If you’re having troubles with your HVAC system, the question of whether to repair or replace your air conditioning is one that has confused many homeowners over the years. Repairs require less in the way of up-front costs, but they can really add up over the long run; an outright system replacement may require a greater initial investment, but could save you money down the road.
When should you start to think about replacing your system? Give it some hard thought if you notice the following:
- Your energy bills are rising compared to other summers, despite similar air conditioner usage and power costs
- Your home doesn’t get as cool as you would like it to be
- Certain areas of your home are cooler than others
- You need to make frequent repairs to your air conditioning
- Banging, clanging or grinding sounds are coming from your air conditioner
- Your air conditioner is more than 10 years old
Sit down and crunch the numbers to ensure you’re making the right financial decision. Get repair estimates for your old system, and use those as a springboard for weighing repair costs against replacement costs.
Remember that today’s air conditioners are much more energy efficient than those made even 10 years ago, so you’re not only going to save money on repair costs, but a new unit will also send your energy bills downward. Finally, you should also consider the frequency with which you use your air conditioning. If it’s used only occasionally, then repairing it might make more financial sense in the short term. However, if you use it frequently, it’s likely that the continued strain will end up wearing down the last of its life sooner rather than later.
At Ace Hardware Home Services, Inc., we pride ourselves on the service we provide homeowners in the area of Dayton, Ohio. We’ll be happy to help you weigh the merits of repairing or replacing your current HVAC equipment.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information, click here to download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Ace Hardware Home Services services the Ohio’s Miami Valley. To get started, check out our website or request an appointment.
