For most of you humans, you tend to view your air conditioners as a luxury, and your heating systems as a necessity.

For Comfort Bear, it’s the exact opposite. If you’ve been keeping up with the blog, you might remember how sentimental I got about having to replace my furnace, even though I barely used that thing.

But now you’re asking me to replace my air conditioner?

Just as a reminder: what you consider to be a “relaxing summer day” is a sweltering inferno for me. I need my AC to keep my fur cool!!

But no matter what you say, I don’t have to give up my AC that easily. Unless my air conditioner is displaying the right combination of issues, there’s really no reason to have my AC replaced so soon—and neither should you!

Here are the signs to look out for:

1. Lack of Cool Air

Have you ever asked yourself, “Is it just me, or is my air conditioner not cooling as quickly or powerfully as it used to?” Without some kind of objective measurement to back it up, it’s easy to assume that your suspicions are all in your head. (Not me, of course. I monitor my air conditioner all day long!)

However, it’s actually not that unreasonable of an assumption. An AC in decline will fail to cool like it used to, potentially leaving some rooms feeling warmer than the rest of the home. That will force it to run longer, work harder, and lead to…

2. Higher Cooling Bills

If you want evidence to back up your assumptions, then there’s nothing clearer than the cooling bill. A sudden increase in the cooling bill—without an increase in usage—is a clear sign that something is wrong with the system. It’s especially notable if these high cooling costs persist even after getting maintenance on the system.

Maintenance is designed to restore the AC’s efficiency, but an AC that’s too old won’t be able to live up to its old potential. And speaking of age…

3. The AC is Over 10 Years Old

Don’t get me wrong—I’m not saying you should start making funeral arrangements for an AC that turns 10 years old. Instead, just keep an eye on its performance.

An air conditioner in good condition will last 15 years or more, but on the other hand, air conditioners in worse condition will start to falter around the 10-year mark, if not earlier. To play it safe, it’s best to start monitoring the AC at this point.

4. It Needs More and More Repairs

As much as HVAC blogs love to talk about air conditioning repairs, you really shouldn’t need air conditioning repairs in Independence, MO too often. In fact, if your AC is needing a repair even as much as once per year, it’s time to start evaluating the potential for replacement (or, if that AC is younger than 10, it could be time to evaluate your HVAC technician).

There’s no reason to give up your AC too early… But you shouldn’t spend another dime on an AC in need of replacement, either! Contact Climate Control Heating & Cooling today for an assessment of your AC. Comfort & Care From the Team With the Bear.