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You expect your AC to undergo repairs. You call in a technician, they fix it up, and your world keeps on moving. It’s just part of being a homeowner, but there’s a point where the repairs are too expensive and frequent—that’s when your AC gives you trouble.
So how do you know when you need to replace your AC in Sussex County, DE? You use the 50% rule. Let’s talk about what this is and how you can apply it so you aren’t spending extra money on repairs this summer.
You may have heard this bit of advice from someone, possibly an “HVAC contractor” with less than reliable credentials: “Your AC is 10 years old, so it’s time to get a new one.”
The truth is that air conditioning systems don’t have an absolute “replace by” date, and most air conditioners that have regular maintenance will last past 10 years without problem.
But this does lead to another question: when should an air conditioning system be replaced? It’s a good question to consider during the fall, since it’s a convenient time to arrange for a replacement system when you’re not using either your AC or your heating system.
We’re in the middle of a severe heat wave in the Northeast of the US, with record-breaking temperatures and heat advisory warnings. This is a time when you’ll be glad to have a working central air conditioning system in your home. It can literally be a lifesaver.
Yet the extreme heat can also expose an air conditioner that can’t keep pace with demands. Is it just because the heatwave is more than the air conditioner was designed to take? That’s unlikely. If your AC was accurately sized for your house when it was installed (and we’ll talk more about that below), it should still manage a comfortable temperature indoors even with 100°F heat outside. It will need to run for longer to maintain comfort, but it should be capable of delivering.
A central air conditioning system that starts to fail in September. That’s almost the textbook definition of a problem you can “put off.” Or one you think you can put off.
But procrastination is rarely a virtue, and in this case, delaying doing something about an AC that’s on the way out can create serious problems. When it comes to your home comfort, it’s always best to act fast, whether you need an air conditioning repair in Dover or it’s time to have the full system replaced.
We’ll go into more detail about why rapid response AC replacement is always best, no matter the month.
Have you ever wondered how cold you could make your house using the AC? The thermostat has a lowest setting of 60°F (sometimes 65°F), but if it weren’t for that, is it possible for the air conditioner to put out enough cool air to get your house down to something like the inside of a refrigerator?
You can probably already guess the answer is no. You wouldn’t want it that cold, and the air conditioner must have some limit at which it couldn’t get the house any cooler. But what is that limit?
We’re going to explain the cooling limitations of your air conditioning in Smyrna in this post. It’s more than trivia: it can help you with setting the best temperature on the thermostat during hotter days to help your AC run with few problems.
You’ve come to the end of regular air conditioning maintenance and AC repair in Delaware for your home comfort system. The air conditioner is at the close of its service life and it’s time to schedule a replacement. All ACs eventually get there—the important part is deciding what to replace yours with.
“Well, that’s easy,” you say. “Another central air conditioner!”
Of course, that is one option, and it may be the best option. But it isn’t the only one. You might want to consider a heat pump. For homeowners exploring their options, this breakdown of whether ductless AC is worth it can also be helpful, especially if you’re seeking flexible and efficient alternatives.
You should consider heat pump repair if the system is under 10 years old, has minor issues, or the repair cost is low. However, if your heat pump is over 10–15 years old, frequently breaks down, or has rising energy bills, replacement may be the more cost-effective choice.
If you remembered to have your annual spring air conditioning tune-up in Maryland, you probably had a problem-free summer of cooling. That’s what these regular maintenance visits are designed to do: prevent repairs from cropping up, stop abrupt breakdowns, and keep the AC from becoming more expensive to operate.
Before your air conditioning system goes off for a few months, it’s a good time to analyze its performance during the previous season and look forward to the future. And the future may be a new air conditioning system installation.
If you’re asking yourself about whether a repair for your faulty HVAC system is too costly, it’s either because a) your heater is starting to fail at the end of the season after a long winter, or b) you’re concerned about your old air conditioning system and if it will manage the coming summer weather. In some cases, it may be time to replace your HVAC system with a more efficient heat pump setup.
In either case, you’re already asking the right question. Repairs for an HVAC system early on in its service life are usually worth the price, and many will fall under the warranty. With older systems that are out of warranty, price becomes a bigger concern. The cost to fix an older AC, furnace, boiler, or heat pump is often steeper, and you may be on the edge of purchasing a new system. Is the cost of a repair worthwhile, or is the repair too expensive and it’s finally time for a replacement system?
As the summer starts, you may have concerns about the performance of your air conditioning system and whether it’s better to have a new one installed this year. You may have noticed the AC didn’t work as well as you wanted last summer, or perhaps you think that the unit is old enough that continuing with repairs will be a bigger money drain.
We’re glad you’re turning over these ideas in your head, because it shows you’re paying attention to your home’s air conditioning in Dover, DE. It’s smart to keep a watch on an air conditioner so you can have problems dealt with before they become even bigger problems—such as an emergency breakdown during one of the hottest days of the summer.
The best way to answer the question in the title is to call our professionals to consult with them about your AC’s future. Below we’ve given you some of the major warning signs of an AC ready to retire so you’ll have a better idea of what job you’ll need our technicians to do.
We’ve come to the end of air conditioning season, as temperatures fall and heating system take over the responsibility of keeping your home comfortable. That makes now an excellent time to evaluate the state of an older air conditioner, especially if it needs repairs or is suffering from similar problems. With air conditioning no longer needed for several months, you can decide if your existing system can continue with a repair job, or if you need to talk about replacement.
