As much as we love to bring you the ultimate in comfort and efficiency, especially during the sweltering heat of summer, there are times when our technicians have to be the bearers of bad news. It’s inevitable that at some point you’ll have to choose between an expensive repair or full replacement of your unit. This dilemma ushers forth a myriad of secondary questions, including:
- What kind of extended life can you expect if you do the repair?
- Is something new going to go wrong next week or month?
- Are you throwing money into a unit that will continue to falter?
- Or will the fix give you another 5 years of cooling?
You’d practically need a crystal ball to answer all the questions that pop up nearly immediately upon hearing a repair quote. Luckily, we have a handy rule of thumb for situations like these. It’s called the 5,000 Rule, and it’s an easy and pain free way to get some real direction towards what decision to make.
To employ the 5,000 Rule, simply take the age of the unit and multiply it by the estimated cost of the repair. (If you don’t know the age of the AC unit, check the manufacturer’s nameplate which is located on the condenser box outside your house.) If the number is less than 5,000, it probably makes good sense to do the repair. If it’s over 5,000, it’s probably time to seriously consider a replacement.
Ex: Your AC unit is 10 years old, and the cost of the repair is estimated to be $400. 10×400= 4,000, so it likely makes the most sense to proceed with a repair.
Outside of the 5,000 Rule, there are other considerations that are unique to each homeowner, including the SEER Rating of your unit. The SEER Rating is the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio and is formulated by the system’s total cooling output compared to total energy consumed. It allows for apples to apples comparison of air conditioning models. If the SEER rating of your unit is a 10 and you can upgrade to a 16, for instance, you’ll end up saving some money on your utility bills each month (and you’ll be helping the environment, too). Currently the minimum SEER Rating for a newly installed unit in Indiana is a 13.
An additional consideration to keep in mind is the refrigeration type used in your current unit. Federal mandates have discontinued the once standard R-22 coolant, and that can have a real impact on the cost of future repairs.
The nice thing about calling Appel is that our experienced service professionals are adept at taking you through the pros and cons and helping you reach the right decision for your home. Top that kind of customer service with our incredible specials and financing, and you will find yourself with an excellent solution.