Selling your home comes with a long to-do list — doing minor fixes, staging it, hiring an appraiser, and listing it with a realtor, just to name a few. It takes a lot of time, effort, and money to get it all done. But what about your AC? Should you replace it too before listing the house for sale?
The answer depends. There are several factors you need to consider before making that decision. After all, don’t you want to increase your home’s value as much as possible before selling it?
How to Know If You Should Replace Your AC Before Selling Your Home
How old is the AC? The average lifespan of an air conditioner is between 15 and 20 years. This range can vary depending on the weather in your geographical location, exposure to natural disasters, and how much maintenance you’ve provided for it — such as changing the air filters regularly, cleaning the drain line, clearing debris that accumulates around the condenser unit, and scheduling inspections by HVAC professionals. If your AC is only a few years old and you’ve been maintaining it well, you may be able to get away with leaving it as is.
Does it work well? If AC maintenance hasn’t exactly been at the top of your priorities list, it’s possible that every now and then, you’ve had to call a technician to take care of some issues — maybe your AC sometimes doesn’t cool enough, there are inconsistent temperatures throughout your home, or the AC is being noisy or leaking water. Whatever the reasons, replacing it will put you in a better position to negotiate a good price as a seller — as well as avoiding any embarrassing scenarios where the AC decides to act up during a home showing.
What kind of refrigerant does it require? Air conditioners work by absorbing the warm air, removing moisture, cooling it, and sending it back into your home through the return vents. The component that allows it to cool air is a gas called refrigerant. Up until 2010, the most common type of refrigerant to use in AC units was Freon (also known as R-22). That said, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) amended the Clean Air Act, requiring that all air conditioners manufactured on or after January 1, 2010, use an environmentally-friendly refrigerant instead of the standard Freon. If you aren’t sure what kind of refrigerant your AC requires, check on the nameplate — it’s located on the condenser unit. If it uses Freon, replacing it will also add value to your home.
Benefits of Replacing the AC Before Selling Your House
If you need additional reasons why replacing your AC prior to selling your home would be a good idea, be aware that doing so will result in the following benefits:
- An energy-efficient AC is appealing to potential buyers
- It will pass the home inspection process
- You can list it as a home improvement — and have it reflected on the price
If replacing the air conditioner is not within your budget, that’s understandable too. Just be aware that you may have to be willing to reduce the asking price.
AC Service in Brevard County
At Colman Air, we understand that sometimes, AC issues happen during the most inconvenient times. This is why we have a 24/7 AC emergency line. Call us if you need assistance ASAP, or to schedule routine HVAC maintenance.
24-HR Emergency Service: (321) 269-4565
