Are you concerned that your central air conditioning unit or heat pump won’t last another season? Are you not quite ready for replacement, and will do so only if it is absolutely necessary? The line between HVAC repair and replacement is not always as clear as we would like it to be. What may seem like a relatively minor issue to you may be a major one to a trained technician, and vice-versa. But fortunately, we are here to guide you every step of the way with our Los Angeles AC repair or replacement services. We can help you weigh the various factors, taking your budget as well as the status of your heating and cooling system into account.
Don’t know whether to repair or replace your air conditioning system or heater? If your AC is over 10 years old and needs a repair over $600, a replacement may be your best option. Call Pacific Coast Today!
How You Know You’re Ready for Replacement
In our experience as a leading HVAC Contractor in the greater Los Angeles area for years, there are several signs that commonly indicate a need for replacement over repair. Let’s take a look at some of them:
- Your AC is older than 10 years. While air conditioners that last longer than decade are not unheard of, chances are that yours will not work that well past the 10-year mark. It’s often around that time that the system encounters problems that are not so easily fixed, at least not without significant investment. Although it can be fixed an older air conditioner can use more energy than a newer one, much like a brand new car that gives you high miles per gallon when new when a car gets older its MPG goes lower.
- Repairs, repairs, and more repairs. You shouldn’t have to stand for constant expenditures just to keep your AC running. However, that is often what happens considering how much we run our air conditioners here in Los Angeles. That being said, there will come a time when enough is enough, and you’re better off investing that money into a new AC instead of your current (old and obsolete) model.
- High cost of cooling. Yes, we all expect to pay more every summer to deal with the heat and humidity, but if you suspect that your electric bills are higher than most, or they seem to have spiked from one month to the next, then you may want to consider replacement rather than repair. Considering that your AC bill accounts for up to 50% of your utility bills each month, that’s money well saved. A newly installed system may save you up to 40%.
Thermostat Replacement
Upgrading to a more energy efficient air conditioning system will involve making other smaller changes in the home to optimize the savings you’ll get in energy costs. Choosing to install programmable thermostats to work with your new system is one way to do this. In fact, any digital thermostat will provide more accurate temperature control, and they are easy to operate.
Installing a programmable thermostat allows you to program different temperature settings throughout the day so that you aren’t using more energy than you need. This will help cut down on your utility bills, and there are many models to choose from, including wireless options with advanced settings. Even if you aren’t ready to replace your air conditioning system, our Los Angeles HVAC technicians can install a new thermostat for you to help lower your energy use.