It may not seem like it now, but summer really is right around the corner. Warmer temperatures can and have snuck up on us—is your air conditioner ready? If you’re unsure, it’s time to check and see if your cooling system is, in fact, ready to get you through another warm season.
Maintenance and timely repairs, of course, are key to ensuring this is the case. But what if you have an older system? If your air conditioner is 10-15 years old and you’ve practically run it into the ground, chances are you’ll do better with a replacement rather than a repair.
Unsure? Read on to discover a few methods to determine if you’re in need of an AC replacement.
Is Your AC System Costing More and More to Operate?
As a cooling system ages, it gradually starts losing its efficiency as parts wear down. This is natural, and at first, the efficiency loss won’t be noticeable, especially if you have your system regularly maintained to slow down wear and tear.
Eventually, however, even a well-maintained system will have to run longer and longer in order to match your comfort needs, which drives up the monthly costs of using your air conditioner. If you find your cooling system is costing you much more to use per month than it used to, and it’s an older system anyway, it probably makes a lot of economical sense to replace it rather than try getting by with another repair.
Do You Find Yourself Always Calling for Repairs?
Speaking of repair needs—having them every once in a while isn’t a big deal. We mentioned natural wear and tear above—your system is going to have some repair needs, maybe once every few years. But if you find yourself needing air conditioner repairs multiple times in a single year, it’s time to consider an upgrade.
This level of frequency in air conditioner breakdowns is likely due to a system finally succumbing to years of wear and tear. The various components inside it are all starting to fail in groups, which causes the frequency and costs of repairs to spike.
Continuing to repair a cooling system once it reaches this point is only going to waste your money. Chances are you’ll have to replace it soon anyway.
How Old Is Your System?
The lifespan we mentioned above wasn’t just a guess—it’s an educated estimate. No air conditioner lasts indefinitely. Eventually, your air conditioner will reach the age that it’s just not worth keeping anymore.
We mentioned above how the average lifespan for an air conditioner is about 10-15 years. After this point, it starts accumulating a host of chronic problems that makes it increasingly expensive to keep it up and running.
If your system is 15 years old, it’s time to talk to a professional to see what your upgrade options are. Like we mentioned earlier, there is going to come a time where it just makes more economical sense to replace. It’s better to take care of this now than wait for a complete system breakdown!
For AC replacement in Eugene, OR, contact Comfort Flow Heating.
