Having a reliable air conditioner in Clearwater, FL is about far more than comfort. With temperatures in the 90s and consistently high humidity, your cooling system keeps your living space healthy, safe, and habitable throughout the summer. It also protects your furnishings, floors, and personal items from moisture damage. If your AC is getting old, the following eight signs indicate that now is the time to replace it.
1. Advanced Age
In a climate like Clearwater’s, residential ACs have an average lifespan of 10 to 15 years. If your air conditioner has already provided a decade of service and if it’s showing signs of significant wear, you should prepare for replacement now. While your current cooling equipment might last another cooling season, getting your budget ready will ensure that you aren’t caught off guard by age-related breakdowns in the future.
2. Excessive Repair Costs
Most HVAC companies recommend replacing air conditioners when the costs of repairing them exceed 50% of their estimated replacement costs. The most common and expensive repairs among aging ACs include:
- Evaporator and condenser coil replacement
- Compressor replacement
- Air handler replacement
- Major refrigerant leaks
If your AC is on the fritz and you’re facing a hefty repair bill, ask our technicians to help you with cost comparisons.
3. Incorrect Sizing
If you’ve had your air conditioner for more than 15 years, there’s a good chance that it’s no longer the right size for your home even if it worked well in the past. When sizing ACs, we use the Manual J Load Calculation. The Manual J accounts for building layouts, window sizes, the number of building residents, and many other factors. With nearly two decades having passed since your AC’s installation, you may have had significant changes in your household or home that require either more or less cooling power than you’re getting. Upgrading to a new AC that reflects your most current needs for cooling capacity will lower your home energy bills and improve your comfort.
4. Outdated Refrigerant
Air conditioners manufactured before 2010 use R-22 refrigerant. Also known as Freon, R-22 is obsolete. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) implemented a 10-year phase-out of Freon and officially outlawed it for importation and domestic production in 2020. As a result, getting Freon recharge service for an older AC now is incredibly costly. Paying for a new AC might be both more affordable and more convenient than having your AC’s Freon recharged.
The EPA is also phasing out Freon’s replacement. If you have an older AC that uses R-401A or Puron, you’re missing out on the increased efficiency, greater safety, and other benefits supplied by next-generation A2L refrigerants. AC replacement could be the best choice if your older Puron-reliant AC has other age-related concerns.
5. Soaring Energy Bills
Many air conditioners lose up to half of their efficiency after just 10 years. Worse still, these efficiency losses remain progressive until old air conditioners reach the end of their lifespans. If the costs of cooling your home and keeping it cool are overwhelming, you can relieve your seasonal stress by scheduling an AC replacement.
6. Loud Operation
Loud shrieking, clanging, and banging sounds often indicate AC problems. More often than not, you can get rid of these noises by having an older AC tuned up or repaired. However, if your older air conditioner is in good working order but still noisy, you can enjoy deep and restful sleep, listen to the radio at a reasonable volume, and hold quiet indoor conversations with a new AC. Many new air conditioners offer whisper-quiet operation.
7. Persistent Indoor Air Quality Problems
With new air conditioners, routine filter changes and regular tune-up services protect indoor air quality (IAQ). If you struggle with persistent humidity problems, foul odors during operation, and unpleasant IAQ-related symptoms, your older AC may be harboring dirt, dust, and other allergens and contaminants. For those with old cooling equipment, the first and most important step in improving IAQ is often replacing air conditioners.
8. Shoddy Performance
Insufficient cooling and poor humidity control are among the most obvious signs that an air conditioner has reached its end. If your home feels clammy, muggy, or oppressively hot while your older AC is running, you need a new one.
Residents of Clearwater and the surrounding cities can count on Poulin Cooling to optimize their home comfort. We provide top-notch AC installation, maintenance, and repair services. We also offer a fantastic selection of feature-rich AC models.
We’re a family-owned business with over 150 years of combined industry experience. To schedule AC replacement in Clearwater, get in touch with Poulin Cooling today!
