Imagine coming home after a long day at work. You’re looking forward to relaxing on the couch in the comfort of your own home. You walk in the front door and BAM!  You’re slapped in the face by the thick layer of heat that’s been trapped inside your home all day long.

A broken air conditioning unit is the last thing you want to deal with right now. Unfortunately, if your old AC unit isn’t cooling like it used to, it may be time to start looking into getting it professionally repaired or replaced.

But deciding which of the two options is the best choice for you can be difficult. How do you know if your air conditioning system needs a simple repair or needs to be replaced as a whole? There are some ways to tell which is the better option.

Continue reading below to learn how to decide whether you should repair or replace your HVAC unit!

Give Yourself Time

Before making any decisions, you need to give yourself time. Don’t rush to replace your unit. Some companies are only looking to make money off of you and might insist that you purchase a new unit when it’s not necessary.

This is why you don’t want to make any decisions on the spot. You may feel pressured into making a decision right away, but in reality, it’s best to take the time you need to decide which option is right for you. If replacing the unit is suggested to you, then be sure to ask what’s specifically wrong with the unit.

Ask an Unbiased Professional

One great way to ensure that you’re not being pressured into purchasing a new unit for the wrong reasons is to ask an unbiased professional. An unbiased professional will be a company that does both air conditioning repairs and air conditioning replacements.

This way, you won’t have to worry that the company is only trying to say it needs replacement because the company only offers replacements and not repairs. Asking a company that specializes in both is a sure way to get an unbiased opinion about your unit. The company will have your best interest in mind only.

Ask Yourself These Questions

When taking some time to decide which option is best for you, you may want to ask yourself the following questions. These questions will help guide you to know if a repair is the best choice or a replacement. Here’s what you need to know.

How Old Is the Unit?

One of the first questions that you should ask yourself is, “how old is the unit?” Most air conditioners last around 15 to 20 years. This, however, is only an average.  For example, if you live in a big city and have a rooftop unit, then the air conditioner might not last as long. Living in an area where

there’s a lot of pollution can prevent the unit from lasting as long as it would in more ideal conditions.  Yet with the humidity and pollen in the Madison County, AL, we’re in a similar situation.

With that being said, how old is your air conditioner? If your air conditioner is reaching the end of its 15 to 20-year life, then it might be in your best interest to replace rather than repair.

What’s Broken?

Your next step is to decide what’s broken on it. Even some of the seemingly biggest issues can be fixed with ease and for a cheaper price than you might expect. One air conditioning issue that sometimes falls into this category is electrical problems. For instance, a loose connection is a quick fix.

Another common problem is a noisy unit. If your unit is making a lot of noise lately, then there might be an easy fix to that as well. Don’t panic at the first signs of a problem and believe that the entire unit needs replacing.

There are some issues that do require a replacement. For instance, if the compressor or condenser on the unit goes out, then it might be best to replace the unit. This is especially true when dealing with an older one.

Having a professional come out and assess the situation is the best way to determine if the repairs are worth the price or not. Our technicians do not work on commission, so there is no incentive to offer a customer an unnecessary HVAC system repair or replacement.

How’s the Overall Performance?

The last thing you want to take into consideration is the unit’s overall performance. If the unit has been in fine working order but has recently had this one problem start, then you should consider repairing it. When all the other parts of the unit are working as they should and are in good condition, then you won’t want to replace it.

However, if you’ve been having reoccurring issues with the unit for quite some time now, then it might be time to replace it. Think about its overall performance and condition that it’s in before coming to a final decision.

Are You Replacing or Repairing Your HVAC Unit?

If your unit is giving you problems, give is a call at (256) 537-9987.  Here at Air Care Systems, we’re able to help you determine which option is best for your unit.

Click here to see what services we have to offer you!  We’re BBB A+ rated and handle HVAC replacement & repair.  If you have any questions regarding our products or services, be sure to contact us today!