4 Benefits of Upgrading Your Old AC System

Timing the replacement of your air conditioner can be tricky. You’ll want to transition to a new system before your old unit fails completely to avoid being without this important appliance. However, you don’t want to replace it too early, as it might have a few more years left in it. Read on to learn four benefits of upgrading your old AC system.

Lower Utility Bills

When you replace an old AC unit, you’ll likely see a drop in your utility bills because new systems operate with greater energy efficiency. To determine how efficiently an AC system works, review its Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio or SEER. A unit with a higher SEER will offer you greater utility bill savings.

Old systems generally feature a SEER range of 8 to 10, while a new unit can operate as high as 25. Over time, a new system will pay for itself.

Central air conditioners are available as split-system or packaged units. If you go with a split system, your unit will include a compressor, a condenser and an interior cabinet that holds the evaporator. This may also contain the furnace or the interior section of the heat pump.

With a packaged central AC system, the condenser, evaporator and compressor are all in one cabinet. This type of unit is typically installed on your roof or on a concrete patio near the foundation of your home.

Greater Interior Comfort

New technology means that AC systems are able to maintain a consistent temperature throughout your home. New units deliver constant airflow. They also manage your home’s interior humidity levels better.

Central air conditioners run more efficiently than other types of cooling units like window ACs. Along with this, central systems are quiet and easy to operate.

Keep in mind that in the average home that uses air conditioning, the cooling unit eats up more than 2,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually. This causes the need for power companies to produce around 3,500 pounds of carbon dioxide in addition to 31 pounds of sulfur dioxide. You can decrease your carbon footprint with a more efficient system.

More System Options

Modern systems offer you a greater variety of options. For instance, you can get one that features a programmable thermostat to help you manage the interior temperature of your home. You can also upgrade to a system that uses solar energy or geothermal technology.

If you or a family member suffers from allergies, you may want to have a professional HVAC company install an air purifier within your ductwork. This setup cleans the cold air before the system sends it into the rooms of your home.

Air humidifiers are also available. These do a much better job of maintaining the humidity levels inside your home than the portable machines do.

Another increasingly popular option is a ductless mini-split system that allows you to direct cool air to parts of the home that need it and avoid cooling areas that household members rarely use.

New AC Units Operate More Quietly

As an AC unit starts to age, it’ll likely become noisier. It might rattle and shake every time you turn it on to cool your home. A modern system won’t do that. Instead, it’ll hum quietly as it maintains comfortable temperatures inside your home.

When shopping for a new unit, select one that features a thermal expansion valve along with a high-temperature rating that’s above 11.6 to ensure a high level of efficiency. Also, make sure that it has a fan-only switch as well as a variable speed air handler.

When you’re ready to enjoy the benefits of replacing your old AC system, contact Warren-Hay Mechanical. Our service techs will make sure that you purchase a properly sized HVAC unit that will keep your home comfortable year-round.

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