As professional heating & air contractors who cater to SE Michigan home and business owners in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and surrounding areas, we know it is tempting to just replace a failed component when it goes out on your central air conditioner. However, this may not be the smartest idea. The main components of your system are the indoor unit (evaporator coil), and the outdoor unit (condenser/compressor). Why not simply replace the failed part and save money? There are several reasons which we will explain below.
Increased reliability. When just one unit is upgraded, both together do not work as efficiently – in essence, they’re incompatible. This means your equipment will undergo additional strain, putting the older component at greater risk of going out because of the added workload. Essentially, your central air system could fail you at any time, even during the hottest days of the year. A system that is entirely new will give you 10 to 15 years of service you can rely on.
Maximum energy efficiency. Higher SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) models help you save on energy consumption and utility costs. However, these ratios are based on complete (compatible) systems. To enjoy the greatest energy savings, it’s important to install compatible indoor and outdoor units.
Reduced lifetime costs. Over the lifetime of your system, you will spend less by having indoor and outdoor units that are compatible. By replacing both components, you will spend far less money on repairs, maintenance, and costs to cool your home. Update only the indoor or outdoor component, and you’ll face more expense down the road when the other unit stops functioning!
Advances in design. Today’s air conditioners are far more advanced than those of 10 or 15 years ago. If you only replace one component instead of both, you lose out on technologies such as thermal expansion valves, variable-speed air handling, improved coil designs, and more. Ultimately, by replacing only one component, you will have less control over comfort and humidity.
Possible void of warranty on the new component. While manufacturers typically provide a new equipment warranty, this may not be the case when the components of your cooling system are mismatched. By having matching components installed, you will have peace of mind knowing the entire system is under the manufacturer‘s warranty.
At Haley Mechanical, we highly recommend you buy indoor and outdoor units that match when one or the other component fails. It’s the smart thing to do regarding comfort, energy and money savings, and warranty on equipment! Have questions? Give our southeast Michigan HVAC experts a call today.
