When to Replace Your AC in Amarillo

Age

Check the data plate for the manufacture date. Units well into their second decade are candidates for replacement.

Repair history

Frequent repairs add up. Compare the cost of the latest repair with the value of the system.

Refrigerant

Older systems may use refrigerants that are expensive to service.

Comfort

Rooms that never cool or rising bills point to a system losing ground.

Storm damage

A badly hail-damaged coil on an old unit is often a sign to replace.

Plan ahead

Replacing in spring or fall avoids the summer rush.

Ducts

Check the ducts too, since new equipment can't fix leaky ductwork.

Rebates

Ask about any current rebates for efficient equipment.

Next steps

See AC replacement.

Find the age

The data plate on the outdoor unit lists the model and serial number. The serial often contains the manufacture year, and the maker can decode it.

Efficiency gains

Newer systems use less power for the same cooling. Over a long, hot summer, that difference adds up.

Matched systems

Replacing the indoor coil and outdoor unit together keeps them matched for efficiency and the warranty.

Warning signs

Longer run times, a louder outdoor unit, weak airflow and rooms that take longer to cool often show up a season or two before a system fails outright.

Selling a home

Buyers notice an old AC. Records of service, or a newer system, help a sale go smoothly.

Get two or three quotes

Comparing quotes shows the range of equipment and prices available, and helps you spot a quote that leaves out ducts, permits or removal of the old unit.

More air conditioning and heating guides

• Dust, Wind and Your AC in Amarillo
• Blue Northers and Your Heating System
• Hail and Your Outdoor AC Unit
• Keeping Cool in Amarillo's Dry Heat
• Heat Pumps on the High Plains
• Hiring a Licensed AC Contractor in Texas