When your air conditioning system breaks down and needs to be repaired, many homeowners wonder: will I need to replace my air conditioner soon? Although no one wants to think about the expense and hassle of replacement, sometimes replacing an air conditioner is simply the best option.
Fall is an ideal time to consider if you’re likely to need repairs or a new unit. That’s because the fall season is generally slower and scheduling an installation is easy. Perhaps you’ve even googled “air conditioning installation near me” and done some research to help you decide.
If you’ve been asking yourself if your air conditioner is at the end of its life, read on to learn when it’s best to repair your AC unit and when it’s time to replace it. Here are the factors you should consider.
System Age
Most air conditioners are expected to last 15-20 years. Some may only last 10 years. Because of salt exposure, homeowners in coastal areas can expect to see their air conditioners last for 7-12 years. We recommend that homeowners whose units are nearing these dates watch their systems for signs of extreme wear and potential breakdown.
High Utility Bills
Have you noticed your utility bills have gone up with no correlation in usage? An air conditioner uses more electrical energy than any other appliance except for an electric water heater. If your AC is wearing down and not running as efficiently as it should be because of this, you’ll notice this in your utility bill. A new system will run smoothly and efficiently which will decrease your energy usage and your utility bill.
Uneven Cooling
Have you noticed that your central air conditioner does a great job of keeping some rooms cool, and not others? Uneven cooling is a warning sign that the system is losing its cooling capacity. This can mean that the AC is possibly close to a system failure. With a new system, you’ll enjoy even cooling throughout your home and no more pesky hot spots.
Noisy Operation
Just like with cars, a noisy air conditioner will emit a lot of noise to signal to you that it’s not running as well as it could be or is possibly on its last legs. An efficient system should be practically noiseless.
Expensive or Frequent Repairs
If your air conditioning system has needed frequent repairs, consider how much you’ve spent to fix it and whether you’d be better off putting that money toward a new system. If you’ve received an expensive repair quote that’s more than half the price of buying a new system, we recommend that you strongly consider a replacement. Why throw money away on a system that may only last a couple more years?
If you’re wondering if you should replace your system, contact us to discuss your options. You can rely on us to give you an honest, professional assessment of your air conditioning system and whether a replacement is the best option this fall.
Call the pros at Professional Heating & Air for AC repair and service in Mandeville and Covington, LA.