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If you’re like most homeowners, you probably haven’t replaced your air conditioner in quite some time. It’s hard to tell when it’s time for a new air conditioner if you can still keep your home at a somewhat comfortable temperature. However, holding onto an old AC for too long can end up costing you a lot of money when it comes to air conditioning repair. If you’re wondering whether or not it’s time for you to invest in a new air conditioner for your home, think about some of these factors to aid you in your decision.

Power

The first thing you need to ask yourself if you’re wondering if it’s time for a new AC is whether or not yours is powerful enough. If your home isn’t staying cool enough during the summer, the solution could be more than a simple repair call.

Air conditioners are only designed to provide a certain amount of cooling power. When you’re buying an air conditioner, it will tell you how many square feet it’s capable of cooling. When you push your AC beyond these limits, you’re not going to get the same cooling power as you would in a smaller space. Plus, this problem is exacerbated by poor insulation that lets a lot of warm air in or cool air out.

Beyond the fact that an underpowered AC is annoying, it can also cost you a lot when it comes to air conditioning repairs. An undersized air conditioner will have to work harder than one that’s properly sized, which leads to increased wear and tear. The more all the little parts inside your AC wear down, the quicker the entire unit is going to fail.

Efficiency

You might think your current air conditioner is fine, and it might be. But if you’re like a lot of people, you’ve got an older air conditioner that simply can’t compare to the newer models in terms of efficiency. Things tend to get more and more efficient over time, and ACs are no exception.

Switching to a more efficient AC from your older model can save you money on your monthly cooling bill, which is a big plus in Texas. On top of that, improved efficiency means your AC doesn’t have to work as hard to cool your home and doesn’t suffer as much wear and tear, which saves you money on air conditioning repair costs.

Shopping for a more efficient air conditioner is as simple as looking at the SEER rating. The SEER rating of an air conditioner describes how efficient it is, with a higher rating denoting a more efficient unit. You also want to look for an AC unit that’s ENERGY STAR certified, as these are specifically approved for high efficiency. Ultimately, it’s best to have an air conditioning repair specialist help you find an AC that’s the right size, power and efficiency for your needs.

Age

It might seem sort of silly to replace something just because it’s old even if it’s still working fine, but everything is only made to last so long. If you don’t want to deal with a busted AC in the middle of summer or tons of air conditioning repair bills, you should replace your AC every 10 years or so. This may seem expensive, but it’s not as bad when you consider the money you save on repair costs and your monthly cooling bill.

The one thing that’s important to remember about the age of your AC is that age is only part of the equation. While this is about as long as you can expect the mechanical parts of an air conditioner to last, yours could fail in less than 10 years. If your AC is less than 10 years old and it has major problems, it still might be best to replace it.

If you’re not sure if your AC is old enough that it needs to be replaced, ask an air conditioning repair professional. If it is too old, getting your AC replaced now could be the difference between a cool summer or a week spent sitting in sweltering heat in your home.

Repair Costs

Air conditioners are bound to have some problems as they get older, but many of those problems don’t cost a lot to fix. The older the air conditioner in your Mesquite, TX, home gets, the more likely it is to have major problems. Depending on what’s wrong with your air conditioner, it may not be worth spending the money to have it repaired or taking a chance on it breaking again a few months down the line.

Make sure you ask your air conditioning repair company about the cost of replacing your AC versus repairing it. It may be that you’d only spend a little bit more replacing your AC, in which case it would never be worth repairing your old one. The truth is, the gap is generally larger than this, so it comes down to how much you’re willing to spend for repairs and how old your air conditioner is. If you’ve got a 10-year-old AC unit that you’re not sure what to do with, chances are you’re better off simply paying for a replacement instead of spending money on air conditioning repairs.

A Little Help

Taking care of everything in your home can feel like a full-time job even if it’s not. However, you have to stay on top of everything if you want a home you’re proud of and comfortable in. Luckily, there are professionals out there who can help.

If you’re thinking about replacing your air conditioner before the summer arrives, K&S Heating and Air is here for you. Whether you need a new AC for your Mesquite, TX, home or air conditioning repairs, we can handle everything. Give K&S Heating and Air a call at (972) 271-9319 to find out more today.