Three questions when considering air conditioning replacement
AC repair or replace, that is the question.
Our staff at Salt Air want to keep you and your family cool throughout the hot, humid, North Carolina summer. When your AC begins to fail, how do you know when it’s time for air conditioning replacement? Sometimes a simple service, like adding refrigerant, will do the trick. Here are three questions to ask yourself before replacing your central air conditioning unit.
1. How old is your air conditioner?
What’s the average lifespan of an air conditioning unit? We have found it to be between 14 and 16 years. Depending on the cost of the AC repair, you may consider a replacement if your unit is over 12 years old. There are exceptions to this rule, however. For instance question number two, below.
2. Do you live on the beach?
In coastal North Carolina, salt in the air can wreak havoc on central air units. This is prevalent in beach communities like Topsail Island, Wrightsville Beach, and Carolina Beach. Many components in air conditioner units are made from aluminum. Once the coils inside begin to break down and corrode it will not perform efficiently, and replacement may be your only option.
You can take steps to slow down air conditioner corrosion:
- Hose down your A.C. unit weekly.
- Apply a product like Coil Shield.
- If you’re beachfront, building a barrier around the unit will protect it from storm gusts. But care needs to be taken to let the unit breathe to operate properly.
3. Do you have to keep adding coolant, or make AC repairs?
A coolant refreshment can quickly amp up your air conditioner. This might be a great option for a sluggish A.C. unit. However, sometimes it’s an indication of a larger issue, like a Freon leak. Finding and fixing the leak, then adding a full tank of refrigerant can become costly. Taking into account the age of the unit, it may be more cost-effective to replace.
These questions should help you decide if you will need an AC repair or air conditioning replacement. We are happy to help you through this sometimes complicated question.
