There’s not an appliance out there that lasts forever—which probably goes without saying. No matter how well it’s designed or cared for, your household air conditioner has a limited lifespan. When it nears the end of that lifespan, it’s a good idea to have the system replaced before it experiences a catastrophic breakdown.
The last thing you want is to end up stuck inside on a hot day (since that’s the most likely time for system stress to cause a failure) with no relief in sight as you rush to schedule an AC replacement (and coincidentally risk not selecting the right system for your home). Additionally, an aging air conditioner will end up wasting money through inefficient operation since not even the most careful maintenance schedule or AC repair in Nashville, TN can maintain its efficiency once it reaches a certain age.
“Is My AC Dying?”
Our team is here to help you diagnose when your air conditioning system has aged to the point that it requires replacement, or if repairs can keep it going. We want to help you arrange for a convenient replacement if needed, instead of forcing you to rush into a decision and potentially getting an air conditioner that’s not matched correctly to your living space.
So what signs should you look for? What indicates that your AC is in fact dying? Read on for some guidance.
Old Age: We’ll mention this first, as we’ve already discussed lifespan. Your air conditioner’s manufacturer sets a service life estimate for it—typically the period that’s covered by its warranty. Generally speaking, a central air conditioning system that undergoes moderate use, and is well cared for, will last for about 10-15 years. Any system past that age and/or is experiencing frequent repair needs is a good candidate for replacement.
Constant Noisy Operation: One of the goals of air conditioner manufacturing, especially in recent years, has been to design cooling systems that function as quietly as possible. Therefore, if you start to notice noise coming from your air conditioner, it indicates that something is wrong.
If it’s just one peculiar noise when you’ve never heard anything suspicious in the past, then you could be dealing with simply a repair issue, like a loose or damaged component. However if grinding and clanging seem to be plaguing your system no matter how often you call for repairs, it’s a definite sign that your cooling system is wearing down and may need to be replaced.
Rising Cooling Bills: An air conditioning system that receives routine annual maintenance (or biannual, if it’s a heat pump system you’re using) should be able to retain 95% of its energy efficiency throughout its lifespan. When it nears the end of that lifecycle, however, the efficiency level will drop and no amount of repairs will get it back to full functionality.
Consequently, your cooling bills will rise. Be sure to take a look at your cooling costs over the past few years, if you have an aging system. Is there a steady upward trend? Then you might certainly have a failing cooling system.
At Covenant Heating and Cooling, we are dedicated to the promise of serving you. Contact us today for exceptional HVAC services.