Living in Temecula or Murrieta can often mean relying on your home’s HVAC system to stay comfortable during the hot spring and summer months. You count on your air conditioner to keep your home cool and dehumidified, and any disruption to your AC unit can easily lead to your home becoming a hot, muggy mess. While air conditioner repair is generally less expensive than replacement, there are times when you’ll want to get a brand new unit. These are some of the top reasons to replace rather than repair your air conditioner. 

Your AC Unit Uses R-22 Freon As Its Refrigerant

Many older AC units use a chemical compound known as R-22, or freon. Freon is an efficient refrigerant, but it is also a heavy contributor to ozone depletion and climate change. As part of the Montreal Protocol, an international agreement designed to protect the ozone layer, it has become illegal for companies to manufacture substances like R-22. This means that if your AC unit requires R-22 for its refrigerant, you can no longer get replacement parts from an AC repair service. By replacing your old unit with a newer model, you can help contribute to climate preservation efforts and remove an environmentally dangerous compound from your home. 

Your Home’s Size Has Changed

If you’ve recently performed major remodeling on your home, such as adding a room, the size of your AC unit needs to change accordingly. An AC unit that is too small won’t cool your home efficiently and will wear itself out faster by trying to do so. On the other end of the scale, an AC unit that is too large for a home will short-cycle, turning on and off too often and running in irregular intervals. Short-cycling can damage components and end up costing you high AC repair bills. After you’ve finished a remodeling project, check if your AC unit can handle the changes or if you will need to replace it with a more suitable model.

Your AC Unit is More Than 15 Years Old

Like any piece of hardware, AC units have a maximum lifespan. Most AC units will last roughly 10 to 15 years; past that, your unit will break down more often, to the point that replacing it would be less expensive than paying for the constant repairs. A good rule of thumb is that if repairing your current AC unit is 50% or more of the cost of buying a new one, you will probably be better served by purchasing a new unit. This can vary, of course; if your unit only has a few years on it but is suffering from an expensive component defect, it may be better to have it repaired. Consult with a trusted HVAC maintenance service expert like ProFlo to decide which option is most suitable for your situation. 

Whether you need AC repairs or a unit replacement, you can trust the professionals at ProFlo HVAC. As a Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer, we’ve proven our skills at air conditioner maintenance and installation. With over 15 years of experience serving Murrieta, Temecula, and the rest of the Inland Empire, we can perform a wide range of HVAC maintenance and repair tasks, including installing new units. If you’d like to learn more about our AC repair and plumbing services or would like to receive a free quote, call us today at (951) 694-1300.