If your Florida air conditioner is not working properly or not working at all, you typically have two options. You can either repair it or replace it. But how do you know which option is the best for you and your air conditioner? Here are some criteria to consider:
1. The age of your current unit
The estimated life expectancy of an HVAC unit in Florida is said to be between 5-12 years, depending on how well it is maintained over the years. If your current unit is only five years old or less, it is probably much more cost efficient to simply have it repaired.
If, however, your unit is over ten years old, it might be time to start considering a replacement, instead of a repair.
You can quickly determine whether or not it will be worth your time to repair your unit using the 5,000 rule. If the cost of repair your unit is more than $5,000, it is probably going to be more cost effective to replace the entire unit.
2. The energy efficiency of your unit
A brand new unit will be much more energy efficient than a unit that is fifteen years old, for example. This could make it much cheaper, in the long run, to replace your unit, rather than just paying to continue to repair it and paying for the higher electricity bills to run it each month.
3. The frequency of recent repairs
If you are having a technician come out twice a season to make even small repairs, your current unit might be more trouble than it’s worth.
If you are spending more than $5,000 a season just to keep your current unit running, it might be worth your money just to replace it with a unit that just needs regular HVAC maintenance, instead of expensive repairs every single season you want to use it.
The best way to know if you need to replace or just repair a unit? Call an experienced AC technician out to evaluate your air conditioner!
