As an air conditioning contractor on Sanibel Island, FL, this is a subject that I’ve discussed in the past when referring to household appliances. But, in this article, will concentrate on air conditioning only. We are often asked after an air conditioning system has had a failure whether to repair or replace the equipment. It isn’t always a simple question to answer. There are many different factors to consider. There are numerous questions that need to be asked and then answered.
The scenario is often the same – the weather is warming up outside and you turn your air conditioning on. You go about your duties only to realize that it’s not cooling down inside your home. You check the thermostat and breakers to make sure everything is set properly and that everything is the way it should be, but still no cooling. So you call your service provider and a technician is dispatched. After the technician surveys the system, you are informed that your air conditioner has had a malfunction that is going to cost a considerable amount of money to repair.
This is where we go back to the title of this article, should I repair my existing equipment or replace the entire system? As I had previously mentioned, this requires a few questions and answers between the technician and the customer. A good line of communication is a definite plus at this point. First thing that must occur is an assessment of the entire heating and cooling system. What the technician will be looking at is the general condition of the equipment, its operating efficiency and how the current system facilitates the needs of the dwelling and occupants. Then the technician will then ask a series of questions. How is the home utilized, or is it used only primarily in the winter months, or do you spend a considerable amount of time here in the summer months? Is the property in a rental program? Are there any specific health concerns for the occupants? Does the current system, when operating properly, meet the needs of the occupants? This may sound like a silly question, but you would be amazed at the number of systems that have been in operation for years that are not installed properly or are not designed for that specific application. The result is people live with uncomfortable living conditions. This is often a mistake especially with modern technological advances in the air conditioning industry. Another good question to consider is what are your future plans for the home? The technician will get a general idea for the homeowner’s needs and will give them all the information necessary to help them make an educated decision.
The most important factor is to make sure that the customer is educated and understands these things before making the decision to replace or repair. One final note, the cheapest way out of it is often not the most economical way to go. The cheapest option is not always the best value because you may end up having to repair other things that can go wrong. However, we’ll save this topic for discussion for the next week’s article.
Thanks as always,
Bryan
