An A/C replacement may be one of
the weightier decisions you make as a homeowner since it's a major investment. However, if your system is aging, needs frequent repairs or your energy bills are high, it's worth considering making the move. These tips might help you decide about the replacement.
The system is more than 10 years old. Besides losing efficiency as it ages, if your air conditioner uses R-22 refrigerant and it needs refilling, you may want to replace it. R-22 has been banned, although it's still available for replacement purposes until 2020. Its price is rising each year as the U.S. EPA reduces its supply annually. The replacement, R-410a, is more affordable, efficient and far more environmentally sound.
If your home is too humid in the summer, even though the temperature setting is comfortable, it may need to be replaced. Other symptoms of malfunctioning units are rooms that are uncomfortable or dusty.
You're facing a high repair bill. A compressor failure can be an expensive fix and if your electric bills in the summer seem exceptionally high, it might make sense to put the cost of repair into a new air conditioner that will likely improve the home's resale value down the road.
Both the furnace and air conditioner are old and inefficient. When you have an A/C replacement but not the heating component, you may limit your options because the furnace and the A/C need to be compatible. If both are old, your choices may be narrow.
The system is too large for your home. Air conditioners that are too large run in short cycles, driving up the cost of cooling your home. They also wear out faster. Your HVAC contractor needs to do a load calculation for your home, which will help the tech determine whether your current equipment is the right size. A gas furnace that's too large can be downsized to avoid the short cycle, but an A/C cannot.
To learn more about an A/C replacement, contact P.K. Wadsworth Heating & Cooling. Four generations of the Wadsworth family have been serving homeowners in the greater Cleveland area for more than 77 years. 
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Paul Wadsworth is the President and Owner of P.K. Wadsworth Heating and Cooling. For 37 years, Paul has been providing heating and cooling services to the Greater Cleveland area. P.K. Wadsworth has been a trusted Cleveland HVAC service company for over 75 years. The company understand the area's construction and local heating and air conditioning needs. Paul has an MBA from the University of Michigan and a B.S., Industrial Engineering from Purdue University. Paul is the Chairman of COSE's Energy Advisory Council. He's been President of the Cleveland Air Conditioning Contractors of America and a founding member of the local chapter. Paul was born and raised in Cleveland and has been active in the local community. He resides in Cleveland, Ohio with his wife and two sons.
The opinions and statements contained in this article are for general informational purposes only and are not instructions. Only trained, licensed and experienced personnel should attempt installation/repair. The author assumes no liability for the opinions/statements made in this article. Any individual attempting a repair or installation based on this article does so at their own risk of loss.