad understanding of the value of an individual repair. Our technicians can provide you with more information.
The AC’s recent repair and performance history
How well has your AC performed in the last few years before this breakdown? Look at how often it’s needed repairs and if the cost to run it each summer has risen. If repairs are an annual event and your utility bills keep getting higher and higher when the AC runs, then it’s probably better to invest in a new air conditioner even if this one can be repaired.
At Thayer Air Conditioning, your comfort is our #1 priority! Call us when you need help with your air conditioning, whether a repair or a replacement.
