When it comes to your air conditioner, you want it to be ready for whatever the West Virginia summer throws its way. With rising temperatures, oppressive humidity, and other factors affecting your home’s comfort levels, ensuring your AC unit is ready for the job becomes crucial. However, determining whether your home needs a routine AC repair or a brand new unit can prove a fine line for homeowners to walk.
Repair Vs. Replace Your Unit
When it comes to your home’s comfort levels, a fully functional AC system becomes the centerpiece of your setup. When you start experiencing issues with your unit, the argument of repair vs. replace can get heated. At what point does it become more cost-effective to replace your entire unit instead of making simple repairs? Where is the line before you need to make a difficult decision?
How Do You Know Something Is Wrong?
Before deciding whether to repair or replace your air conditioning unit, you need to know what the issue is in the first place. Keeping an eye out for warning signs will help you get in front of some potentially significant problems. These signs include, but aren’t limited to:
- Excessive loud noises
- Rising humidity levels
- Frequent breakdowns
- Unexpected spikes in your energy bills
- Hot air blowing out of your unit
- Uneven cooling
- And more!
If you notice one or more of these signs, it’s time to bring in the Johnson & Johnson Heating & Air Conditioning professionals to take a look. When our trained technicians arrive on the scene, we can help identify the underlying cause of the problems and help you figure out whether you need to replace the whole unit or if repairs will do the job.
Debating Between Repairs and Replacements
When it comes to the decision-making behind repairing or replacing your cooling system, there are some crucial factors you need to consider before making a choice. Both routes can provide you with the solution you’re looking for; however, they can also present unique challenges if implemented incorrectly. Here are some factors you should consider before deciding between the two options.
How Old Is Your Unit?
When your AC unit receives the proper maintenance and care, it can last upwards of 15 years, providing your home with excellent indoor air quality and comfort. However, when your unit hits the ten-year mark, some signs of stress become more difficult to ignore.
Older units run the risk of breaking down more frequently through constant use, increased wear, and the march of time. As these repairs continue to mount, the repeated cost of having an AC repair technician come out and address the issues starts to add up. In some cases, replacing an older unit may make more financial sense than continually making repairs. However, repairs should do the trick if your unit is under ten years old and has been effectively maintained.
The Total Cost of Repairs
Whenever your HVAC system breaks down, you dread looking at the bill. The overall cost of the repairs often sends shivers down your spine; however, there are instances where the cost of making repairs overshadow the cost of replacing your unit.
The younger the unit, the more likely it is for the repairs to be relatively inexpensive. In this case, it makes more financial sense to repair instead of replace the unit. However, the older it gets, the more likely the next repair bill will finally make replacing the unit a viable alternative.
What Kind of Refrigerant Does Your Unit Use?
Depending on how old your unit is, the type of refrigerant it uses may have become obsolete. In 2020, R-22 Freon refrigerant production became outlawed in the United States. For older units that rely on R-22 to function properly, the cost of getting access to the remaining supply has increased considerably.
As soon as that supply runs out, there won’t be any more legally produced in the country. Modern units have switched over to the more readily on-hand R-410. The switch to a more modern unit can help boost your energy savings and drive down the cost of refrigerant refills in the long run.
Contact Johnson & Johnson Heating & Air Conditioning for Your AC Needs
Whether your AC unit needs routine maintenance or you need to replace the whole thing, our HVAC technicians are ready to help. Our air conditioning services provide customers with a lifeline to help address any issues with their AC system and ensure it’s prepared for the high-usage summer months. Contact our air conditioning service providers to schedule your next appointment today!
