If you’ve been considering purchasing a new air conditioner or heat pump soon, you may have heard some news about price increases. This is true, and very worth paying attention to. The US Department of Energy is implementing a change as of January 1, 2023 that will require higher SEER ratings–SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio and is the measurement of how well an air conditioner or heat pump utilizes energy.
This “M 1 SEER2” update is good news for customers looking to improve their home’s energy efficiency and lower their utility bills over time, but it also means that equipment is going to be much more expensive. In fact, combined with the equipment supply chain restrictions we’re still dealing with, prices are expected to increase by, at minimum, 50%. So what does this mean for you? It means that yes, now is the best time for AC replacement! You can stop searching online for “AC replacement near me” and instead give our Brunswick area professionals a call. In the meantime, read on to learn what other evidence might indicate it’s time for an AC replacement.
It Might Be Time to Upgrade Your Air Conditioner If…
Your air conditioner is old. Did you know that the average useful service life of an air conditioning system or heat pump is 10-15 years? Beyond this point, your system simply cannot work as efficiently as it once did, will have more frequent repair needs, and has a higher risk of suddenly breaking down on you. Given the equipment shortages that our industry is anticipating, these are not problems you want to deal with. Your air conditioner needs repairs 2-3 times a year. Wear and tear is perfectly natural for your air conditioner or heat pump system. For example, you are going to need a capacitor replaced here and there, or you may need a motor bearing to be lubricated. But if you find the rate of repairs increasing from once every couple of years to a couple of times in a year, then it’s probably safe to say it’s time to consider replacement.
A good rule of thumb to go by is if your next repair or set of AC repairs is going to cost over half of what the system is worth, it makes more financial sense to replace the system altogether. You haven’t stayed up-to-date on maintenance. Did you know that the average air conditioner needs professional maintenance once a year? A heat pump system should be professionally tuned-up every 6 months! Maintenance helps reduce repair costs by as much as 85%, helps the system retain up to 95% of its original efficiency rating, and will help your air conditioner or heat pump last as long as possible. But remember, even a well-maintained system has its limitations, and if your system is in fact 10-15 years old or even older, you really will benefit from taking action now and upgrading your air conditioner!
Ask About Our Financing Options
Your HVAC system is a huge investment and starting in January 2023, it’s going to be an even bigger one. We understand this, and we believe that all of our customers deserve the best in comfort. This is why we provide a couple of different financing options. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions you might have!
Contact HendrixAir, Inc. to schedule your AC replacement service or to learn more about the SEER2 changes.