How to Know When to Repair or Replace Your Air Conditioner?
When to repair or replace your air conditioner is one of the trickiest decisions to make in general.
Sometimes you can get by with repair and save some money, and at times it becomes necessary to replace the air conditioner right away to save you from the hassle. But the real question is how do you know when to do what?
That’s what we will be discussing below with detailed explanations. We explored the whole thing to find out scenarios to determine which solution to pick in your case. If you are dealing with a broken air conditioner, make sure to check out the guide before deciding on whether to replace or repair it.
Signs Your Air Conditioner Needs To Be Repair
Your air conditioner will often show signs indicating that it needs repair. It’s not like the air conditioner will suddenly stop working; it’s more about ongoing performance issues, and your air conditioner needs to be repaired.
Insufficient Cooling
The most common sign that you will notice with an air conditioner is insufficient cooling, meaning the air conditioner will not be able to cool your place properly. You will occasionally notice warm air coming from the vents, or certain rooms feeling warmer than the other ones.
Sometimes the AC may even take longer than usual to reach the set temperature. Other issues may also include uneven cooling or weak airflow. All of these issues will result in insufficient cooling which may require repair work on air filters, ductwork, thermostats, or compressors.
Strange Noises or Smells
A properly working AC doesn’t make any noise or smell. If you hear any kind of grinding, scraping, squealing, or clicking sounds, it means your AC needs some work. Also, musty smells, burning odors, chemical smells, or rotten egg smells are quite unusual.
For any kind of noisy issues, you will probably need to repair the motor bearing, belt, electrical lines, or internal components. As for smell issues, you will need to repair the ductwork, electrical wiring, and refrigerant components.
Frequent Cycling On and Off
Short cycling is another one of those signs that scream out that you need to repair your AC. Short cycling simply means the AC will constantly turn on and off more frequently than usual. The typical reasons for this issue are –
- Incorrect unit sizing
- Thermostat malfunctions
- Electrical problems
- Frozen evaporator coils
- Dirty air filters
- Low refrigerant levels
Increasing Energy Bills
A sudden or gradual increase in your energy bills without a corresponding increase in usage often indicates that your AC is working harder than it should. This could be due to:
- Reduced efficiency from aging components
- Dirty or clogged filters
- Refrigerant leaks
- Duct leakage
- Thermostat problems
- Inadequate maintenance
Compare your current bills with previous years’ bills from the same month to spot concerning trends in energy consumption.
Water Leaks or Moisture Problems
Now this is where it gets a bit difficult to determine whether your ac truly needs some repair work or not. First of all, a bit of condensation is pretty normal during use, but it gets difficult when excessive moisture or water is pooling around the AC.
For such cases, you may have to repair the condensate drain line, evaporator coil, refrigerant, condensate pan, or drainage system.
When to Consider Replacing Your AC
Here’s the thing, there are two aspects to repairing. One is it might not work and solve the problem. Another is the repair might cost so much that you can get a new AC at that cost. Here are some scenarios where replacing the AC is a much better option than even thinking of repairing it.
Age of the Unit
If you are facing issues with an AC unit that is more than 10 years old, then it’s always better to go with the replacement route rather than the repair route. The reason for that is, that most AC units will start losing their efficiency after 10 years. And if it crosses 15 years, you will surely have difficulty finding parts.
But if the AC unit is less than 10 years old, then you should decide based on the other factors below.
Frequent Repairs
Another scenario where you should go for a replacement rather than a repair is when you notice that you need repair work now and then. The necessity of too frequent repair works can add up the cost, which might be equal to or more than replacement.
The best option is to track the frequency of repairs and the money you spend on it. If repair costs add up to an amount that is half the cost of a new unit, then replacing the AC will be the wisest decision for you.
Inconsistent Performance
Whilst you can opt for repairing an AC that has inconsistency in cooling, replacement might still be a better option. Especially, if the AC fails to maintain consistent temperatures, struggles during peak summer months, or requires a lot of adjustments for the perfect results.
The reason you should go for a replacement in such cases is because they indicate that the unit isn’t the right size for your home, or the critical components are failing.
Energy Inefficiency
Something you need to consider about AC units is that modern systems come with lots of advanced features, and energy efficiency is one of them. With modern ACs, you can easily get more efficiency compared to older systems.
In such cases, you don’t even need to think about whether your AC has any problems or not. You just think about a better or improved system.
Cost Comparison: Repair vs. Replacement
Comparing the cost of repair and replacement instantly gets half the job done by choosing one option.
Replacement
When it’s about replacement, you just have to think about the price of the new unit you want to purchase. This can vary depending on what you want such as the size, the price, the features, and so forth. Here’s a cost breakdown of replacement –
| Factor | Cost |
| Basic Unit | $2000 – $3000 |
| Mid-Range Unit | $3500 – $5000 |
| High-End Unit | $5500+ |
| Installation | $500 – $1500 |
Repair
Now, coming to the repair, it will vary depending on the kind of parts you are repairing. Sometimes the repair work can be limited to service charge only. And sometimes you need to pay for replacement parts. Here’s a breakdown of those costs –
| Aspect | Average Cost |
| Service charge | $200 – $1000 |
| Compressor | $1,500 – $3,850 |
| Condenser Coils | $500 – $1,500 |
| Evaporator Coils | $400 – $1,000 |
| Fan Motor | $150 – $300 |
| Thermostat | $50 – $200 |
| Refrigerant (Freon) | $100 – $200 per pound (including labor) |
| Circuit Board | $200 – $500 |
| Blower Motor | $100 – $250 |
When to Call a Professional HVAC Technician?
No matter how much you learn about various stuff, calling a professional can be very helpful. You don’t want to call a professional HVAC technician when it’s too late. Neither you want to do it right away, since sometimes the issue can be minor and you can solve it yourself.
The best way to find out whether you need a professional HVAC technician or not is to troubleshoot your AC. After troubleshooting, you can tell whether the issue is major or minor. For instance, if it’s a clogged air filter that you need to replace, calling a professional HVAC might be a bit too much.
On the other hand, if you see the problem is too complex, or you can’t even tell what’s wrong with your AC, then you have to go for a professional technician. Here are some signs that you need to call a technician ASAP!
- You smell burning odors
- Circuit breakers keep tripping
- Strange noises persist
- Water is leaking into your home
- The unit won’t turn on
- Refrigerant leaks are suspected
- Electrical components are malfunctioning
Other than these, you can always opt for professional technicians for regular maintenance of your AC.
Finding a Reputable HVAC Contractor
Now when you choose to go for a professional technician, you have to find a reputable HVAC contractor for the best service. There are several considerations to make while finding a reputable HVAC service provider.
Quality Of Work
The first thing that should matter to you is the quality of the work provided by the HVAC service provider. Look for an option who has years of experience in the field, and they have a team filled with experts and professionals. It’s not just about making things work, it’s also about efficiency and keeping the work clean.
Competitive Pricing
The next thing you should see is whether the pricing of the service provider is competitive or not. By competitive we mean they have to provide a price that feels worth the service compared to another service provider. Don’t choose cheap providers, choose value-for-money providers.
Customer Service
An HVAC contractor with 24/7 service is always a better option compared to a contractor who doesn’t fulfill customer service. A reliable service company will provide you with round-the-clock service with instant responses for a satisfying customer experience.
Latest technology
Go with an option that uses the latest technology to diagnose the AC issues and provide a solution as well. For instance, a company using smart thermostats, inverter technology, and ductless systems can easily take the company ahead of the competition.
Reviews and testimonials
Last but the most important factor you should check out for a reliable servcie provider are the reviews and testimonials. Going through the reviews helps you see how was the experience of people with the company and whether they liked it or not.
If you are looking for such as reliable service in Columbus, Ohio, then AK Heating & Air Conditioning Services might be a great option to check out.
Final Thought
Well, now that you know when to repair or replace your AC, it can help you save up a lot of money or save yourself from extra hassle. The guide we provided here should easily help you decide which one is the perfect choice for you. And if you still can’t make up your mind, then opt for a professional service like AK Heating & Air Conditioning Services.
