Many Phoenicians will be faced this summer with the tough choice of whether to sink more of their hard-earned money into an aging air conditioning system or to replace it with brand new equipment, which can cost quite a bit more than repairs. Chas Roberts sees these choices being made on a daily basis by their customers during the Arizona summer and knows it’s not an easy one.
Replacing your air conditioner is a major investment, so it’s understandable that many homeowners do not take the decision lightly. Every air conditioner reaches a point where a replacement makes more sense than continuing to pay for costly repairs, or continuing to put up with subpar performance and uneven cooling and higher than necessary power bills. Repairs on older units usually makes the most sense when the homeowner plans to move in the near term.
Damon Bromagem, VP of Sales and Service at Chas Roberts says that it’s important to consider the life cycle of most A/C systems when deciding on either repairing or replacement. “The fact is, even the best maintained air conditioning unit can’t be expected to last more than 9-12 years without failure in a harsh desert climate like Arizona. If your unit is approaching this age, it’s time to start considering a replacement. It’s tempting to absorb the repair costs and avoid the sticker shock of buying a new system, but the reality is that the cost savings on keeping your old system running usually only makes sense in the very short term.”
Bromagem also says that newer air conditioning units are more energy-efficient and can save money on bills that will actually help offset some of the cost for the unit in the long run. “With rates for electricity going up, especially during peak hours, it’s a good idea to calculate your energy savings over the period of time it takes to pay off your unit. Or for those who are considering the option to finance a new system, the savings in energy costs can actually exceed the amount of the monthly payment, which gives instant value.”
