Using an appliance until it reaches the end of its useful lifespan can sometimes be a frugal decision. But for air conditioners, years of use don’t end up saving you money. Instead, they often end up costing you more in the long run. Even if your old air conditioner seems to be working very well, if it’s over 10 years old, it’s likely losing its ability to function efficiently. This can affect you in ways that you might not notice at first. But over time, the changes become too obvious to ignore. At that point, it may be time to start considering replacement.
Old ACs Don’t Cool as Well
Old air conditioners gradually stop cooling as well as they once did. Even with great maintenance, the parts themselves simply deteriorate with age. You may notice that the temperatures in different rooms become more unstable.
If you find yourself adjusting the thermostat more and more throughout the day, that’s a sign that the system isn’t working as well. Yes, it’s possible that your home has a draft somewhere. But if you’ve eliminated that possibility, the next most likely culprit is the system’s inefficiency.
Your Bills Go Up
As air conditioners get older, they often have to work harder to cool your home. That means drawing more power, which in turn makes your bills go up.
There’s also the fact that old air conditioners were built to meet an older standard of efficiency. Air conditioners are measured using Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio 2 (SEER 2). Older air conditioners that were made to meet an older, less-efficient standard are inherently less efficient than anything built to more recent standards.
By replacing older air conditioners with newer ones, you get not only newer parts that work better but also a system that meets a higher efficiency standard. Assuming your air conditioner use remains the same, that new system could significantly lower your monthly energy bills. You may also notice that the new one is quieter.
Your Home Feels More Humid
Air conditioners draw moisture out of the warm air that they’re cooling. If an air conditioner stops working so well, it may also stop drawing out as much moisture. The air in your home could feel more humid in addition to feeling warmer.
Of course, that will lead you to turn down the thermostat, which will make the system work harder. Then your bill for the month will go up, and so on. Replacing the old system with a new air conditioner should solve these issues.
While using older appliances for a long time can often be a good way to save money, you aren’t doing your budget any favors by sticking with an old air conditioner. For expert AC installation in Skippack, PA, contact Marshall Services!