I get a lot of questions from my clients such as "When Should I Change My Air Conditioner?" My answer is always the same, is it working and is it efficient. What this means is "An Air Conditioner looses its efficiency after ten years of age by 10% a year. So, if you have an A/C Unit that is 15 years old, you are really getting 50% efficiency on your electric bill. That is a big bite to chew regarding your electric bill energy consumption, the answer would be yes. It is even higher in the summer time.
There are several other circumstances when you would replace your air conditioner with a new unit. The most obvious is when a unit ceases to function and a qualified technician says it cannot be repaired. It does not require an Air Conditioning expert to recognize that the unit has burnt out or circumstances are a bit more subtle. An example of this is that the Air Handler burns out but the Compressor on the exterior is still working. Sometimes it is better to replace the entire unit to get better efficiency. There is no reason to maintain a system that is operating at a poor level of efficiency.
Now, lets talk about mold on the coil. Mold and algae are common on your coil and in the drain pan. The problem begins when the coil becomes clogged up because of poor maintenance to the A/C System. If you do not change the filter on a regular basis, this will cause a clogged coil problem. This means that the coil needs to be cleaned. When it is cleaned, it looses some of the metal surface each time. I have been told by A/C Technicians that the most that you can clean a coil is three times before you need to replace the coils. If you are going to replace the coils, you need to think about replacing the unit with a more efficient unit.
I remember buying an new unit in 2001 and it was rated at a 12 SEER, which was good SEER then. Now the ratings go much higher than that. I had a friend recently install a 20 SEER unit. Sometimes it is a good idea to buy a new unit before the old one breaks down. Once they start breaking down, it is only a matter of time before it has to be replaced.
In conclusion, it can make sense to replace your existing A/C Unit before it finally stops working. Your goal is to keep your home cool at the lowest cost. Older units are not energy efficient, thus the electric bill will be higher. One thing is important, do not wait until that August afternoon when your unit dies on you in 95 degree heat. Evaluate you unit now before the problem happens. If you have Asthma or Allergies, maintain your Air Conditioner in top condition till it needs replacement.
If you have any questions, feel free to visit our website or call us.
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