You know what’s really funny? Watching everyone in the northeast still bundled up in winter clothes in April, while we soak in the Florida sunshine.
You know what’s not so funny? Having an AC system that stops working when it’s 90 degrees outside. Who’s laughing now?
Sometimes, the issue may be only with the condenser unit outside. If that’s the case with your home or business, can you just replace that unit, or will you have to get a new inside portion as well?
Air Conditioner Replacement Basics
Technically speaking, yes, it is possible to replace only the outside portion of your AC unit. After all, the only thing you have to do is follow laws and pay taxes.
If only a portion of your AC stopped working, the first thing you need to do is check whether your condenser unit is still under warranty. (The condenser unit is the part that sits outside your home). If that is the case, call your provider and voilà! Problem solved!
But the reality is that often, when an AC unit stops working, it’s been after having it around long after the warranty has expired. (The average lifespan of an AC unit is 15 to 20 years; while the average length of an AC warranty is 5 to 10 years).
If your condenser unit croaked after it’s no longer under warranty, we recommend replacing both the outside and inside units for the following reasons:
1. Compatibility. Outside and inside units are specifically designed to work together. Having incompatible parts may result in higher utilities bills and your AC will likely not cool as well as it used to. Also, different models of AC systems have different rating systems. They may have differently sized air filters or may use different amounts of fuel. Pairing two, a condenser from one set and an indoor unit from another, will likely end up causing your entire system to malfunction.
2. Refrigerant requirements may be different. Once upon a time, people were allowed to smoke in restaurants and planes. The same way some health hazards were standard a few years ago, refrigerant options from yesteryear have been phased out by new environmental regulations. This is because AC coolant has to be handled carefully. In worst case scenarios, it may even cause poisoning.
3. Efficiency. More modern AC units are designed to improve energy efficiency. If you bought your unit when you still fit into your jeans from college, it’s probably noisier and uses more energy than newer models. It’s also probably one of the culprits for that big hole in our ozone layer (which takes us back to those environmental regulations we previously mentioned).
4. Cost. If the outside unit zonked out, it’s only a matter of time until the inside unit calls it a life and says goodbye. Getting both units installed together will cost you less than buying them piecemeal.
Contact Colman Heating & Air for a New Air Conditioner Installation
At Colman Heating and Air, we are ready to assist you. If you have any questions as to how to optimize your AC system, we have answers.
Call us any day of the week, at any time of the day (yes, even outside of regular business hours) at (321) 269-4565. We’ll be happy to assist you.
