Deciding to repair or replace your air conditioner can be a tricky proposition. You don’t want to take on the expense of replacing it unnecessarily, but you also don’t want to pay hundreds to have it repaired, only to find that it needs to be replaced a few months later. Follow these tips to decide if it’s time to repair or replace.

• It’s all about age. An air-conditioning system is generally expected to last for about 20 years; however, if your current system is more than 10 years old you can probably get better results if you replaced it with a high-efficiency system. In fact, newer high-efficiency units are so much more efficient that replacing the unit can pay for itself in energy savings in several years.You’ll also avoid having to repair the older system; instead, you can put that money toward a new, more reliable unit.
• Inconsistencies say a lot. If you have a few rooms that are significantly warmer while others are much cooler, this is likely a sign that your air conditioner is no longer working up to capacity. In most cases this is an indicator that it’s time to replace your system.
• Look to humidity. Does your house remain humid even when your air conditioner is running full blast? If so, this is typically a sign of inadequate equipment and it’s time to have your unit replaced.
• Listen for the answer. A loud air conditioner is more than just an annoyance. This is often a marker that shows that the system is too small for the area it’s cooling. Investing in a higher capacity system can actually reduce your energy costs because the unit won’t have to work as hard.

If you’ve been struggling with a unit that’s not performing as it should, your best bet is to have the professionals take a look. Contact Smoky Mountain Heating & Air today and we’ll help you decide if it’s time to repair or replace.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about “repair or replace” and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Smoky Mountain Heating & Air services Asheville, North Carolina and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!