The days are starting to warm up again, and soon you’re going to start relying on your air conditioner much of the time to keep cool. Before you put it under that level of strain, though, it’s a good idea to make sure that the system can handle it. If not, then you should consider replacing it as soon as possible. You don’t want to have it fail on you in the middle of summer. There are certain ways to tell if your air conditioner is close to permanently breaking down.
Higher Operating Costs
As an air conditioner gets older, it gradually begins to wear out. The various parts of the system get older and weaker, eventually causing the efficiency of the system to decline. This decline will not be noticeable at first, but it will reach a point where the system has to stay on for longer in order to keep the home cool. Longer operating times lead to larger operating costs. If your air conditioner is costing more to operate than it should, and you aren’t actually using the air conditioner more often, it might be that you need a new system.
Excessive Repair Issues
The occasional problem that needs professional repair is not unusual for air conditioning systems. However, as the system gets older and parts begin to wear down, they will eventually begin to fail in large groups. This will exacerbate both the frequency and severity of system repair needs. If you need to have your air conditioner repaired more than once every few years, then it might mean that you need to replace it.
Advanced Age
Under ideal circumstances, an air conditioner will normally last between 10-15 years. Right around that time, the system will begin to degrade faster and faster as various parts begin to fail. You could technically keep an air conditioner operating for longer than that, if you really wanted to invest the time, money, and effort. Honestly, though, there is no reason to do so if your primary interest is saving money. Once an air conditioner gets that old, it is far more cost-effective to install a new one than to keep the current one up and running.
Of course, there’s no way to tell for certain that it’s time to replace your air conditioner until you have a professional examine it for you. So, if you think that your air conditioner might need to be replaced, make sure that you call a technician to come evaluate it. They will be able to tell you for certain if you would be better served by replacing the system, or repairing it. Otherwise, you might end up replacing a system that has a few good years left in it.
Climate Masters provides a full range of air conditioner replacement services in Palm Coast, FL. If your old air conditioner can’t get you through another summer, contact us today and we’ll install a new one for you.
