Should You Repair or Replace Your Air Conditioner?

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: there’s nothing worse than a broken air conditioner, especially in the middle of summer. One minute you’re nice and comfortable, and the next minute, you’re sweltering hot and wondering what the problem could possibly be. Depending on what the problem is, your next question might be “Is it worth it to repair my air conditioner, or should I go with a full AC replacement?” AC repair can be costly and time-consuming sometimes, so it’s totally reasonable to consider just throwing in the towel and replacing it instead. Here are a few ways to tell if it’s best to stick it out and try for a repair or go with a replacement instead. 

How Old is Your Air Conditioner? 

The effectiveness of your air conditioner has a lot to do with its age. Generally, air conditioning units over ten years old run with decreased efficiency. If your AC unit isn’t operating at full capacity anymore, you’ve probably noticed that it takes longer than it used to to cool down your home to your desired temperature. There’s a measurement called a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) that’s used to rate the efficiency of air conditioners. The higher the SEER, the more efficiently the air conditioner runs. Older air conditioners usually have lower SEERs, therefore they run less efficiently. A general rule of thumb is that if your unit is over ten years old, it may be best to go for a full AC replacement rather than trying to fix it. However, if your unit is under ten years old, it’s probably best to call a professional for AC repair services.

The 5000 Rule

To rely on the 5000 rule, you need two pieces of information. You need to know the age of your air conditioning unit in years, and you need an estimate of the repair cost. If multiplying those two numbers together gives you a number higher than 5000, it’s time for an air conditioning replacement. So for example, if you have an AC unit that’s 10 years old and the repairperson quotes you $600 to fix it, you would multiply 10 by 600 and get 6000. That’s greater than 5000, so it’d likely be best to replace that unit. However, if the unit were only 5 years old and you were quoted $600 for a repair, you’d end up with 3000 after multiplying the two, so it’d probably be a good idea to go ahead with that AC repair. 

How Are Your Energy Bills? 

Have your energy bills been high over the past few months? That’s a sign that you have an inefficient AC unit and you may want to consider an AC replacement rather than repair. Though the initial replacement costs can be somewhat high, a newer AC unit can save you a few hundred dollars per year in energy costs!

Have You Repaired the Unit Before?

If this isn’t your first AC repair on this unit, you might want to consider an AC replacement. Ultimately it’ll depend on whether the past repairs were little flukes or indicative of a bigger problem. There’s really no point in fixing the same issue over and over again, so if you find yourself doing that, it may be time to look into getting a new unit. 

Need Help With AC Repair or Replacement?

When your home needs fast, high-quality service, you can count on Stack Heating, Cooling, & Electric! Our team of experts can help you determine whether an AC repair or replacement is in your best interest as well as performing a variety of repairs, replacements, and installations. We want you to know that your family’s safety and comfort is our number one priority, as it always has been. We are taking all necessary precautions and following CDC guidelines to keep our customers and employees healthy. We’ve been serving the Cleveland area for over 40 years, and we’re not going anywhere. Give us a call at (440) 937-9134 or visit us on our website today and find out what we can do for you!