After a few brief months of colder relief from the sweltering Texas heat, we’re zeroing in on the beginning of another infamous Coastal Bend summer. As the temperatures climb once again, so too will the usage of your A/C unit – and the last thing you want is for it to break when you need it most. There might be a few oddities you’ve noticed going on with it, but you figure, ‘Ah, it’s been doing this forever, I’ll just wait it out.’ And while that may be true, it’s also possible you could have a broken A/C on your hands when you can least afford it.

Instead of waiting until that moment arrives, you might need to consider a replacement unit beforehand. You can save valuable money, and time, and avoid that unbearable in-between time where you would be unbearably uncomfortable. Sigwald Service Co. has a few warning signs to keep an eye out for, and if your A/C checks some – or all – of these boxes, a new unit could be a worthy investment and it might be time to consider A/C replacement.

  • Check the Age – Most A/C units are fairly rugged and long-lasting. They have an age of roughly 15 years, so they’re able to shrug off any number of minor malfunctions and keep on chugging. However, they do break, and they require repairs. A good rule of thumb is the $5,000 rule: multiply the cost of a repair by the age of your unit; if the total exceeds 5,000, it’s probably a good bet to get a replacement instead of shelling out for the repair.
  • Poor Heating/Cooling – Have you noticed that you’ve needed to crank the thermostat more than normal to get to the temperature you’re shooting for lately? Odds are, the A/C is losing efficiency. This happens over time as components begin to break down, and eventually, it’s going to be more practical to replace everything than continue to pay for repairs to individual parts.
  • Forgetting Freon – Knowing what type of refrigerant your A/C uses might not be something you know off the top of your head, but it’s important to figure out. R-22, or Freon, is used in a lot of older models, but it contains chlorine; if leaked into the air, it poses a risk. The EPA has mandated that Freon must be phased out of A/C units by 2020 or manufacturers will be subject to fines. If yours uses Freon, a replacement might be a wise decision.
  • Poor IAQ – An aging A/C unit can lead to other, more under-the-radar problems that can creep up on you. As it climbs in age and use, the infrastructure holding everything together will suffer wear and tear, and that can present itself in the form of leaky ducts. The pollutants that would normally be funneled out of your home can seep into the air circulation, contaminating the air you and your family breathe.

This isn’t an exhaustive list of replacement signs for the A/C by any means. Your unit is unique, and the things that tip off someone to a malfunction might not necessarily indicate the same for yours. Sigwald Service Co. can identify and diagnose any problem you think might be occurring, and we have the tools and experience to fix them correctly the first time. We offer the most comprehensive service in Coastal Bend, and we can help you make sure your A/C unit is in tip-top shape before the summer hits. Give us a call at (361) 729-1584 today!

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