The unit is damaged, and you can replace it with the same type of unit. However, if you have an old system that uses Freon R-22 vs. R410a Puron, the new refrigerant, you are forced to replace at least the condensing unit and the evaporator coil in the attic to convert them into the new refrigerant. This way, you don't run the risk of the new coolant being contaminated with the old one.
If you have a system that lasts more than 10 years and your condenser or compressor fails outside, you face an expensive replacement. This can be a good opportunity to consider replacing the entire system and moving to something with a higher level of comfort and greater efficiency. Replacing a compressor in an air conditioning system can be quite expensive; it's one of the most expensive repairs in the industry. That's precisely why we get this question so often; it's a wise question.
Often, it's better to get rid of the old unit and replace the entire air conditioning system completely. In fact, it would be better for you to separate that car or sell it to someone who can work on it and reduce your losses. Take everything you earn with it and deposit it for the down payment on another car. That's the most likely option most people would take and it would be the right one.
Now, on the other hand, what if the situation is the same but the car is only a couple of years old and is still under warranty? It would be a no-brainer to repair the car under warranty, even if there is a small deductible. The situation is much like that when you consider air conditioning service on your system's outdoor unit. If the system works well, otherwise, it is not very old (less than 8 years old) and everything else is in good condition, repair it. The choice between air conditioning service to replace the outdoor unit or to replace the system entirely depends on a few key factors.
Most air conditioners worth the selling price have an average lifespan of between 10 and 15 years with regular adequate maintenance of 26%. If you have a unit nearing the end of its life and the compressor shuts off, it's best to replace the entire unit. Why do we recommend it? Because when a unit reaches that age, the chances of suffering a mechanical breakdown skyrocket. Sure, you could save some money in the present by simply replacing the faulty component.
However, what happens if a few months later another part breaks down? The pattern continues until, finally, you end up needing a new unit anyway. All the money you spent on keeping the old man on life support was in vain. However, there is one exception to this rule and it consists of this factor: So, your system is approaching 10 years old and the compressor has shut down. Does that mean you're automatically going to buy a new unit? Let's slow down for a moment.
Even if your unit is almost 10 years old, it may still be under warranty. If the warranty is still active, even for only a few days, then the compressor part is covered (though labor isn't usually covered with such an old unit). However, the cost of labor pales in comparison to the cost of the compressor itself. So if this is your situation, congratulations - your compressor failed just in time to save you some money for now! You never want to be in that situation where it expires just after your warranty does.
Often, most of our customers don't even think about this as they focus on solving their current problem. However, in some cases they might want to see if their current unit is working for them. When considering air conditioning service for their outdoor unit or replacing their system entirely they should consider their comfort level - are they happy with their current air conditioning system? Often homeowners buy an economical system that is just enough for heating and cooling their home but these systems are usually very inefficient - especially within 2 or 3 generations - as systems improve and become more efficient and innovative. We've covered a lot of information here and we know that it can be confusing at times - which is why at Airteam we do everything we can to inform our customers so they can make an informed decision rather than just trusting our words - as they will be happier if they decide based on their own knowledge.
This is because when replacing an AC capacitor coil both coils must complement each other when it comes to aspects such as type of coolant, age and energy efficiency rating - any difference between them could void replacement and cause major problems in your air conditioning unit such as higher energy bills and shorter lifespan. Therefore, it's best to have your unit evaluated by a qualified HVAC technician to determine if replacing just your condenser coil is viable or not - you can also consider estimated cost of repairing your current unit compared to what it would cost to buy a new one. The cost of replacing an AC capacitor depends on various factors including cost of replacing unit itself, labor costs and additional parts needed for installation. On other hand if your unit is relatively new and you think replacing capacitor coil rather than entire unit would be better then there are few things you should know - as refrigerant continuously circulates through air conditioning system it efficiently cools indoor air providing comfortable environment for you to enjoy - the air conditioning condenser being an essential component plays vital role in cooling process of air conditioning system.
