Knowing when to buy a new AC unit isn’t always easy. Even if you do know it’s time to replace your current system, you still might not know how to choose a central air conditioner for your home.
An AC system is a major and important investment. You want to make sure you choose the ideal system at the ideal time. Keep in mind that the smartest way to make the right choice when buying a new air conditioning unit is to consult with a trusted AC company.
What You Need to Think About When Buying a New AC Unit
If you’re not sure when to buy a new AC unit, it’s important to understand that there are several different reasons to consider doing so. The following are some of the more noteworthy:
Old Age
Your AC unit won’t last forever. While practicing effective maintenance, scheduling inspections with our professionals, and addressing issues before they turn into major problems will prolong the lifespan of your HVAC system, eventually, you’ll still need to buy a new AC unit at some point.
The average lifespan of a typical HVAC system is 10 years. Possibly more if you maintain it properly. If yours is over 10 years old, you should start looking into replacements. Just keep in mind that a range of factors can affect precisely how long an HVAC system may stay in good working order. You still need to coordinate with experts to thoroughly understand how long you can expect your system to last.
Frequent Breakdowns
Even an HVAC system that’s in relatively good condition can stop working properly from time to time. Again, scheduling AC repair service sooner rather than later is key to ensuring minor problems don’t have a substantially negative impact on your AC’s anticipated lifespan.
However, if you notice your system is breaking down frequently, it’s probably time to buy a new AC unit. This will actually be the smartest financial choice in the long run. While the initial cost of a new AC system may seem greater than the cost of repair service, the fact of the matter is, if your system is developing frequent problems, the day when it breaks down for good is going to arrive fairly soon. Instead of wasting money scheduling nearly constant repair service, only to then spend even more money buying a new AC unit, you’re better off making the switch now.
High Energy Bills
AC systems become less efficient over time. This results in high utility bills. Once again, this demonstrates why buying a new AC system may actually be an intelligent choice from a financial perspective.
Keep in mind that you might also want to upgrade to a more efficient system even if yours is operating more or less as efficiently as it normally does. Innovations in HVAC technology frequently result in new models that offer greater efficiency than their older counterparts. By upgrading to a more energy-efficient model now, you won’t simply be saving money on utility bills — you’ll also be doing your part to conserve key resources.
Home Expansion
One factor you need to account for when buying a new AC unit is the size of your home. An air conditioning unit that’s too small won’t sufficiently cool your home.
Therefore, if you’re adding an addition to your home, it might be necessary to upgrade to a new system. Depending on the size of the addition, your current system may not be strong enough to suit your home’s cooling needs any longer.
How to Buy an Air Conditioner
Choosing the Right Size
You already know that your AC system needs to be large enough to cool your home. That said, it shouldn’t be too large either.
An HVAC system that’s too large for your home’s needs will naturally result in unnecessarily high utility bills. It can also result in inconsistent cooling.
You might assume that at the very least, even if your HVAC system is too large, it will keep your home cool. That’s not necessarily the case. If an HVAC system is too large for your home, it will reach the “cool” temperature you’ve set the thermostat at too soon. This causes it to frequently cycle on and off, failing to cool your home on a consistent basis.
This is a key reason it’s important to consult with experts when you’re not sure how to choose a central air conditioner. Your home’s size isn’t the only factor you need to account for. Other factors, such as the number of people who live in your home, are also essential. An HVAC pro will take all these factors into consideration when calculating the appropriate size for your new HVAC unit.
Quality & Maintenance Needs
This may seem fairly basic but it’s worth covering for an essential reason. When some people don’t know how to buy an air conditioner, they place too much emphasis on looking for a bargain.
Yes, you need to consider your budget when deciding what system to buy, but you also need to remember that the initial cost isn’t the only expense you’ll incur when you buy a new AC unit. If you buy a poor quality system, it might not be energy-efficient, and it may be more likely to break down sooner than a system from a more reputable manufacturer. That means you’ll actually end up spending more on utility and repair bills in the long run. On top of that, a low-quality HVAC system may have more substantial AC maintenance needs than others, forcing you to devote a lot of time to simply keeping your AC working properly.
Luckily, if you’re not sure when to buy a new AC unit or how to choose a central air conditioner, we at Easy AC, proudly serving homeowners throughout the Tampa Bay area, can help. Call us today for more information!