Jul. 15, 2024
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You&#;re at a crossroads. Your air conditioner has been acting up, prompting you to call your local HVAC contractor for service. After diagnosing the issue, your technician gives you two options. You can either repair your current system, or replace it with a new one. Which option should you choose?
Before you make your decision, there are several factors to consider.
According to the Department of Energy, the average system lifespan for an air conditioner in the United States is 15-20 years. But in Florida, system life expectancy can be much lower. Here, we use our air conditioners almost year-round. Plus, the units are exposed to high humidity levels, saltwater and sulfur which take their toll over time. These factors result in an average lifespan in the neighborhood of 10-12 years.
Some systems last longer, others shorter. The longevity of your system can also depend on other factors such as the quality of the original installation and how well the unit was maintained. But the general rule is that if your system is over ten years old, it&#;s time to give the replacement option some serious consideration.
Is the necessary repair minor, like clearing a clogged drain line or replacing a busted capacitor? Then the cost of the repair alone not likely high enough to make you consider replacing your system. However, if your air conditioner is over ten years old and the estimated repair bill is close to 50% of its value, replacement begins to make more sense.
Another aspect to consider is how often your current system needs repair work done. Has the unit been running without a hitch, or do you find yourself calling for emergency AC repair service every few months? In the latter case, it would be more cost effective to invest in a new system, rather than continuing to throw money into an old, unreliable unit.
Proper maintenance has a direct impact on your air conditioner&#;s reliability, efficiency and life expectancy. In fact, we&#;ve observed that 50% of all costly AC problems could be avoided just by keeping up with regular maintenance. If you&#;ve been faithfully doing the following:
&#;your AC will operate more efficiently and last longer. But if you&#;ve neglected regular maintenance, the problems you&#;re experiencing with your system right now might be a direct result. You may even need to replace the system sooner than would have been necessary had it been properly maintained.
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If you upgrade your fifteen-year-old 12 SEER unit to a 16 SEER2 unit, you&#;re looking at a potential cooling cost savings of 40% per year*.Do you know your air conditioner&#;s SEER rating? SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) represents how efficiently your air conditioner operates. The higher the SEER rating, the less energy the system consumes.
Since January , SEER2 has replaced SEER as the rating system for AC energy efficiency. All new air conditioners installed in the Southern United States must have an efficiency rating of at least 14.3 SEER2 (which is the equivalent of 15 SEER in the old rating system).
If you upgrade your fifteen-year-old 12 SEER unit to a 16 SEER2 unit, you&#;re looking at a potential cooling cost savings of 40% per year*.
In most cases an air conditioner&#;s operating efficiency declines with age (or due to poor maintenance &#; see above). So, after fifteen years, your 12 SEER air conditioner might be operating nearer to a 10-SEER level. This means you could save closer to 68% per year on cooling costs by upgrading to a 16 SEER2 system*. Upgrade to a system with an even higher SEER2 rating and your potential savings will increase.
See for yourself &#; use our SEER Energy Savings Calculator to learn how much you can save by upgrading to a more efficient air conditioner.
And remember, saving energy not only benefits your wallet, but also the environment.
Speaking of the environment, there have been a couple of important updates in recent years to the refrigerant air conditioners use, aiming to make the units more eco-friendly. Refrigerant is an important part of your air conditioning unit&#;s cooling process , but if released into the atmosphere, some types of refrigerant can be harmful to the environment. On January 1, , the refrigerant known as R22, HCFC-22 or Freon was officially phased out. This means that both production and import of R-22 is prohibited in the US. However, some old air conditioners still use R22. Should an R22 system develop a refrigerant leak, the only way to recharge it is with recycled R22 &#; an increasingly rare and costly commodity.
The refrigerant that replaced R22 is called R410A or Puron. If your system was installed after , chances are it uses R410A. Although not ozone-depleting like R22, R410A emissions are still considered harmful. So, the EPA has also begun limiting the production of R410A. HVAC manufacturers are now required to use a new refrigerant, R-454B. If you&#;re interested in more details, read our blog post about the shift to R-454B.
In short: if your current air conditioner uses R-22 refrigerant, it&#;s probably over 14 years old. According to our recommendations in point 1, you should consider upgrading it when the opportunity arises. If your system uses R-410A refrigerant, continue reading this post first to assess your overall need to upgrade. Then, refer to our R-454B blog post for our expert advice related to the - industry-wide refrigerant changes.
When you (or a previous homeowner) had your current AC installed, did you replace either the outdoor or indoor unit separately? This plan may seem logical on the surface &#; especially when one part of the split system is still functional. It probably even saved some money initially. But replacing only the condenser or only the air handler can result in an equipment mismatch. Like an odd couple, these two units were not made to work together and are sure to cause trouble down the road. In short, a mismatched system can result in reduced operating efficiency and shortened lifespan. It will even void the warranty on the new component.
If your current air conditioner is mismatched, we recommend replacing it with a matched system.
Prior to the incident that lead you to call for AC repair, were you satisfied with your air conditioner&#;s performance? If your system has been&#;
&#;it&#;s time to consider replacing your unit. Your system might be over- or under-sized or mismatched (see above). Or, you might be a candidate for newer home comfort innovations like a zoning system or variable speed technology.
As we alluded to above, air conditioning technology has advanced in recent years. And depending on your needs and budget, some of these new-fangled innovations might be right up your alley.
For example, two-stage and variable speed technology allows precise temperature and humidity control. Communicating systems continuously monitor your air conditioner&#;s performance. They can remind you when it&#;s time to change your air filter or clean the condenser. The system can even notify your chosen HVAC technician if the unit needs service. Also, smart thermostats allow you to control the temperature in your home from your smartphone. Some can even adjust the temperature automatically when you leave and when you return home. Many smart thermostats interact with other home automation devices like Amazon Alexa.
Light sleeper? Recent design innovations have resulted in quieter system operation, so the air conditioner is less likely to wake you during the night as it cycles on and off.
Some of these innovations come with a higher price tag than a traditional single-stage system without the bells and whistles. But you can offset that initial cost with the energy cost savings &#; and often, better warranties and rebate incentives &#; that come along with a higher-efficiency system. Which brings us to our next question&#;
&#;
Many of our customers have found that a new air conditioner can pay for itself over time &#; thanks to a combination of rebates, warranties, and energy savings.HVAC manufacturers, power companies and even local governments occasionally offer rebates or other incentives toward the purchase of higher efficiency air conditioning equipment. Be sure to ask your technician to make you aware of any programs being offered right now &#; these may vary from region to region and from company to company. But they can save you anywhere from hundreds to over a thousand dollars on your new air conditioner purchase.
Many of our customers have found that a new air conditioner can pay for itself over time &#; thanks to a combination of rebates, warranties, and energy savings.
Lastly, are you planning on moving soon? If so, you won&#;t be around to enjoy the long-term benefits of a new air conditioner. In such a case, as long as the repair is not too extensive and your unit has been reliable overall, you might want to keep your current system running.
However, if you are planning on selling your home, a new air conditioner could increase your home&#;s marketability.
After answering all of the above questions, we hope that you feel equipped with the knowledge to make an informed decision.
If decide to repair your current AC system, and you&#;re looking for a qualified AC company you can trust, feel free to give us a call at (941) 474-. We offer 24/7 emergency air conditioning repair service, performed by courteous, factory-trained technicians at competitive rates. Our service area encompasses Sarasota and Charlotte counties in Southwest Florida.
If you determine that a new air conditioner is right for you, call us at (941) 474- for a free, no obligation AC replacement quote. Or, we&#;ll give you a second opinion on a quote from another company. We are a YORK® Certified Comfort Expert, offering the highest level of service. We will also help you take advantage of current AC rebates and specials.
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This form collects your personal information so that we can process and reply to your request for an estimate on a new air conditioner. Check out our Privacy Policy for more details.
*According to the SEER Energy Savings Calculator, this is the estimated savings for a 3-ton air conditioner in the Fort Myers, FL area. Based on 11.86 cents/KWh (average price in Florida) and yearly cooling hours. (Estimated with weather data from ASHRAE: © ASHRAE, www.ashrae.org. Used with permission.) The calculator is only intended to give you a rough estimate. The savings are not guaranteed and depend on various factors.
Based on a blog post titled &#;When Should I Replace My Air Conditioner?&#;, originally published on January 31, .
Last Updated: May 15,
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Air Cooled vs. Water Cooled condenser tonnage...are they equal???
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MVPs
(Specifier/Regulator)
(OP)
30 Jun 03 12:01Hello,
I am in the process of trying to decide if our company should switch from: a 60 ton water cooled condenser to: a 60 ton air cooled condenser.
My problem is that I have been unable to get a firm answer on whether a 60 ton air cooled condenser will give the same cooling power as our current 60 ton water cooled????
This if for an apartment complex in the state of Kentucky, USA. Temps typically peak in the mid 90's, occasionally 100+ degrees F. Average yearly humidity is 58% @ 1:00 p.m. to 81% @ 7:00 a.m.
We have been able to maintain a 42 degree chiller water temp pretty consistently. If we could get into the 38 or 40 degree range though, that would be a nice bonus, but that is not critical.
The existing water cooled tower is corroding and must be replaced soon.
It seems that in the long run, an air cooled condenser would be cost beneficial as there would be no water consumption and treatment costs. That seems to offset the increased electrical usage of the air cooled type.
We are using a chiller with 2 reciprocating compressors located indoors and the condenser nearby outdoors.
Any advise on the cooling power of the same size water cooled vs. air cooled condensers would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks. SeeTwo
tonnage
(Mechanical)
30 Jun 03 15:01The answer is "it depends".
Condenser ratings are provide at specific conditions, and these conditions should be clearly stated by the manufacturer. The conditions include things like mass flow rates for the primary and secondary fluids, the entering and leaving temperatures for the primary and secondary fluids, pressure drop through the primary and secondary sides, etc.
Since you are considering going from water cooled to air cooled you cannot really make a direct comparison. You need to figure out what your actual capacity needs to be, and select a new condenser that will be able to provide that capacity at your location under whatever "design" conditions you elect to use.
(Mechanical)
30 Jun 03 19:37SeeToo,
The flow and return condenser water temperatures from the cooling tower will always be lower than the ambient dry bulb temperature (I would estimate by 10 deg. F).
If you replaced the cooling tower with a dry cooler of equivalent duty, the flow and return condenser water temperatures would be approximately 10 deg. F higher than the ambient dry bulb temperature.
Consequently, the chiller will reduce in capacity by at least 15% (probably more), it will also be more prone to trip-out on high pressure during the hottest days.
Assuming your company does not wish to replace the existing chiller, I can suggest three options for your problem.
1. Replace the existing cooling tower with a new cooling tower - there will be no adverse affects on the chiller.
2. Replace the existing cooling tower with a dry cooler - the chiller will be derated and may trip-out more frequently on the hottest days.
3. Replace the existing cooling tower with an adiabatic cooler, this is a dry cooler with water spray fitted - It will give performance very similar to the cooling tower, but without the water treatment costs.
I hope this helps.
Cooky
(Specifier/Regulator)
1 Jul 03 10:41I don't think you will be happy with the performance of an air cooled condenser unless you have capacity to spare. Water temps will be a good bit higher. But frankly considering you mention chill water temps below 40 and a reciprocating chiller I really think you need to consider a new chiller and some AHU coil replacement. There is no need to run that low of chill water temps. A new chiller would pay for itself in a very short time. It also sounds like you need a system that requires little maintenance. Tower Tech in OK. makes a virtually maintenance free tower that is all FRP so it won't rust. Nalco chemical sells a computer controlled water treatment system that can be remotely check via a modem. Often one can hook up with an energy management company who will finance the whole thing with money saved in power consumption and there will be no out of pocket costs.
2
lilliput1(Mechanical)
1 Jul 03 17:55Air cooled units are noisy and need more space for condensers. They also require more power. Air cooled receip & screw = 1.20 to 1.40 Kw/ton (incl compressor, cond. fan & CHW pump). Water cooled would be about 1.05 to 1.1. The air cooled unit will require less maintenance. If you can provide the additional space for condensers locate them so noise is not a problem, then go air cooled. Note that in the 200 ton & larger size the water cooled system using centrifugal chillers can go down to about 0.8 kw/ton (includes compressor, cooling tower fan, condenser pump & chilled water pump.
CHW pump = 0.05 kw/Ton
Cond Pump = 0.10 kw/Ton
Cooling Tower Fan = 0.05 kw/Ton
Condenser Fan = 0.10 to 0.15 kw/Ton
Recip air Cooled Chiller Compressor = 1.05 Kw/Ton
Air cooled screw chiller 1.2 Kw/Ton
Rotary water cooled chiller compressor = .8 to .9 kw/ton
water cooled centril compressor (200 Tons 7 up) = 0.6 kw/ton
(Mechanical)
5 Jul 03 01:38You will get a temperature of ambient plus 8-10 deg C in an air cooled condenser, and with time and conditions this may further go up by 2 deg C. This may reduce the overall tonnage of the chilling plant.
krk
(Electrical)
6 Jul 03 16:36First of all is the existing an evaporative condenser with refrigerant flowing through it or a water loop that cools water and pumps it inside to be used to condense refrigerant. If it is the latter I would not do it. I would replace the tower with a new one. I can tell you that with small condensing units a tube in tube water condenser can reject much more heat than a refigerant air condenser when changed out like for like(tonnage rating). If the air condenser is undersized you're beat, you can't control variables like water temperature and flow rates to squeeze more capacity out.
With an air condenser you have dirty coils to deal with and refrigerant leaks. Make sure the piping is done corectly to account for compressor capacity control or you could suddenly start losing compressors when you never did before.
Best would be a cooling tower to keep the refrigerant charge localized near the compressors. Don't trade short term savings for long term problems.
(Specifier/Regulator)
(OP)
10 Jul 03 15:10
To: All,
Many thanks for all the advise from all the repliers!
I will monitor the water temps we are now experiencing and update this thread after I have enough data.
It sounds like going to the same size air cooled condenser on a water cooled system that is currently adequate, but barely so (not adequate on 100+ days*) would not be advisable because of the loss of cooling capacity.
* However, this spring we did some maintenance work on the coils in the apartments that were not cooling adequately in years past. We replaced isolating valves and flushed coils. So far, there has been much improvement.
So, chiller/tower capacity size is possibly okay. We need more time to test the system in the hottest weather.
To: Cooky,
You are correct that we do not want to replace the reciprocating chiller at this time. We recently re-built both compressors. However, at some point in the future we would consider upgrading to a modern scroll type chiller in our indoor boiler room and continue to have a outdoor condenser (either water or air cooled). I've heard they are less noisy and more efficient with fewer moving parts.
Re: your suggestion #3, wouldn't the evaporating water sprayed into an adiabatic cooler leave mineral deposits behind (and degrade performance in time)? That is why our current water cooled tower is set to bleed off water onto the ground isn't it (to drain off the minerals left by evaporating water)?
To: r22,
The condenser set up we use is the 2nd one you mentioned: A water cooled condenser tower with a water loop that is pumped inside to the chiller.
(Mechanical)
31 Jul 03 12:41Suggest that you replace cooling tower with an Adiabatic Dry air cooler.
there are such coolers on the world market which can acheive a recooled liquid temp of 7 deg C above wet bulb temp. Spray water is once through and is only operating when ambient temps are high rest of year operates as standard dry cooler. Also sprays are not directed at coil but into incoming air stream thus saturating air .
(Mechanical)
3 Aug 03 12:13Depending on where the "Design" loading of your compressors are, you may be able to switch. You probably know that the evap coolers lower the condensing temperature of the refrigerant. If you use straight air-cooled HX (no evap), then you lessen the "tonnage" (you have reduced the delta-enthalphy). To get the same "tonnage" of refrigeration (which is the basic goal), then you need to move more refrigerant (i.e. mas flow).
Another effect you'll see by going with Air Cooling is that you need to compress to a higher pressure. SO you may have a motor problem on your compressor.
The best thing to do is to go to your compressor manufacturer or local system salesmen and ask him/her to look into this issue...
For the most part, you will not likely be able to do what you are asking to do without major changes (i.e. costs).
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