Sales 1.888.735.5651 Service 1.800.645.4328 < Back to home Time to replace your AC? When to replace your central air conditioning system A central air conditioning system is an expensive investment, but most systems aren’t meant to last for much more than ten years. Ideally, it should be energy-efficient, while maintaining optimal comfort in every part of the home. Your system should be able to reduce the humidity level that contributes to the discomfort of summer heat, while lowering the temperature enough to let people sleep well or enjoy their activities when they’re awake. Even with regular maintenance, you may reach a point where your system isn’t functioning well enough to keep your home comfortable during the hottest part of the summer. Here are a few signs that may indicate that it’s time to replace your central air conditioning system. The age of your system The average lifespan of an air conditioning system is 10-15 years. If your unit is close to ten years old or older, you may want to consider replacing it instead of repairing it.

Heating and cooling costs account for roughly 44% of your utility costs. If you’re paying more than the average for your area, your air conditioning system may not be working effectively. Older air conditioning systems also use R22, a freon refrigerant, which is being phased out over the next few years out to meet environmental protection regulations. Replacing this refrigerant in older air conditioning systems to one that complies with these regulations  is expensive and since R22 is being discontinued, it's becoming more difficult to source. New air conditioning  systems are all manufactured to comply with these regulations and are designed to be much more energy-efficient. Using the correct refrigerant, they are also far more eco-friendly because they release fewer carbon emissions. By installing a new air conditioning system you will also notice a significant improvement in your home’s indoor air quality. A newer air conditioning system will also increase the resale value of your home. 

Excessive noise and dust The constant presence of dust in your home – even after cleaning, is a good indication that there are leaks in the ductwork. Those leaks will compromise the efficiency of your air conditioning system, and that will increase the operating cost. If your air conditioner is excessively noisy, there is a good possibility that your duct system isn’t large enough for the square footage of your home. It’s also possible that you have a problem with the unit’s indoor coil. Your air conditioning-related expenses are increasing If your utility bills are going up and there isn’t any change in the way you’re using it, that’s a good indication that your system is no longer as efficient as it should be. Another obvious sign is the amount of money you are paying for air conditioning repairs, and the frequency with which you have to have the system repaired. Cooling and humidity inconsistencies Your home’s air conditioner is supposed to remove humidity from the air because excessive humidity makes the space more uncomfortable.

When it functions, the system will maintain consistent temperatures throughout the house. When the cooling portion of your HVAC system isn’t able to do these things, either your equipment is malfunctioning, or there are issues with your ductwork. Think about the cost of repairing these problems, and ask yourself if it is worth your while to spend the money on repairs. 5 ton ac unit replacement costThese warning signs may be an indication that you should think about replacing your air conditioning system. portable ac unit commercialIt’s natural to be concerned about the cost of replacing part of your HVAC unit. water leak from ac unitIt’s an expensive purchase, and a huge investment in your home. Don’t panic at the prospect of having to come up with a lot of money upfront.

A new air conditioning unit may wind up eliminating the constant repair costs, and lower your utility bills enough to help you recoup part of your investment. A newer, more energy-efficient air conditioning system will also increase the resale value of your home. View the latest offers on central Choosing the right replacement for your air conditioning system Petro understands that homeowners feel overwhelmed and confused by all of the options and considerations that go into selecting the proper air conditioning unit to replace their existing one. Our team of air conditioning professional technicians are experienced, highly qualified, and trained. When you work with Petro, you get a team of home service professionals who are consistent and reliable. We carry the latest and most energy-efficient air conditioning systems. You can always count on our team for fast, expert installation and around the clock repairs. Let us help you choose the best air conditioning system for your home.

We will make sure that your system is installed correctly and that it works at peak performance, while reducing your utility costs.  Let Petro install or repair your central air conditioning system ›My partner and I rent a market-rate apartment with a built-in heating and air-conditioning unit, but the air-conditioning component does not work. An air-conditioner repairman told us that the unit is 20 years old, rusted, and will likely start leaking into our apartment and the one below us if it is not replaced. He said replacing it would cost $1,800. The landlord refuses to replace the unit, saying he is not responsible for air-conditioning, only heat. Our apartment will be unbearable this summer without air-conditioning. With July, and all the sweltering heat it brings, less than a week away, I can understand why you would want a functioning air-conditioner. To figure out if your landlord has to fix or replace your broken one, read your lease again. See if it says anything about who is responsible for air-conditioning, said David E. Frazer, a lawyer who represents tenants.

The lease could put the burden on your landlord, but it could also put it on you, the tenant.It might also say nothing about air-conditioners at all. If that is the case, you could argue that because the air-conditioner was already in place when you moved in, it is implicitly part of the bundle of services included in your lease. You might also be able to claim that a broken air-conditioner leads to unbearable heat, breaching the warranty of habitability, a state law.But as a practical matter, how do you get the landlord to fix it? You could take him to court to enforce your rights, but that comes at a steep price. “The legal costs of hauling the landlord into court will certainly exceed $1,800,” Mr. Frazer said. And that is not the only price you will pay. Let’s say you take him to court and win. He fixes the air-conditioner and then, when your lease expires, he does not offer you a new one — which is his prerogative, because you’re a market-rate tenant.Instead, consider using the air-conditioner as a negotiating tactic.

Offer to pay the $1,800 to replace the unit in exchange for a new lease at the same rent. A year without a rent increase might take the sting out of the repairman’s bill. It would also guarantee you another year in a cooler apartment. I am a rent-stabilized tenant in a co-op building. Recently, at the co-op board’s behest, my overnight guests have been asked by the doormen to sign in, even though I am home. Nothing in my lease requires it. Is this legal, and can my guests and I refuse?As a rent-stabilized tenant, you are bound by the terms of your lease and the rent-stabilization law, not by the rules of the co-op, said Andrew J. Wagner, a Manhattan real estate lawyer.The co-op is not your landlord; whoever owns the apartment is. And your agreement with your landlord is detailed in your lease, so you are not beholden to the co-op’s rules. For example, if your lease permits pets and the building institutes a no-pets policy, you would be exempt from such a rule, Mr. Wagner said.

In this case, you could argue that your guests do not need to sign a ledger because your lease does not require it. Submit your questions, share your stories and tell us what topics interest you most. But be prepared for pushback. The board might see your resistance as undermining a rule designed to protect the safety of residents and the building. Other people who live in your building — including renters — might feel safer knowing that guests are monitored. Asking that all guests identify themselves is one way to provide a measure of security.And if you refuse to comply with the rule and the co-op board takes you to court over the matter, a judge might not sympathize with your plight. Instead, the court might find that following this new rule would not create a hardship for you, nor would it undermine the terms of your tenancy, but it would provide security for residents. “I could easily see a judge enforcing the policy against the tenant as a reasonable safety measure,” Mr. Wagner said.

I’m interested in investing in real estate to diversify my portfolio, but can’t quite afford to do it on my own. I have a few fiscally responsible, like-minded friends who have expressed interest in investing with me, perhaps in a neighborhood like Hudson Heights or Jackson Heights. Is this a good idea? And how would we set it up, from a legal standpoint?It is no secret that buying real estate in New York City is expensive. Going in with friends could certainly defray some of the cost. But a business relationship is different from a friendship; it can be far more intimate and, at times, fraught. Before you sign any papers, make sure you know your partners.In addition to being fiscally minded, do your friends share your temperament? What about your tolerance for risk? If you plan to rent out these properties, how involved would everyone need to be? Do you share the same goals for the properties?Before you even start looking at property, you should be in agreement about the finer details of your investment and how you would handle unexpected problems.

“Having partners can make managing an investment more difficult, because every decision must be made in accordance with your agreement,” said Andrew B. Freedland, a Manhattan real estate lawyer. Carl A. Ekroth, an associate broker with Douglas Elliman on the Anders-Ekroth Team, said he has seen partnerships unravel before they ever get off the ground. “Without a clear and concise plan of action regarding a budget and neighborhood,” he said, “members will often find themselves bickering about these details, thereby losing potential opportunities.”To avoid pitfalls, hire a lawyer to draft a legal structure for your partnership, like a limited liability company. Clear guidelines will provide a framework for how to proceed and will help you avoid conflicts in the future. “While not all disputes can be avoided, many of them can be avoided through a solid business structure,” Mr. Freedland said.A proper corporate structure will also shield all the partners from liability, protecting personal assets.