Should You Upgrade Your AC?
Posted on: 5 February 2016
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Knowing when to upgrade your air conditioner can be pretty difficult. You'll need to compare the stress and expense of an installation to the lower efficiency of an older unit. In many cases, this isn't a very clear comparison, so you will need to look at a variety of details to determine the best course of action. To make your life a bit easier, here are some questions that you should ask yourself when thinking about upgrading:
How old is your air conditioner?
First of all, you want to take a look at how old your air conditioner is. Although your air conditioner might seem like it's working fine, you might be able to achieve massively improved output just by getting a newer model.
Older air conditioners tend to be less efficient and noisier, which results in a lower quality of life and higher expenditures on your part. Even if the financial savings of an upgrade aren't enough to sway you, the reduced need for maintenance might be the deciding factor.
How much have you been spending on air conditioner maintenance?
You want to also take a hard look at just how much maintenance you have had to perform on your air conditioner lately. You'll need to consider the flat monetary costs of calling out a repairman or buying the parts yourself, but also make sure to consider how much time and effort you have had to commit as well.
If you have needed to spend a couple of weekends troubleshooting your air conditioner, then that could potentially add up to a lot more than you initially assumed.
Is a central air conditioner the best choice for your current situation?
In some circumstances, a central air conditioner is simply inferior to other options.
If you live in a temperate climate, then a heat pump might be a compelling choice. By getting a heat pump, you will be able to replace both your heater and air conditioner, which can result in easier maintenance down the road.
Getting a window-based AC can also be a good choice, particularly if you want to have a single main room cooled. A central air conditioner might be more efficient at cooling your whole home, but it can be overkill in many situations. If you spend most of your time in a single room, or if you just want to have a cooler bedroom, then a window-based unit can serve all of your needs.
To learn more about your options or to have your current air conditioner inspected, consider speaking with a representative from a company like Comfy Cave Heating and Air.