Air conditioners are under a lot of stress during the summer months. They’re working almost day and night to get you comfortable whether it’s 80 degrees out or 100. This stress can cause component malfunctions that are easily repaired by a professional–but when is it too much for your AC? Can damage ever be permanent and require a whole system replacement?
Well, the truth is that yes, damage can be permanent and require replacement. But this is rare and depends on a variety of different factors like the age of your system and it’s manufacturer. Every piece of machinery has a lifespan and it might be time for air conditioning replacement in Cedar Rapids, IA if your AC is consistently falling apart.
Let’s check in and see if it’s time for your AC to call it quits.
Age: The Major Factor
An air conditioner can’t last forever. Technically it could last for a long time, but it would barely be considered an air conditioner after two decades of dutiful work. At best, these kinds of systems have a maximum lifespan of 10-15 years before they start running up the bill, leaking refrigerant, and breaking down at the first bit of stress.
Air conditioners are designed to handle the cooling capacity of hot summer days. They should be able to cool your home without problems, even when temperatures get very hot. But if a system is 10-15 years old, this ability diminishes greatly and that’s when you see AC units failing regularly and causing serious problems.
So, bottom line–if your air conditioner is reaching the end of its lifespan, consider replacement before it starts causing you trouble.
Frequent Repairs
You should only need to realistically repair your air conditioner once a year at maximum. These systems are designed to be reliable, which means they should work relatively easily with no frequent trouble.
Frequent repairs are almost always a sign of a more sinister problem at the heart of your system. Perhaps the compressor (the heart of your air conditioner) is failing and will need to be replaced, which is extremely expensive. Or maybe the system is reaching its lifespan and components are degrading quickly. These are all reasons to get your system replaced rather than repaired.
Problems With Efficiency
Another way to detect whether your system is ready for retirement or not is with its efficiency. Air conditioners are designed to cool the air of a home without using too much energy. “Too much” is relative, but this is usually established when the system is installed in your home. You know how much energy the system usually consumes, so you should have a pretty good idea when it’s consuming too much.
Breakdowns and More
Unfortunately, we can’t always figure out the state of your air conditioner from just a quick check-in blog post. A sudden breakdown or other issue can make you worry about the longevity of your home comfort. Luckily, our team has trucks that are fully stocked and we’re constantly on the move. Call our hotline and schedule an appointment to get a diagnosis, work out a replacement, or even just for maintenance.
At Dalton Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, Electric and Fireplaces, Inc., your comfort is our promise! To set up an appointment in the Cedar Rapids area, give us a call at the number above, email customerservice@daltonphc.com or schedule an appointment online.