{"id":1486,"date":"2024-06-24T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-06-24T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jnaonline.com\/blog\/?p=1486"},"modified":"2026-06-25T11:38:55","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T15:38:55","slug":"your-old-air-conditioner-repair-or-replace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jnaonline.com\/blog\/air-conditioning-service\/your-old-air-conditioner-repair-or-replace\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Old Air Conditioner: Repair or Replace?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"an-old-AC-unit-in-need-of-replacing\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

When your air conditioner<\/a> reaches the end of its life, you will be dealing with the cost and the logistical planning of purchasing a new system and having it installed. And that’s not something you want to do before it’s necessary. But you also don’t want to wait too long. Waiting could leave you in the middle of a heat wave with a dead air conditioner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the right time to replace your air conditioner? Is there a point after which it\u2019s simply not worth repairing an old air conditioner? Well, it\u2019s a little more complex than a straightforward timeline. Here are the things to keep in mind as you\u2019re deciding whether to repair or replace your old air conditioner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

How Old Is Your Air Conditioner?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A ten-year-old air conditioner is getting on in years. But it might still have two or even three more summers before it can\u2019t keep going. On the other hand, sometimes an air conditioner has experienced so much wear and tear by six or seven years that it isn\u2019t worth investing much more money into. How can you tell which is the case for your air conditioner?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Has Your Air Conditioner Been Properly Maintained?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Annual maintenance is simply a necessity for an air conditioner. A professional technician will clean the entire system, lubricate moving parts, check every component for problems or damage, and test all the electrical parts. When this is done consistently, wear and tear on the air conditioner will be minimized. This helps the air conditioner to age more slowly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does Your Air Conditioner Need Repairs Right Now?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps you\u2019re just vaguely concerned about the age of your air conditioner. But if you have a pressing problem that requires repair, you really need to decide if the repair is worth investing in. Get an estimate of what that repair will cost. Is it a lot? Some people say you should only have an air conditioner repaired if the expense will be less than half of what it would cost to replace the system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does Your Air Conditioner Need Frequent Repairs?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Even if the repair you currently need won\u2019t break the bank, or cost more than half of a new air conditioner\u2019s pricetag, it might not be worth it. Even minor, inexpensive repairs add up in cost. And if your air conditioner requires repair every year, or is requiring repair more and more often, this trend will only continue as it gets older.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is Your Old Air Conditioner Driving Up Energy Costs?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Maintenance will help to counteract the wear and tear that makes an air conditioner lose efficiency. But there will come a day when that simply isn’t enough. Your air conditioner will use more and more energy, driving up your utility bill and raising costs, so regular upkeep remains important to preserve energy efficiency and keep the ac system running efficiently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The other thing to consider is that central air replacement options now include split systems, which are the most common residential setup among central air systems; a split central air unit uses an indoor evaporator coil mounted on the furnace or air handler and an outdoor condenser, with refrigerant lines connecting the two units during installation. Packaged systems combine all components into a single outdoor unit, while ductless mini-split systems can be a good fit for older homes without ductwork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Air-source heat pumps can provide both heating and cooling<\/a>, and geothermal heat pumps offer high efficiency in extreme temperatures as part of an HVAC system. Even when it was new, it used a lot more electricity than the systems being manufactured today, and central air conditioning equipment with high SEER and SEER2 ratings can save up to 40% on electricity costs; a SEER rating of at least 13 is federally required, Midwest systems should generally meet 14 to 15, and in humid climates higher efficiency systems with SEER2 ratings around 14\u201316+ are typically preferred. Because Illinois has humid summers and very cold winters, important factors like sizing and performance matter when installing central air. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Manual J<\/a> load calculation, or manual j load calculation, determines the correct central ac size, and central AC units are rated by tonnage and British thermal units, with one ton equal to 12,000 BTUs and estimates often starting around 20 BTUs per square foot based on the home’s size.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An oversized new ac unit can cause humidity issues and premature failure, so proper sizing is the best way to cool the house and each room. Existing ductwork and existing ducts should be inspected for leaks before installation. If there are no ducts, duct installation with new ductwork may be needed, and all duct joints should be sealed with mastic tape because leaks can cut efficiency by up to 30%. Choosing AC replacement in Joliet, IL<\/a> could mean lowering your bills and doing Mother Nature a kindness by using less energy. Central AC installation costs commonly range from $6,000 to $11,500, with professional installation often accounting for $500 to $2,500 in additional expenses and affecting the total cost. A pre-installation evaluation usually costs $300 to $900, and replacement work typically takes 4 to 8 hours once work begins. New central AC installation requires permits and inspections in Joliet and units must comply with local HVAC codes during the process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The outdoor unit should have enough space and access for service, sit on a stable level concrete pad, be placed in a shaded area when possible, maintain at least 2 to 3 feet of clearance for efficient airflow, and be positioned to reduce noise and heat issues. It also makes sense to consider indoor air quality add-ons such as dehumidifiers during installation, since proper commissioning by a top-tier installer supports humidity control and long-term performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you still aren’t sure which is the right choice, work with a licensed HVAC contractor<\/a> or air conditioning contractors familiar with local codes, permits, the factors that affect sizing, and the right central ac unit for your home; replacement is also a long-term investment in comfort, indoor air quality, and lower utility bills for the house, and a qualified contractor can help you compare central air, central ac, and other installation options with confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Frequently Asked Questions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Question: Should I repair or replace my old air conditioner?<\/strong>
<\/strong>Answer:<\/strong> The best choice depends on the unit\u2019s age, maintenance history, current repair cost, and how often it breaks down. A well-maintained 10-year-old system may still have life left, but frequent repairs, poor efficiency, or a major repair bill can make replacement the smarter investment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Question: How old is too old for an air conditioner?<\/strong>
<\/strong>Answer:<\/strong> A 10-year-old air conditioner is considered older, but age alone does not mean it must be replaced. Some systems can last a few more summers with consistent maintenance, while units with heavy wear, neglected service, or recurring problems may not be worth continued repairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Question: When is an AC repair not worth the cost?<\/strong>
<\/strong>Answer:<\/strong> AC repair may not be worth it when the estimate is close to half the cost of a new system, especially if the unit is already older. Even smaller repairs can become a bad investment if they happen every year or are becoming more frequent over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Question: Can regular maintenance help my air conditioner last longer?<\/strong>
<\/strong>Answer:<\/strong> Yes, annual professional maintenance can help an air conditioner age more slowly. During maintenance, a technician cleans the system, lubricates moving parts, checks components, tests electrical parts, and looks for damage. This reduces wear and tear and can help prevent avoidable breakdowns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Question: Will replacing an old air conditioner lower my energy bills?<\/strong>
<\/strong>Answer:<\/strong> Replacing an old, inefficient air conditioner can help lower energy use because modern high-efficiency systems are designed to use less electricity than older equipment. If your current AC is driving up utility bills or struggling to cool your home, replacement may improve comfort and efficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Call J&A today<\/strong><\/a>, Sleep-tight tonight!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Here are the things to keep in mind as you\u2019re deciding whether to repair or replace your old air conditioner.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[70],"tags":[131,92],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jnaonline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1486"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jnaonline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jnaonline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jnaonline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jnaonline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1486"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.jnaonline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1486\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1746,"href":"https:\/\/www.jnaonline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1486\/revisions\/1746"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jnaonline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1486"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jnaonline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1486"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jnaonline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1486"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}