A few months ago, my air conditioner completely died. I woke up in the middle of the night covered in sweat, and I didn't know what to do. The next day, I called an HVAC expert, and they came out to inspect my system. It turned out that it had failed because of filthy filters and a clogged return duct, which made me sick to my stomach. I had caused the problem, and I needed to learn how to fix things. My HVAC professional taught me a few easy maintenance techniques that I didn't know before, so that I could maintain my new system. Check out this blog to learn more about HVAC yourself.
Air conditioners work hard during the summer months to keep your home cool and comfortable. Unfortunately, both minor and severe issues can suddenly occur that make your air conditioner a lot less effective. Whether your unit is blowing out warm air or is freezing over, you'll be faced with the tough question: "Should you replace the unit or repair it?"
If you aren't sure whether you should replace or repair, don't fret. By asking yourself these three questions, you'll be able to make a good decision when it comes to your AC unit:
1. Does It Keep Your Home Comfortable?
One of the easier questions to answer is how comfortable the unit keeps your home. If the unit keeps your home relatively comfortable—and you aren't sweating indoors—you can probably just have your unit repaired or tuned. A good cleaning can make a huge difference, so it might not be worth replacing it.
However, if your unit barely provides any relief from the sweltering temperatures outside, it's probably best to replace it. While repairing it is certainly an option, a unit that doesn't provide any cooling likely has some serious issues. These repairs could be costly, so it might just be more efficient to replace the unit entirely.
2. How Are Your Energy Bills?
Another thing you might want to consider is your energy bill. Inefficient air conditioners can significantly increase your energy—or utility—bills during the summer. If your energy bills don't have a significant difference, repairing your unit is a good option. A quick repair, tuning, and cleaning can make your unit a lot more efficient.
If, however, you've noticed that your energy bill creeps up every year, you might want to replace the unit. Continually rising energy costs during the summer months indicate that your unit just isn't running properly. Plus, if you haven't had it looked at for many years, the chances of a large problem are higher. In this situation, replacing it is good idea.
Additionally, you might want to replace it if your unit is old and outdated; because newer models will be more efficient in both energy usage and cooling.
3. How Many Repairs Has It Had?
Finally, consider how many repairs your unit has had. If your unit has had minimal repairs—or none at all, yet—repairing it is a good idea. Since it hasn't undergone significant repair work, it likely won't cost too much to fix the issue.
However, replacing your unit is a good idea if it has undergone several repairs. This is because constant repairs are time-consuming and costly. Plus, you don't want to throw all of your money at this air conditioner, especially if repeat problems occur. So if you've spent a lot of money on repairs recently, or in the past, definitely consider having it replaced with a new unit.
While it might be difficult to decide when to repair or replace your air conditioner, it doesn't have to be. By asking yourself these questions, you can easily determine whether you want to repair it or replace it. If you are still in doubt, have your unit examined by an HVAC professional. To learn more, visit a website like http://www.capefearair.com.
Share18 July 2016
