August in Arizona is no time to replace a central air conditioner.
In November, Shannon noticed her energy bill was higher than usual, even though the weather was cooler than usual. She turned the unit off, then turned it on. It took a while to “power-up,” she thought, and she heard a tiny knocking sound inside the unit. She made a mental note to contact her local central air conditioner company.
Central Air Conditioner Repairs: ‘If You Had Called Sooner…’
Thanksgiving came and went. The winter holidays were busy, and she took a trip to Mexico in January. The kids were involved in so many activities, and… Shannon forgot about her central air conditioner.
Last week the central air conditioner system nosedived while the family was visiting Arizona and the house was full of people. “It was the worst, or so I thought,” she bemoaned. “But the worst was hearing the AC professional tell me this could have been prevented if I’d called in November.”
You Can’t Control the Weather
Weather: It is what it is here in the Phoenix area. Still, you can control your decision-making, and decisions about your central air conditioner are much easier when “cooler heads prevail.” Winter is a good time to weigh the pros and cons of replacing your HVAC (heating, cooling, air conditioning) system or your stand-alone central air conditioner.
Repair or Replace: What to Know
There are many variables to consider when deciding whether to repair or replace your central AC system. The first and most important is the age of your unit. If your system is nearing the end of its lifespan (about 15-20 years), replacement may be your best option.
Newer central air conditioners are more energy-efficient. You’ll want one that has an ENERGY STAR® rating; qualified systems are approximately 15% more efficient, so you will have a measurable ROI (return on investment) with lower monthly AC bills.
Another consideration is the AC unit part that is causing trouble. If it’s a compressor problem and the first repair on a newer unit, replacing the compressor may be a good option.
If the evaporator coil is spent, replacing it is expensive and a bit trickier. You’ve got to be sure to get a perfect match to your condenser or you’ll continue to see:
Excessive strain on your unit, leading to additional repairs and/or a complete breakdown
Higher energy bills
Less cooling
Recurrent repairs
If your HVAC technician suspects there may be safety issues with your current AC unit, don’t take chances. Replace the system.
Replacing Your AC Can Be More Affordable Than You Think
You can find the approximate replacement costs for air conditioning systems’ parts at 6 Signs It’s Time to Replace Your Air Conditioner. After you learn the parts replacement costs, you’ll see why installing a new central air conditioner (costs range from $3,350-$5,912*) is often the best choice.
Phoenix is hardly “SmallTown, USA,” but you can still get high-quality, reputable service from a local air conditioning/plumbing company. Award-winning Forrest Anderson Plumbing & Air Conditioning is committed to Phoenix-area communities and will always deliver the best work and products at affordable prices.
Easy financial solutions are also available for qualified applicants. For commercial and residential central air conditioner solutions, don’t wait.
*This is a national average; prices may vary.
Contact Forrest Anderson Today!