Anyone who lives in a place where the summer days tend to be long, humid, and hot is bound to understand the importance of having a good air conditioning system. These days, a trend among homeowners has been to upgrade their cooling systems to central air when possible, and houses on the market that happen to already come equipped with central air conditioning tend to be much more appealing to buyers than homes without such systems in place. Central air conditioning systems work by circulating cool air throughout the home via a system of supply and return ducts. Central air conditioning systems are able to cool large areas or multiple rooms within a house, whereas individual room units are only able to cool the specific rooms in which they are stored.
Plenty of benefits are associated with central air conditioning. For starters, central air systems operate far more efficiently than individual air conditioning units; for homeowners, this often translates into an overall reduction in energy costs come the end of the cooling season. Central air conditioning systems are also a lot quieter than most room air conditioners. And since central air is delivered via an internal duct system, the presence of unsightly window or wall units is thankfully avoided.
While central air conditioning systems are certainly a worthwhile investment, they can also be rather costly to purchase and install. For this reason, many people tend to go out of their way to hang onto their central air units for as long as possible – even when it’s clear that the systems are on their way out. The question is: How can a homeowner know when to repair his central air conditioning, or just bite the bullet and replace it entirely?
Walter Tulecki is the owner of WT Mechanical, a company that has been catering to all of Central New Jersey’s plumbing, heating, and cooling needs for the past 15 years, and according to him, such decisions should be made based on age and price. Most central air conditioning systems are designed to last up to 15 years. If a system has been in operation for well over a decade and seems to be running into more and more problems as the years go by, then it might make more sense to replace it in its entirety. However, if a seven-year old system needs work, then as long as the repair costs aren’t astronomical, it makes more sense to go that route since the system will likely last additional years. On the other hand, if the cost of repairing a seven-year old system is such that it wouldn’t take that much more money to have a completely new system installed, then it makes far more sense to replace it.
Most central air conditioning systems do come with built-in warranties; however, homeowners should read the terms carefully before making decisions regarding repairs. In many cases, a system will come with a five- or 10-year warranty on parts, but only a one-year warranty on labor. In such situations, a person whose compressor goes after seven years might not have to pay for the new part, but he will have to pay for the labor associated with its replacement.
So is there a way for a homeowner to extend the lifespan of his central air conditioning? According to Tulecki, the simple act of checking the air filters regularly and replacing them when necessary can help make the system last longer. Additionally, this simple method of maintenance can allow the system to function more efficiently, thereby saving the homeowner plenty of money in energy costs over time. However, there is unfortunately no good way to actually prevent a central air conditioning system from breaking. As is the case with anything man-made, central air systems are constructed as such that they are eventually bound to stop working over time. Also, contrary to what some might think, there is no such thing as “overusing” a central air system and thereby causing it to break; homeowners who invest in central air conditioning should feel free to use it as often as they please, provided that they are willing to maintain it and cover the cost of the related cooling bills.
When it comes to home-related investments, it’s not always easy to cut one’s losses and say goodbye. However, if a central air conditioning system has neared the end of its lifespan, and the cost of repair is high when compared to the number of good years the system has left, then it makes the most sense to bid adieu to the old system and replace it with one that is brand new.
