Everyone knows air conditioners have a tendency to go out at the worst times, leaving you scrambling for a replacement. It always seems to be that 98-degree day, augmented by Wendell’s intense humidity, that sends your unit into overdrive and eventually into the grave (RIP, you beautiful, comfort-assuring piece of mechanical magnificence).
It’s always best to take preemptive steps and get your unit checked out at the first sign of trouble. If you’re thinking ahead and paying attention, you might even be able to get by with some minor repairs instead of a full replacement! At minimum, if a replacement is necessary, you can get it scheduled on your own time so your comfort is not at the mercy of the air conditioner gods. So what are the signs you may need to replace your AC?
Your power bills are rising and you’re not sure why
Have you noticed your electric bill increase over the last few months of the summer? What about an increase over the same month last year? While some variation is normal and there are lots of factors that can affect your energy efficiency, your utilities can be an early warning to bring an AC pro out to take a look at your system.
Over time, dirt builds up in units. Parts wear down. A small loss of efficiency is normal. But if you notice an unusual spike, it might be time to have a pro come out to take a look. If heavy repairs are needed, it might be time to consider biting the bullet and replacing the unit.
Your unit runs and cycles continuously
Wendell has some hot and humid summers, and on the 100-degree days, your unit might not have much downtime until the sun sets. But if your unit is running continuously (and thus inefficiently, see warning sign number one), it could be a sign that your air conditioner is nearing the end of its life. A properly sized air conditioner on an average summer day should be able to keep up with the temperature pretty comfortably.
Sometimes the fix might be simple maintenance and cleaning. Sometimes a tech might be able to repair the air conditioner’s condenser. But other times, it might just make more sense to go for the replacement.
Your house is feeling hotter and stickier than usual
Your unit or HVAC system is getting old
The age of your AC unit can make your replacement decisions much easier. You can generally expect about 15 to 20 years out of a modern central air conditioning unit and about the same (around 15) from a high-quality, properly installed mini-split. Of course, those estimates assume proper yearly maintenance (and there will always be outliers).
But after the 10-12 years mark, it’s extra important to keep an eye out for cooling and efficiency problems. If something big goes wrong, it might just make more sense to start with a brand new unit.
The repair bills are starting to add up
Finally, if it seems like your unit is always breaking down or your unit needs more involved repair work–perhaps with harder fixes like leaky coils or compressor problems–it might be time to just go for the replacement. Of course, smaller repairs for parts like capacitors and contactors will come up over the life of the unit. But there comes a point where the money to keep your unit alive would be better spent on a new unit. That’s where a
good tech can come in, give you the relevant information, and let you make a decision without a high-pressure upsell.
