Whether your air conditioner has recently malfunctioned or you would like to upgrade an older unit before it requires expensive repairs, buying and installing a new air conditioner gives you the opportunity to reduce your monthly energy bill and improve the value of your home. While you can have an air conditioner installed at any time of the year, certain times may be better than others.
Best Season of the Year to Have a New Air Conditioner Installed
Many homeowners choose to purchase and install a new air conditioner once temperatures start to rise, which is usually at the start of the summer season. While this might seem like a good choice, the truth is that prices for air conditioner units are at their highest around this time of the year. Manufacturers and retail stores that offer air conditioners will increase their prices when they know that homeowners will be searching for a new unit.
The easiest way to save money on air conditioners is by purchasing a unit during the off-season. Before you search for a new air conditioner, keep in mind that the average cost for one of these systems is right around $5,650. If you want to keep costs down, purchasing your air conditioner at the right time of the year can help you save money. Additional factors that reduce unit costs include how large your home is and the type of unit that you’re set to purchase.
If you want your air conditioner to be installed by a reputable HVAC professional like ours, you should look to purchase the unit and have it installed at some point between the fall and spring seasons. Consider doing so when the temperatures are mild. You may believe that winter would be the off-season for air conditioner installations. However, HVAC professionals who offer installation services are usually busy providing heating services at this time.
If you contact an HVAC professional when they aren’t in high demand, there’s a better chance that your system can be installed in a timely fashion. You may also be able to receive a deal from them since they will want to perform as many jobs as possible during a season when business isn’t as strong.
Along with better pricing and the possibility of manufacturer promotions, the fall and spring seasons are recommended for a new AC install because of the possibility that you would be left without cooling for a few days. While some installs can be completed in 4-8 hours, others may require corrective work that lasts for 2-3 days.
In this situation, having your new air conditioner installed during milder temperatures should make it easier for you to go a couple of days without having heating or cooling. The same wouldn’t be true if your air conditioner was scheduled to be installed during the cold winter months or hot summer months.
Purchasing an Air Conditioner When Your Current One Is Unreliable
It might be time to purchase and install a new air conditioner if your current one is starting to malfunction or deteriorate in quality. In this situation, buying a new air conditioner may be beneficial to avoid spending money on costly repairs that only serve to delay the inevitable. If you’re attempting to time the replacement of your HVAC unit properly, there are several factors and signs that indicate that now is a good time to have a new unit installed.
If your air conditioner is more than 15 years old, you might start to notice some small issues with how well the unit is operating. Even if the problem is as minor as a malfunctioning capacitor, small issues are usually signs of underlying problems that will eventually result in the need for expensive repairs. Having a new air conditioner installed soon can help you avoid costly repairs.
You may also be in a situation where you’ve already spent a considerable sum of money on air conditioner repairs. When a new problem occurs, you should think about having the system replaced altogether instead of continuing to spend money on a unit that will never again function properly.
Another time to consider having your air conditioner replaced is when you want to have a more efficient air conditioner installed in your home. Modern systems can be much more energy efficient than air conditioners that were built over 10 years ago. Even if you haven’t experienced major issues with your current air conditioner, replacing the existing unit with an energy-efficient one can help you save a substantial sum of money in the long run. SEER ratings can reach as high as 25. Higher ratings equate to better energy efficiency.
One final indication that now may be a good time to have a new air conditioner installed is if your current unit has a refrigerant leak. While this is typically an inexpensive fix, some older air conditioners use R-22 refrigerant, which was banned by the EPA for new air conditioners. Even though this refrigerant can still be purchased for older units, it has increased significantly in price. Instead of fixing the problem and replacing the refrigerant, having a new air conditioner installed would likely be more cost-effective.
Installing an Air Conditioner During Renovations
Renovating your home is a fantastic way to spruce up home interiors, add value to your property, and make your living situation more comfortable. While contractors are performing renovation work, it may be a good time to have a new air conditioner installed. It’s sometimes difficult to justify the cost of replacing an air conditioner when you’re not making other changes to your home. However, completing renovations gives you the opportunity to cut out a portion of your budget for an air conditioner install.
When you’re trying to determine if now is the best time to have a new system installed, there are a couple of questions you should ask yourself. First, ask yourself if the renovation is going to include any interior demolition work. If your home hasn’t had central air conditioning before now, you might not have the necessary ductwork for an HVAC unit.
While retrofitting for central air conditioning is typically cost-prohibitive, any demolition work that occurs during renovations may make it easier for installers to route ductwork, which can help you keep costs down. You should also ask yourself if your current air conditioner detracts from your home’s value. If the answer is yes, installing a modern unit should help you increase the value of your home after renovations.
At Bel-Aire Heating & Cooling, we aim to provide our customers with all of the heating and cooling services they need in West Michigan and the surrounding areas. For instance, we can install any air conditioner or furnace that you buy for your home. Our team also has the expertise needed to maintain, repair, and install air conditioners of all shapes and sizes. Call Bel-Aire Heating & Cooling today to schedule service for your air conditioner.
