AC Maintenance Can Help You Settle the “Repair or Replace?” Question

When spring starts, we recommend you evaluate the performance of your home air conditioning system over the previous year. Any type of central air conditioning system has a limited service life. No matter how well the AC is cared for, a time will come when continuing with repairs isn’t the best idea and the AC needs to be replaced.

Sometimes it’s easy to decide when to replace an air conditioner. If a central cooling system fails entirely and is beyond what any repair could reasonably fix, that’s a clear-cut sign it’s time for new system. But this extreme situation is rare, and you want to avoid it if at all possible by replacing the air conditioner before reaching this point. On the other hand, you don’t want to choose to pay for a replacement if less expensive repairs will keep the AC going effectively for a few more years.

If you’re currently in a bind about “repair vs. replace” for your air conditioner, we recommend calling professionals for spring AC maintenance. You should always schedule maintenance for your air conditioning system before the summer weather—and in this case you can ask your maintenance tech important questions about replacement.

“Is this air conditioner too old?”

This is one of the big questions to ask the HVAC technician during maintenance. Central air conditioners can usually last between 10 to 15 years, with warranties usually covering 10 years. If the AC is out of warranty, deciding on whether to keep on with repairs or pay for a replacement becomes an important choice. Experienced HVAC technicians know all types and models of AC and can analyze your system to make a judgment about whether it’s “too old.”

“How much will repairs cost?”

You should always ask for an estimate on repair costs. In most cases, the technician will provide an estimate for you if they believe the repairs are necessary. You then have to decide if the cost is too high to make it worthwhile. The technician can provide you with advice about this as well. A number of factors come into play when weighing the cost of AC repairs. Any repair that would cost more than half of the price of a new system installation is usually too much. There’s also the “Rule of 5000,” which states that a repair is too expensive when the repair price multiplied by the age of the AC is higher than 5,000. There are always exceptions, and a maintenance technician will be glad to explain them.

“How much will a new system cost?”

There’s no single model for a replacement air conditioner. You may want to go with a high-efficiency AC, which will cost more to install but reward you with energy savings. The technician can offer you different options and how much they’ll save you on average over the years so you’ll be able to make an informed choice.

When you schedule air conditioning maintenance in Concord, MA with our professionals, we’ll send over a great technician to give you honest advice about the future of your home cooling.

Sign up for our Ultimate Service Agreement to schedule your spring AC maintenance. Basnett Plumbing, Heating & AC has been trusted for over 30 years.