When an old air conditioning system has had its day
Air conditioning wears out like anything else with moving parts. Compressors lose efficiency, coils corrode and fan bearings get noisy. Sooner or later, spares for older models become hard or impossible to find. At some point, keeping an old system going costs more in repairs and electricity than a new one would.
Teesside Air Conditioning gives homes and businesses an honest assessment before we recommend anything. If a repair is the sensible option, we'll tell you. If replacing it makes more sense over the next ten years, we'll explain why in plain terms and put it in a written quote, with no pressure.
Replacing a system is also a good moment to rethink the setup. Offices on Teesside get reorganised and spare rooms turn into home offices. A unit that suited a space fifteen years ago may now be the wrong size, or in the wrong place. We look at how the building is used today rather than just copying what was there before.
- Typical changeover
- Often one day for a single-room system
- New refrigerant
- Most new split systems use R32
- Old refrigerant
- Recovered by certified engineers
- Assessment
- Free, honest repair-or-replace advice
Signs it may be time to replace your air conditioning
One fault is rarely a reason to replace a whole system. A pattern of problems, running costs that keep climbing or an obsolete refrigerant usually is. Here's what we look for when we assess older equipment:
- Repeated breakdowns, or repair bills that keep getting bigger
- The system struggles to reach or hold the set temperature
- Electricity use has crept up compared with when it was new
- Grinding, rattling or heavy vibration from the outdoor unit
- Recurring refrigerant leaks or badly corroded coils and pipework
- Discontinued parts, or a manufacturer that no longer supports the model
- The system runs on R22 refrigerant
How old is too old?
There's no fixed lifespan. A well-maintained system in a sheltered spot can outlast one that's been neglected by a long way, especially if the neglected one sits on an exposed, sea-facing wall in Redcar or Seaham where salt air eats into coils and fixings. Age matters most when it comes with falling efficiency, repeat faults and an older refrigerant.
Why replacing an ageing system pays off
Lower running costs
Modern inverter units are generally far more efficient than systems fitted ten or fifteen years ago.
An end to patch-up repairs
New equipment breaks the cycle of repeat faults and surprise failures in the hottest weeks of the year.
A serviceable refrigerant
Moving away from R22 means the system can be properly maintained and repaired for years to come.
Heating as well as cooling
Reversible heat pump models give you efficient warmth in winter, not just cooling in summer.
Quieter, steadier comfort
Variable-speed compressors keep temperatures more even and usually run more quietly.
Old kit dealt with properly
The refrigerant is recovered and the old units go through the right WEEE disposal routes.
Older R22 systems: what the rules mean for you
R22 is an ozone-depleting HCFC refrigerant that was used in air conditioning for many years. Under EU regulations that also applied in the UK, using virgin (new) R22 to service or top up equipment was banned from 2010. Using recycled or reclaimed R22 was banned from 2015.
It isn't illegal to keep running an R22 system that works. In practice, though, if it springs a leak or develops a fault that needs refrigerant work, it generally can't be recharged with R22, and that leaves very few realistic repair options. Planning a replacement on your own timetable is usually far less disruptive than waiting for it to fail in the middle of summer.
How to check which refrigerant your system uses
Find the rating plate on the outdoor unit. The refrigerant is normally listed there as R22, R410A or R32, sometimes along with the charge weight. Systems fitted in the early 2000s or before are the most likely to use R22. If the plate is missing or can't be read, we can check when we come out.
R410A vs R32: what a modern replacement uses
Most systems installed from the mid-2000s until a few years ago use R410A. It doesn't harm the ozone layer, but it has a high global warming potential (GWP). Most new domestic and light commercial split systems now use R32 instead. Its GWP is roughly a third of R410A's, it needs a smaller charge for the same capacity and it performs efficiently.
R410A systems aren't banned and can still be serviced, so owning one isn't an automatic reason to replace it. If an R410A unit is old, inefficient or failing, though, R32 equipment is the natural upgrade. R32 is classed as mildly flammable, which means installers have to follow the manufacturer's rules on room size, charge and handling.
Can existing pipework be reused?
Reusing the original refrigerant pipework can mean less disruption, particularly where it's hidden in walls, ceilings or boxing. It's only appropriate after a proper assessment, and in plenty of cases new pipework is the more reliable choice. We see both situations on jobs across Teesside and the surrounding areas, so we never assume either way.
What we check before reusing pipework
Pipework that suited the old system won't necessarily suit the new one, so we need to confirm each of these:
Pipe sizes and lengths
The diameters and length of run have to sit within the new manufacturer's specification for the capacity chosen.
Condition and wall thickness
The pipes must be free of corrosion, kinks and damage, and rated for the higher working pressures of R410A and R32.
Flushing for contamination
Old R22 systems used mineral oil, which doesn't mix with newer refrigerants, so residues usually have to be flushed out. Some manufacturers don't allow reuse at all.
Pressure and leak testing
Any pipework we reuse is pressure tested with nitrogen and evacuated before the new system is charged.
What affects the cost of replacing air conditioning?
We don't publish set prices, because every replacement involves a different mix of equipment, access and removal work. Contact us to arrange a free assessment and we'll follow it with a clear written quote. There's no obligation to go ahead.
When you compare quotes, look beyond the installation price. A modern inverter unit with good SEER and SCOP ratings can use noticeably less electricity than an older fixed-speed system, and fewer breakdowns mean fewer call-out bills. If you're weighing up a bigger change, our full range of air conditioning services covers new installations, servicing and maintenance too.
Number and size of units
Swapping one wall unit is a very different job from replacing several indoor units or a commercial system.
Pipework reuse or renewal
Pipework that can be reused saves time. New routes through walls and ceilings add labour and materials.
Removal and recovery
Refrigerant recovery, decommissioning and proper disposal of the old units are all part of the job.
Changes to layout or capacity
Moving units, adding rooms or changing the capacity to suit how the space is used now can change the scope.
Access and making good
High-level outdoor units, flat roofs and the state of old fixing points all affect how long the work takes.
Responsible refrigerant recovery and disposal
Refrigerant must never be vented into the atmosphere. Before an old system is disconnected, an F-Gas certified engineer should recover the refrigerant into approved cylinders, and it's worth asking any installer to show proof of certification. The recovered gas then goes off for reclamation or destruction.
Old indoor and outdoor units count as waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). They have to go through proper disposal or recycling routes, not into a skip or general waste. When Teesside Air Conditioning takes out an old system, we remove the equipment and make good the holes and fixings it leaves behind wherever we practically can.
Repair or replace? Upgrading to a heating-capable inverter
A lot of older systems, especially in offices and shops around Middlesbrough and Stockton, were put in for cooling only or use fixed-speed compressors that switch fully on and off. A modern inverter heat pump changes its compressor speed to match demand. It holds the temperature more steadily, usually runs more quietly and heats efficiently as well as cooling.
As a rough guide, repair is usually worth it for a newer system with a one-off fault and parts that are easy to get. Replacement tends to be better value when the system uses R22, has had several expensive faults or runs noticeably less efficiently than current equipment. We'll set out both options honestly. If it turns out to be a simple fault, our air conditioning repairs service may be all you need.
