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4 Signs You Need A New Air Conditioner
When spring is almost at an end, and summer is on the horizon, you want to make sure your home is ready to take on the heat we get here in the Kansas City metro area!
That might mean scheduling preventive maintenance (aka a tune-up) for your air conditioning system to get it in top operating condition, or it could mean finally getting that AC repair done to replace the compressor, or a capacitor, or having to track down the refrigerant leaks that can plague older air conditioners, and those repair costs can add up so fast, especially with frequent repairs.
You don’t want to go into summer with a system you can’t rely on to keep you cool and your energy bills low. If you’re not certain whether or not your current air conditioner has the chops to get you through another hot Kansas City season, read on for some common signs that might help you decide.
Does Your Air Conditioner Have High Monthly Costs?
The cost of using your air conditioner is obviously going to rise as your cooling system continues to run to keep up with the demands placed on it. However, if you notice your energy costs going higher and higher, then the AC system may be nearing the end of its lifespan, and can no longer adequately keep up with your air conditioner needs. Spikes in monthly costs usually occur due to wear and tear on the air conditioner over years of use. The older and more worn out the air conditioner gets, the more its energy efficiency will decline and the longer the system will have to operate to compensate for it. This is what drives up the costs, even though at one time the unit may have been energy efficient, the longer it stays on to get down to the temp on the thermostat may not be noticeable at the time that it’s happening.
Does Your Air Conditioner Break Down Frequently?
It’s not unusual for air conditioners and HVAC systems to break down every once in a while. Things can happen and an AC unit repair every few years does not mean that there is something chronically wrong with it. However, homeowners really shouldn’t need to repair their air conditioning unit multiple times a year.
If your system breaks down every few months, or even once a year, it’s a warning sign that it’s getting close to the end of its life and possibly time for a new AC system. The accumulated wear and tear on the system causes parts of it to begin failing in groups. If you’re paying to repair your air conditioner that frequently, you would save a lot of money in the long run by just installing a new system. This can be especially true when talking about older air conditioners and the r-22 refrigerant used by those HVAC systems, compared to the newer freon types found in your new AC units.
Additionally, squealing, banging, and other sounds that just simply should not be happening can be telltale signs that your HVAC unit is starting to give out, and that soon you could be left with no air conditioning at the worst possible time!
Is Your Air Conditioner Over 15 Years of Age?
Assuming you take perfect care of your air conditioner, you can expect it to last anywhere between 10-15 years. Once an air conditioner passes that age group, it will begin to accumulate a range of problems that will begin to impact its efficiency. The older the air conditioner gets, the more problems it will start to have and the more costly it will be to keep up and running. If your air conditioner is older than 15, you should definitely consult with a professional about replacing it with a new system. The initial cost might be steeper than just patching your old air conditioner up for another summer, but you’ll save much more money in the long run.
Is Your Air Conditioning System Having Trouble Maintaining Temperature?
Sometimes when an AC unit is at the end of its lifespan, it can be a slow fade. Whether it’s reduced airflow, not blowing quite as cool air as it used to, or even feeling that some ductwork is not producing the same airflow as others, it could be a warning sign that your AC unit is starting to fail. Also if the HVAC system is failing, it can feel like high humidity levels in the home, since the home is not being air conditioned.
Climate Control Heating and Cooling, Inc. provides a full range of air conditioning installation services in Kansas City, MO, including new air conditioning installation, HVAC system repair & replacement, indoor air quality as well as a full range of plumbing services for homeowners of the greater Kansas City metro. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our professional technicians.
