Signs That You Need a New Air Conditioner

With proper maintenance and the occasional repair when needed, your air conditioning unit can provide you with sufficient cool air for upward of 20 years. However, over time, signs that it may be time to replace your unit appear, including:

1. Age: After 12 to 15 years, most air conditioners begin to show their wear and age as they begin to work less efficiently and repairs become more frequent. After 15 years, you should evaluate how much money you have spent in maintaining your current AC unit, the elements that the unit has been exposed to, and if it is time to upgrade to improve the energy efficiency.
   
   
2. When Repairs Cost More Than Replacement: Most homeowners have a pre-arranged budget for repairs on households items, including HVAC systems, to help them determine whether it is time to schedule another repair or to install a new system entirely. The same rule applies for air conditioning units. Once you've spent close to or the same amount of money to repair your unit as you did when it was brand new, it may be time to replace it.
   
   
3. Energy Efficiency: As an AC unit ages, it will work harder and use more energy to continue to pump out cool air consistently. A spike in your energy bill may be a result of your old air conditioner using more energy to ensure that your home remains cool. However, you may also notice the opposite, in which the unit doesn't produce the same amount of conditioned air as it once did; this also indicates that you may need to replace the unit.
   
   
4. Noise: As your air conditioner tries to pump out conditioned air,  it may begin to make unpleasant noises, which can indicate loose or failing parts.
   
   
5. Overheating: One of the primary ways to tell if your AC unit needs to be replaced is when the unit continues to run, yet doesn't produce cool air. This leads the unit to overheat as it tries to run properly, yet fails.