How Do You Know When it's Time to Replace Your Air Conditioner

During the summer you rely on your air conditioner (A/C) more than ever. If it breaks down for any reason, it’s going to be inconvenient and uncomfortable for at least a little while. Every so often you should evaluate the state of your A/C system and decide if it’s time to replace your air conditioner. Here are some important factors to consider:

1. Age. A/Cs aren’t meant to last forever. A typical unit, assuming that you’ve maintained it well, will last about 12 to 15 years. As your A/C approaches this age range, its performance typically declines and you’re only one major breakdown away from a mandatory replacement.

2. Energy bills. An aging A/C can be one cause of high energy bills, but so can an inefficient unit. Technology advances fast, even in just a few years, the newer A/Cs are more efficient. Depending on the age and performance of your current A/C, switching to a new unit could actually save you money over time through lower energy bills.

3. Comfort. Your A/C’s main job is to keep your home comfortable. If it isn’t doing this for whatever reason, it’s time to replace it. One of the most common indicators of a poorly functioning A/C is that it won’t remove humidity from your home.

4. Reliability. If your A/C keeps breaking down when you need it most during the hottest days of the season, there’s a problem. Consider the cost of the repair, as well as expected future repairs and inconvenience in order to decide if upgrading to a new A/C is worth it.

If you need any help deciding if you should replace your air conditioner in your Northwest Arkansas home, give Paschal Heat, Air & Geothermal a call and see if we can help.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Springdale, Arkansas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about replacing your air conditioner and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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