Signs It’s Time for a New Air Conditioner

Your home’s air conditioner can be important to your family’s comfort and safety. And like your furnace, as your air conditioner ages, it can show signs of wear-and-tear, become less efficient, and eventually, may need to be replaced.

When to replace an old air conditioner

Breakdowns can happen and when they do, getting a replacement can be a bit of a scramble. To minimize the risk of having to go without an air conditioner, you may want to prepare early by looking for warning signs that it might be time to replace your air conditioner. Common warning signs include:

1. The air conditioner is well-aged

Your home’s air conditioner will typically last at least a decade, but it can often last longer with regular maintenance. In fact, it is not uncommon for a well-maintained A/C unit to last as long as 20 years. Thus, if your A/C unit is in the range of 15 years old, then you may want to start considering replacing it soon.

2. The air conditioner is unusually noisy

Most air conditioners tend to make noises when turned on, but their soft hum noise should easily blend into the background. However, if your air conditioner starts to make frequent loud noises, then that might be a sign that your air conditioner is struggling to keep your home cool.

3. Your cooling costs are unusually high

If your home’s energy use and cooling costs increase for no reason, then this may signal a problem with your air conditioner. There could be unrepaired damages that need attention or a maintenance tune-up that’s required.

4. The air conditioner is noticeably damaged

If there are any noticeable damages to your air conditioner like rust, cracks in the equipment, or pooling of water around the unit, then that can be an indicator that your A/C unit may need to be fixed or replaced soon.

5. Maintenance visits turn into repair visits

Regular maintenance can help ensure that your air conditioner lasts. However, when the maintenance visits turn into frequent and costly repairs, a new air conditioner may be a better investment. 

6. Some rooms don’t seem to cool down

If your air conditioner has lost its ability to cool your whole home, then this may be a sign that something is amiss. A common reason can be that your air conditioner is reaching the end of its usefulness, thus, it struggles to maintain an even temperature throughout the house.

If your air conditioner isn’t old, however, then the reason could be that the unit is too small for your home. Although this isn’t a warning sign that your air conditioner is breaking down, it can be a sign that your air conditioner is mismatched to your house. Did you know that air conditioners come in many sizes? A larger multi-level home, for example, will need a larger and more powerful air conditioner than a small bungalow. Thus, if you’ve recently expanded your home or finished a previously unused basement, then your current air conditioner may not have the capacity needed to keep your home comfortably cool.

Get a No Obligation Quote Today on a New Air Conditioner

Staying cool in the hot summer months can be essential. If your air conditioner can no longer keep your home comfortable in the heat, then it may be time to turn to a Local Home Pro HVAC expert. Contact us today and get a free consultation for your new air conditioner!