Is an Aircon Repair Cost-Effective?
It can get a little tricky when you have a household appliance that is either run-down or busted and you don’t know what to do next. Should you repair it and pay maintenance fees? Or should you replace it with a new one instead? These are the questions that homeowners often ask themselves when they’re faced with an issue regarding their air conditioner system. In order to fully get the answers to these questions, there are some factors that need to be taken into consideration. Read on below to find out if it’s more cost effective to repair or to replace your aircon unit.
Signs your AC needs fixing
You’re only in trouble if you notice that your AC is having issues like not giving you cool air, it makes excessive noise, there’s ice-build up and it ends up leaking water into your room, there are electricity issues when you switch the unit on or off, or if there’s a musty smell and it doesn’t suck out the humidity of the room. If you face any of these issues, call your local aircon professional to determine what needs to be fixed. If you are in Western Australia, give Mouritz a call to get help before things out of hand.
How much would it cost?
That really depends on the kind of issue your AC has. If it needs a good old filter and drain unclogging as well as cleaning the coils that will cost you around $70-$100. Replacing the coils, on the other hand, will cost you around $600-$1,000. If the capacitor that handles the fan motor goes out, that will cost you around $300-$400 and so will fixing a Freon leak. However, it will cost a whopping $2000 if you need to replace your compressor.
Repair VS Renew: Which way should you go?
There are times when fixing it along with the labor fee will match up close to the price of a newer unit, but that’s only if your unit is completely run down and requires a lot of new parts and maintenance. However, there are other situations when a simple aircon repair is all you need to get by; bear in mind that replacing a new AC unit completely will cost you between $6,000 and $10,000 according to the type of unit, brand, size, and horsepower. In order to truly determine whether you should replace or repair, consider the following:
Replace your unit if it’s too old
Everything has a lifespan, even AC units. An average air conditioner can last for about 10-15 years, after that, it will only work the bare minimum which can be quite costly and energy draining.
Use an equation to decide
There’s a simple equation that you can use to determine if you need to replace or repair. When the repairs reach 50% of the value of your AC unit, then it’s time to replace. Calculate it this way: (Cost of repair) X (Age of AC unit) and if it’s more than the cost of a new one, then replacing it is the best way to go. If the (cost of repair) X (age of AC unit) is much lower than a new unit’s price, then you’re better off with just repairing it.
Replace if its losing efficiency
If you notice that your energy bills are getting higher even though your electricity providers haven’t raised their rates, then this is a red flag. It basically means that your unit is trying to keep up and overcompensates by consuming more energy than you actually need. So in that case, replacing it would be ideal.
Benefits of replacing AC units
If you’re forced to replace, try not to worry about the cost of the new one, because you can find a great AC unit with the price as little as $5,000. It may actually work out for the best because newer models are more energy efficient, thus saving you a ton on electricity bills. Their air filtration systems actually work better than the old ones and they provide better warranty deals.
Peace of Mind
Do your research well and consult an aircon professional because the last thing you need is a bad investment decision on your hands. There are so many variable options that help make the decision for you when it comes to repairing your AC unit or replacing it. Be sure you’ve studied your situation well.
