Inconsistent Cooling: A working air conditioner should cool your entire house consistently throughout the day. If you notice that your home does not seem to cool off at certain times of the day (and you did not set your thermostat this way), your AC unit shuts off if it has to work too hard during heatwaves, or your air conditioner has required frequent repairs, you may need to consider replacing it.
Age of Unit: Most air conditioners should last between 10 and 15 years. However, in efforts to combat the toxic effects of the HCFC-22 refrigerant on the environment, the EPA recommends replacing any AC manufactured before 2010. After a decade, air conditioners require more repairs and run less efficiently. The cost of replacing your air conditioner may be a better option than cumulative expenses of repairs and increasing utility bills.
Increasing Repair Costs: As mentioned previously, installing a new, energy-efficient air conditioner may prove to be a more economically sound investment than mounting repair costs. Efficient AC units will also lower your monthly energy bill. If you are trying to decide whether repairing or replacing your AC is the better option, we recommend looking into the cost of a new installation as a basis to compare with repair expenses. Replacing your air conditioner is financially a better option if repairs would cost more than one third of the price of a new installation.