Now is the time of year that you should really be considering scheduling maintenance for your air conditioner, if you haven’t already. Professional maintenance allows your system to work as efficiently and effectively as possible, for as long as possible! It reduces repair needs by as much as 85% and maintains your AC efficiency rating by as much as 95%.
An air conditioner that’s well-maintained will also last longer–10-15 years versus lasting only half that time otherwise.
But once your air conditioner does reach that older age, the question that comes up is, “Should I keep maintaining it, or is it time to replace it?” The truth is, if your air conditioner is a decade old or older, now is likely a great time to replace it, particularly with today’s economic and supply chain realities, which we’ll elaborate on below. Read on!
Supply and Demand
The supply chain pressures that have come from COVID, a booming housing market, and the upcoming 2023 government energy regulations have really hit the HVAC industry hard, and will eventually make it harder to find affordable options for your cooling needs.
What does this mean for you? That you should replace your aging air conditioner now instead of waiting, as waiting could leave you with a headache waiting for a system that may be on backorder or purchasing a system that extends your purchasing budget because you need something quickly.
The last thing we want for you is to be rushed into an air conditioner purchase, which is why we encourage you to consider this now.
Wait, What’s Happening in 2023?
All residential central air conditioners sold in the US will be required to meet new minimum energy efficiency standards. This means that:
- Manufacturers will seek to improve energy efficiency by applying electronic and digital controllers to more components, which adds demand for circuit boards and processing chips–items that are in short supply currently.
- Variable speed motors and compressors will become the new standard. This is great news for HVAC efficiency! It will ultimately help you save more money in the long run on your energy bills. However, there is currently a shortage in supply warehouses of these motor types.
- Equipment manufacturers will soon stop production of their current models to retool and test new products before these requirements take hold in 2023.
- Equipment will be physically larger, requiring more space in shipping and requiring more trucks and drivers to deliver a smaller amount of equipment.
All of these factors will lead to increased costs for the final product that gets installed for you. So, if you’ve been on the fence about replacing your air conditioner, now really is the time to take the plunge. Otherwise, you risk your air conditioner breaking down in the middle of summer when you need it the most, and not being able to get the system you want and need as a replacement.
Today’s models are much more efficient than air conditioners from even a decade ago. If your air conditioner is aging, we really encourage you to talk to our team about your options for installation today.
Whether you’re ready to schedule AC replacement or HVAC maintenance in Tallahassee, FL, Parker Services Inc. is the team to call! Contact us today.