As summer approaches in Oakville, you may be turning on your air conditioning unit to test it out to ensure it’s ready for the summer heat. You hit the switch on your thermostat to turn the air conditioning on, and nothing happens. It doesn’t turn on, and no cold air is coming out of the floor vents. So the unit is broken, and you know you need to call a repair person to come out and take a look. The diagnosis may leave you wondering: do you repair the unit or replace it? Here are a few things you may want to consider before making your decision.
When you want to consider repairing
It may not be well known, but there is a surprisingly simple formula used in the HVAC industry to figure out if the unit is worth repairing or not.
You will take the cost of the repair (or estimate) that the unit will need to make it work and multiply it by the age of the unit. If the result you get is more than $5,000 (which is the approximate cost of a new unit), then you will likely consider buying a new one and not doing the repair.
There are two exceptions to this calculation: if the unit is less than 5 years old or if you find yourself doing the same repair year after year on the unit. In the first scenario, where it’s less than 5 years old, repairing it may be worth it since the unit is barely used.
On the other hand, if you find that you are doing the same repair every year, you may want to consider replacing the unit, as this will likely continue to be a problem for the foreseeable future.
Consider the age of the unit.
Even if you haven’t had to do massive repairs on the unit, keeping the age of your air conditioner in mind can be helpful to know when it’s time to replace it. Some HVAC professionals recommend considering replacing the unit when it hits 10 or 15 years old.
Newer units, with today’s technologies, are more efficient and can drastically increase the air quality of the air you breathe in your home. So even if there isn’t anything wrong with the air conditioning in your Oakville home, upgrading for the efficiencies of a new unit may be worth the amount you’ll save on your energy bills.
Furthermore, the parts in older units may become harder to obtain and more expensive as time passes. So even for the upkeep factor, consider replacing the unit as it ages.
Repairs vs. regular maintenance.
Every air conditioning unit will require regular – probably annual – maintenance to ensure it’s running at its best and that there aren’t any noticeable issues that could be fixed before turning into big problems.
Contact McKenna Plumbing today.
Did you know that A McKenna Plumbing offers HVAC services in Oakville and surrounding areas? Call us today if it’s time for your annual AC inspection or if you are having issues with your unit. Let us help you determine if it’s worth the repair or if it is time to replace the unit.