Questions You Should Ask Before Replacing Your Air Conditioner

Is your current air conditioner nearing the end of its life and refusing to cool properly, even with repairs? Are you currently considering replacing your unit with a newer and more efficient one? Replacing your unit can be an expensive out of pocket cost, but you can reap the benefits in lower cooling and repair bills. However, before you purchase your new unit, there are some things you should ask of your chosen air-conditioner installation company.

Is the duct work good enough for a new unit? Duct work can become loose over time, resulting in cold air leaking into your hot attic or crawlspace. Obviously, you're not going to want to waste money cooling a space that nobody is in. A good air-conditioning services company will check your ducts for potential leaks and other potential issues. These may include ducts that are too small for the house or that contain too many sharp bends, resulting in a loss of airflow. Correcting any problems that are found may seem initially unnecessary but will help keep your utility bills down.

Do any brands offer coupons, rebates, or tax credits? While air conditioners can be expensive, there's no need to pay full price if you don't have to. However, your air conditioning services company may forget to offer you specials if you don't ask. Coupons are immediate discounts, sometimes offered by the manufacturer to get you to try a new brand or model. Rebates are similar but generally require you to mail in a form. Tax credits aren't directly redeemable but will instead allow you to lower your tax bill for a certain number of years to come. With newer units, you may be able to get both a tax credit and a coupon or a rebate.

Will getting a bigger unit cool the house down faster or more efficiently? In general, a larger unit is only going to result in larger utility bills. The two exceptions to this would be either if your home has been expanded since the last air conditioner was installed or if the previous owners chose a smaller unit in an attempt to save money. An air-conditioning services company will run an audit of your home before recommending any one size of air conditioner. It may be that your air conditioner is the perfect size for your home, or you may indeed need a unit that is bigger or smaller. 


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