Is it time to repair your air conditioner already? Is it because your AC is on its way out, or will a repair hold you over so you don’t have to spend thousands to replace it? It can be a slippery slope to navigate, so let us help you with that. Homeowners often face difficult decisions when their cooling system shows signs of trouble.
Getting AC repair in Bossier City means that your air conditioner is inspected by a professional during the process. They need to know what’s causing the reason for your repair call, whether it’s minor AC issues or more significant problems, and what that damage or inefficiency does to the rest of your system. But what if your air conditioner is too far gone? If you have an old unit, it may no longer be cost-effective to repair due to outdated technology and low efficiency. If replacement is necessary, a new air conditioner will need to be properly installed to ensure optimal performance, energy savings, and long-term reliability. Let’s talk about that.
How do you decide between repairing or replacing your AC (or furnace)?
- Age matters: If your system is over 10–15 years old, repairs may no longer be cost-effective.
- Comfort decline: Even after repairs, if your home still feels less comfortable, it may signal inefficiency, time to budget for replacement.
- Watch your bills post-maintenance: If energy costs drop much less after service, your unit is likely losing efficiency.
- The 50% rule: When a repair costs 50% or more of a new unit’s price, replacement is typically the smarter long-term choice.
Introduction to Air Conditioning
Living in Shreveport, LA, means dealing with hot, humid summers where a reliable air conditioning system isn’t just a luxury, it’s a necessity. A reliable air conditioning system is essential for maintaining comfort in your house during hot summers. The Shreveport climate is subtropical and humid, with summer temperatures reaching the high 90s. Air conditioning services play a vital role in keeping both homes and businesses comfortable, ensuring that cool air circulates efficiently and indoor air quality remains high. A well-maintained air conditioner not only keeps temperatures pleasant but also helps control humidity, making your indoor environment healthier and more enjoyable.
The primary job of any air conditioning system is to remove heat from the air, providing a refreshing cooling effect that’s especially important during the peak of Louisiana heat. Regular maintenance is key to preventing unexpected breakdowns, reducing energy bills, and extending the life of your system. Regular maintenance also directly contributes to your home’s comfort by ensuring consistent temperature and air quality. Air conditioning systems use electricity to keep your home cool, so efficient operation helps manage energy costs. Air conditioner tune-ups ensure efficient operation during the hottest days. Whether you have a central air system, a ductless mini-split, a window unit, or comprehensive heating and cooling systems, each type of air conditioning system offers unique advantages to suit different spaces and needs.
Expert air conditioning repair services are essential when issues arise, ensuring your system is diagnosed and fixed quickly so you can get back to enjoying cool, clean air. Ignoring AC issues can lead to significant safety and health risks during extreme heat. By understanding how your air conditioning system works and the importance of regular maintenance, you can make informed decisions about your heating and cooling needs, protect your investment, and maintain a comfortable indoor environment all year long.
Understanding Your AC Unit
Your air conditioning unit is more than just a box that blows cool air, it’s a complex system made up of several key components working together to keep your home comfortable. At the heart of your AC unit is the compressor, which circulates refrigerant and drives the cooling process. Alongside the compressor, the condenser and evaporator coils play crucial roles in transferring heat and ensuring your system runs efficiently. The indoor unit, such as the furnace or air handler, is also a vital part of the overall system, working in tandem with the outdoor components to distribute cooled air throughout your home.
Regular maintenance is essential to keep your air conditioning unit operating at its best and is crucial for maintaining the system’s performance. Scheduling routine tune-ups helps prevent costly breakdowns, keeps energy bills in check, and extends the lifespan of your system. One often-overlooked component is the air filter, which is vital for maintaining indoor air quality. Cleaning or replacing your filter regularly ensures that dust and allergens are kept at bay, and your system doesn’t have to work harder than necessary.
Understanding the different types of air conditioning units like central air systems and ductless mini-splits, can help you choose the best solution for your heating and cooling needs. The thermostat is another important part of your AC unit, allowing you to set and maintain the perfect temperature for your space. By staying on top of regular inspections and maintenance, especially when performed by qualified installers, you can catch small issues before they turn into major problems, maintain efficiency, and enjoy reliable comfort year after year.
Assessing Both Your Air Conditioner and Overall System
When it comes to making decisions about your home’s comfort, it’s important to look beyond just your air conditioner. Your heating and cooling system works as a team, with both your air conditioner and furnace playing crucial roles in maintaining the right temperature year-round. If you’re considering whether to repair or replace, assessing the entire HVAC system, not just one unit, can help you determine the most cost-effective and energy efficient solution for your home.
A professional HVAC contractor can evaluate the condition and efficiency of both your cooling system and heating system, taking into account factors like the age of each unit, their current performance, and how well they work together. Sometimes, replacing just the air conditioner or furnace can lead to mismatched efficiency levels, which may reduce your system’s performance and increase energy costs. Upgrading both units at the same time can ensure your heating and cooling system operates at peak efficiency, providing consistent comfort and potentially lowering your utility bills.
By having a qualified HVAC expert assess your entire system, you’ll get personalized recommendations based on your home’s needs, the square footage, and your budget. This comprehensive approach helps you make informed decisions about whether to repair, replace, or upgrade your equipment, ensuring you get the most out of your investment and enjoy reliable comfort for years to come.
Consider Your AC’s Age
At a certain point, wear and tear just beats even the most well-maintained air conditioners. They’ll last for ages, but they’re not invincible. As your HVAC system ages, it may struggle to keep working properly, even with regular care. When your air conditioner crests over the ten-year mark, it’s going to be much less efficient than you’re used to. Upgrading to a new system or a new HVAC system at this stage can provide significant benefits, including improved energy efficiency, eligibility for tax credits, and enhanced home comfort.
Maintaining your air conditioner and performing timely repairs is important to ensure your HVAC system is always working properly and to maximize its lifespan, so you get the longest life out of your air conditioner as possible and reduce the number of replacements you’ll have to pay for over your lifetime. But if it’s aged out, repairs could eventually be a money pit. A new system’s performance will typically surpass that of an older unit, offering better efficiency and comfort.
Professional HVAC services can help assess whether repair or replacement is the best option for your aging system, and can also recommend replacing both the AC and furnaces if they are aging together to ensure compatibility and long-term savings.
Your Comfort Has Decreased
There are certain warning signs that indicate your air conditioner may need more than just a simple repair.
You’re not as comfortable as you’re used to. You call in for repairs, then your AC works well afterwards, that’s great. But what happens if it doesn’t provide the relief you were expecting after the repair has been completed?
That’s a possibility, and that means despite the repair doing what it’s supposed to do, the air conditioner simply isn’t as efficient as you need it to be. That signals that a full replacement is necessary, so start budgeting for it now before the AC loses more efficiency. Replacing your old unit with a new system can restore optimal performance and ensure your home stays comfortable. Upgrading to a more energy efficient system or energy efficient system offers the benefit of lower energy bills and improved comfort.
Energy Bill Spikes
Look at your energy bills just before you get annual maintenance, and just after. Taking the seasonal changes and AC/heater use into consideration, you should be able to see some immediate and noticeable differences.
After your air conditioner maintenance is done, the next month’s bills will be noticeably lower. Your AC loses a certain amount of efficiency over time regardless of maintenance and repairs, so when the differences get smaller and smaller on your energy bills, that shows that efficiency is starting to slide. AFUE ratings are a useful way to compare how efficiently different systems convert fuel into heat, helping you make informed decisions about replacements. While some companies may offer lower prices for repairs or replacements, these may not provide the best value in the long run if they compromise on quality or efficiency. Investing in a more efficient system, even if it has a higher upfront cost, can save you money in the long run through reduced energy bills and fewer repairs.
The 50% Rule (Cost of Repair)
Your AC breaks down, a technician comes in, and they inspect the damages. When they quote you on the repair cost, it’s alarmingly high. You have every right to be appalled, but if that’s what it takes to fix the AC, there’s no way around it. While some air conditioning units can be repaired and restored to working order, others may be beyond saving and require a full replacement.
It’s often the last straw before replacement. If your air conditioner has a repair that costs 50% or more of the installation price of a brand new air conditioner, it’s time to put your current unit out to pasture. In many cases, the installation price of a new system can be more cost-effective than paying for repeated repairs. Repairs don’t get cheaper from here on out. To ensure your new system is installed correctly and operates efficiently, always hire a professional company or qualified service provider. A professional company will properly install the new equipment for optimal results and long-term reliability.
Benefits of Professional Repair
When it comes to keeping your air conditioning system running smoothly, professional air conditioning repair services offer a host of benefits that go beyond just fixing immediate issues. Certified technicians have the expertise to diagnose and resolve complex problems, ensuring your system operates at peak energy efficiency and helps lower your energy bills. Regular maintenance and timely repairs can prevent costly breakdowns, saving you from the expense and hassle of premature replacement services.
A quality installation by skilled and experienced installers is crucial for long-term system reliability and optimal system performance. A comprehensive hvac installation performed by professionals ensures your system operates efficiently and effectively, reducing the risk of future repair costs and maximizing longevity.
Professional air conditioning repair doesn’t just restore cool air, it also improves indoor air quality by addressing issues like poor airflow, weak airflow, or warm air coming from your vents. By catching potential problems early, expert technicians help you avoid further damage and hidden fees, offering upfront pricing and transparent solutions tailored to your needs.
Investing in regular maintenance and professional repairs means your air conditioning system will provide reliable comfort, better indoor air quality, and lower energy costs for years to come. Scheduled AC maintenance helps recognize looming repairs before they escalate. With the right team on your side, you can rest easy knowing your AC system is in good hands, ready to handle the demands of the Shreveport area’s climate and keep your home or business comfortable all season long.
It’s Not Always Straightforward
Sometimes it’s worth the gamble to repair your AC and see how long it holds on for. But if repairs are too frequent and breakdowns are stressing you out, it’s time to consider a full replacement. Don’t let your comfort be interrupted by frequent breakdowns and damages: replace your AC when necessary.
When considering a replacement, there are significant advantages to replacing both your furnace and air conditioner at the same time. Upgrading both your AC and both your furnace together ensures system compatibility, maximizes efficiency, and can lead to long-term benefits, especially if both units are aging. Some companies may encourage you to replace both your AC and furnace to make more money, but your decision should be based on your actual needs and a professional assessment. Replacing both units, such as installing a new furnace or gas furnace along with a new air conditioner, can improve energy savings and overall home comfort. It’s important to match the fuel source, whether natural gas, propane, or another option, when replacing heating equipment, as this affects installation, cost, and system compatibility. The outdoor ac unit and indoor unit both play key roles in a complete system replacement, ensuring your heating and cooling systems work together efficiently. Our company offers comprehensive solutions, including cooling systems, heating and cooling systems, and hvac systems tailored to your home. A heat pump system is also an efficient alternative for year-round comfort. The benefit of a professional assessment is that it helps determine the best replacement strategy for your specific situation.
Moon’s Air has provided whole-home comfort since 1971. We have proudly served the Shreveport area for decades, building a reputation for reliable Shreveport air conditioning solutions. Our team of professionals is dedicated to providing top-notch HVAC services and Shreveport AC maintenance to keep your system running smoothly. AccuTemp Heating and Cooling can handle AC installation and replacement needs. We continue to serve Shreveport, LA, and surrounding communities with expert care and attention to all your air conditioning needs. Call us for service today, it’s good to be Mooned! Contact us today to schedule your AC repair or maintenance appointment.
Moon’s Air has provided whole-home comfort since 1971. Call us for service today—it’s good to be Mooned!
