When your cooling system breaks down, you’re often faced with the choice of repairing your existing unit by having one or more of the components replaced or by purchasing a new air conditioner. Many air conditioning companies push clients to purchase new units because there is a higher profit margin in replacing existing equipment than there is in repairing it.

Shelton’s Pride Air Conditioning and Heating focuses on educating its customers, so that they themselves can make an informed decision regarding the replacement or the repair of an existing air conditioner. Often there’s no absolute right or wrong answer. Repairs on an existing unit may be the least expensive immediate option, but may cost the customer more in the long run. Paying for repairs on an older, inefficient system simply prolongs the inevitable. An older system that breaks down once is likely to break down again. And it will consume more energy than a newer system. In fact, installing a new, energy efficient system can pay for itself over time. However, there are times when simple repairs can sufficiently prolong the life of an air conditioner so that immediate replacement of the unit is not the most sensible option.

Sometimes environmental laws determine the course of action a technician must take when faced with malfunctioning equipment. For example, many consumers ask contractors to repeatedly recharge air conditioning systems which are leaking refrigerant. If a comfort cooling system is releasing more than fifteen percent of its charge over the course of a year, the EPA requires the system to be repaired (through a leak detection and repair process) rather than repeatedly recharged. If the evaporator coil has numerous leaks or is severely corroded, a reputable contractor will advise the consumer to replace the unit