As the weather warms, you turn on your air conditioner to keep your house cool and comfortable. It’s an unpleasant feeling to turn on your AC and discover that it no longer works or is significantly less efficient. If you’ve had the same air conditioner for a long time, you may be looking for signals that it’s time to replace it.
It’s better to be proactive and keep ahead of air conditioning problems before they arrive at your home. However, determining when your air conditioner needs to be replaced isn’t always straightforward. In this article, we will present to you four important signs that you should replace your AC with a new one.
1. It Is Older Than Ten Years
If your device is more than 10 years old, you should be grateful it has lasted this long and start looking for a replacement. If you’re not sure how old it is, book a maintenance appointment and ask the technician. In general, air conditioners do not survive over a decade. This may sound obvious, but if your air conditioner is beginning to show its age, you should consider replacing it. Unlike furnaces, air conditioners are usually outside and exposed to hazardous temperatures throughout the year, shortening their duration.
Your air conditioner’s health and effectiveness are governed by a variety of factors, such as how well you managed it during its lifespan. Its lifespan may be shortened if you neglect annual tune-ups. The frequency with which you use the unit, as well as how hot and rainy it gets where you live, can all have an impact on its longevity. Keep in mind that as your air conditioner ages, its components may become obsolete or unavailable. You’ll have to buy a new unit if a broken part can’t be replaced.
2. It Breaks Down Often
Common service and repair calls for your cooling system are signals that you need a new one. They may wind up costing more than a new system in the long run. If you install a more effective air conditioning system, you will save money on costly maintenance as well as energy costs. Inadequate maintenance is the root of many common AC issues, which may be prevented by having your unit fixed. Before the summer season begins, air conditioning services can identify and repair any problems. Even if you don’t require a replacement right now, you should begin making preparations in case yours fails.
As mentioned above, at some point it could be much better to buy a new one than to spend money on pricey repairs—especially if your warranty runs out.
3. Higher Bills
If the use of energy in your household remains the same, but all the bills are rising, it is an important sign to look for a new AC. Your costs should be stable every month, and when the time for replacement comes, you will notice that the house is cool, but the bills are much higher than they were last summer.
Also, as your system ages, it will become less efficient, which will result in higher costs. An air conditioner can lose up to 9% of its efficiency at each point as it ages. Receiving a big energy bill once in a while is not a reason for alarm, but if it continues, you may need to start shopping.
4. It’s Being Too Hot Inside
The fact that your air conditioner isn’t performing its job is perhaps the most evident clue that it’s on its way out. Within a few minutes of turning it on, cold air should be coming out of the vents. If it does not, it’s a clue that it is having trouble keeping up, especially if it turns on but blasts warm air.
The unit should not be creating any further noise than the fan blowing. If your air conditioner is still producing noises after you have attempted to fix it, you will need to replace it. Some people have also reported a strange odor that smells like sulfur, mildew, rotten eggs, or mold. None of these are positive indicators, and a repair will not eliminate the odor.
Air conditioning problems usually seem to strike at the most inopportune times, but replacing them does not have to be an unexpected cost. You will be able to find the right time to replace it if you pay attention to how it works. It is critical for your family’s comfort and health to have a properly functioning air conditioner. Thus, follow these important signs to know when it is the time for a replacement.
