If you are careful about scheduling prompt repairs and maintenance, you can get quite a few years of quality service out of your air conditioner. At some point, though, even the best-maintained air conditioners need to be replaced. If your air conditioner isn’t able to get you through this summer, it’s highly recommended that you replace it now. You really don’t want to suddenly have your air conditioner break down on you in the middle of the hottest season of the year. Be on the lookout for the following signs that your air conditioner is reaching the end of its life, so that you can replace it in time for summer.
High Monthly Costs
As you use your air conditioner over the years, it will gradually begin to wear down. This wear and tear won’t have any noticeable effects on the system, at first. However, as the system gets older it will lose more and more efficiency to this effect. Eventually, the declining efficiency will force the air conditioner to operate for longer and longer periods of time in order to compensate. This added operating time adds to the monthly costs of using the air conditioner. If your monthly bills are higher than they should be, and don’t have an obvious explanation, it might be because you need to replace your air conditioner.
Extensive Repair Needs
Over the years, you’re probably going to need to repair your air conditioner a handful of times. That’s not something you should be concerned about. However, older air conditioners become more and more prone to having various parts break down from age and wear. If you need to repair your air conditioner multiple times a year, that’s an indication that it’s in need of replacement. You’re replacing the system one part at a time, anyway. It’s much more cost effective to just replace the entire system than to keep repairing it.
Old Age
Exactly how long an air conditioner lasts depends on a lot of factors, including how many times you schedule maintenance, the environment outside, and the make and model of the system. On average, though, an air conditioner will last 10-15 years. Once a system gets older than that, it will begin to accumulate all kinds of problems like those listed above. You can keep a system operating longer than that, if you’re willing to spend the money on it. The vast majority of the time, though, it’s not worth it at all. If your air conditioner is older than 15 years, it’s a good idea to at least consult with a professional about replacing it. You might be able to squeeze a few more good years out of it, or you may need to replace it.
Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing offers comprehensive air conditioning replacement services throughout Rockville, MD. If you need air conditioner services of any kind, we can help you out. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our HVAC experts. We’ll make sure that you get the air conditioning solution you need.