Your AC unit is one of the most important faculties in your home, in which you may forget it is there. The better it’s working, the more comfortable you are, and the less you’re probably thinking about it while you are at home. When something goes wrong, it can come as a shock to you and become a stressful situation to deal with. Additionally, you may now be faced with the decision of trying to repair or replace the entire system with something new. With that in mind, it’s important to understand all your options when it comes to the challenges of an AC system.
Our team of professionals at Argent Heating & Cooling provide high quality AC maintenance services to the Washington D.C. Metro area and are here to help you understand how best to handle AC difficulties, as well as provide options to get your home back to its best, most comfortable state.
Signs to Watch Out For
When deciding on what to do with your AC unit, there are several factors you want to consider.
- First, what is the age of your system?
AC systems are always getting better and more efficient, and as yours gets older, it falls further behind the curve of what the best system is. Older systems also need more frequent repairs, as they become more challenging to repair as time goes on.
- Another thing to consider is the R-22 requirement.
If your system has a cooling tank, it can cost anywhere between $40 to $175 to top it off. If there is a leak and you need to replace the system, it usually signals the need to replace the compressor as well. When you combine the refilling, leak repair, and compressor replacement, repairing a system that uses R-22 can cost about as much as a completely new system.
- How often your system gets repaired is another important consideration.
The more times your system has been repaired, the more frequent repairs there will continue to be. Therefore, you may want to consider when the cost of frequent repairs outweigh the total of a new system.
Follow the $5000 Rule
In addition to the signs described above, a useful way to determine whether you should repair or replace is what HVAC experts call the “5000 rule”. If you multiply the age of the system by the cost of repair, and it exceeds $5000, then replace it. If not, repairing it might be the best option.
Another factor to consider is how long you plan to live in your current space. For example, if buying a new efficient system will only start paying itself off through utility savings over the course of 20 years, it might not be worth it if you only plan on living in your current home for the next 10.
An additional approach to take is, “if it’s not broken, don’t repair it.” If your AC unit doesn’t have any leaks or require any other repair, and your utility bills are low, you can sit back and not worry about making many changes, but be sure not to neglect necessary routine maintenance.
Steps You Can Take
If you’re considering whether it’s time to replace your old AC unit, or you’re starting to see signs that a repair might be in order, you may want to consider scheduling an inspection with an HVAC technician to give you the best information you would need to make your decision.
Professional AC Maintenance and Repair in the Washington D.C. Metro Area
For quality AC maintenance service in the Washington D.C. Metro area, trust Argent Heating & Cooling to keep your home cool and comfortable. Our team guarantees quality and professional service that you’ll love.
To learn more about AC maintenance and what service we can do for you, contact us at (703) 982-0110 and get started on your AC repair or replacement.
