Summers have been hectic for your AC units.
For the past several months, and years before, the “solar-mighty Sun” has been chugging heatwaves at us, and our beloved cooling friend.
Add to this the various atmospheric inversions that raptly amplified the summer heat and turned the already blazing summer scorching — and we can just imagine what those cooling coils, compressor, fan motor, and other electro-mechanical parts of the AC unit must be buzzing to one another.
Given that your air conditioner has borne your home through many raids of these scorching summers, and has let its equipment toast throughout the day and then cool at night for “only-you-know” how many years, it might be time to replace it.
RIP our friend, may you get recycled and become a part of some other lovable cause.
How can you tell if it is the Right Time?
Now don’t get gloomy, we never said it is time to bring in the new one right away!
What Your AC Unit Does — a Tribute
Your air conditioner inhales the atmospheric air, filters it of particulate matter, allergens, and other pollutants; it controls the moisture levels of the air, and conditions it to comfortable thermal levels. This demands a lot of mechanical effort from the fan, the compressor and its coolant, the cooling coils, and the electronics.
By now, your AC may have undergone several maintenance checks where you had its coolants refilled, equipment serviced, and many parts tossed out only to be replaced by better and newer parts.
This may point to the fact that your cooling and conditioning friend may be getting old and inefficient. You know this is true if:
It is more than 10 years old
Newer technology has allowed ACs to increase the SEER value (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating) of your AC unit, and save up to 20% on energy bills. New government energy consumption regulations have already called that air conditioning equipment should earn the ENERGY STAR label. Simply replacing “bits and parts” with newer technology will not bring in the benefits that a “whole” can.
If it Needs Frequent Repairs
Your AC, in the end, is a mechanical unit, and the regular heat build up and dissipation of these mechanical components only decreases the overall cooling and energy efficiency of the equipment. Replacing major components with newer ones only creates a mismatch between efficiency levels of different components — a new compressor cannot overcome the cooling coil working at 50% of its original. The coil, on the other hand, will reduce the working efficiency of the compressor.
Your Score On The HOME ENERGY YARDSTICK (HEY) Is Below Five
Check your HEY score, and if it is low, it means your equipment is guzzling electricity and not delivering.
You Know What To Do…
Does your AC unit need a replacement? Yes? Then stop delaying the inevitable and in the process reduce your irritation with an old friend.
You need the cooling — and if your AC unit is not in proper shape and needs replacing, NOW is always the right time to do it.