When you get a brand new air conditioner, the last thing you want to think about is when you may need to replace it. Unfortunately, certain circumstances may require you to replace an AC unit within a shorter time frame, from normal wear and tear, to inefficient usage and improper installation. The good news is that allowing a professional, such as Home – Canvey Air Conditioning, to install your air conditioner means you will usually enjoy a greater period of time between replacements.
However, it’s important to be able to recognize the signs that you need a new air conditioner installed. This article will go over the most common indicators that you should be replacing your AC unit.
When to install a new air conditioner
If you are worried about the cost of professional AC installation services, you can get the best AC installed for your budget if you know where to look.
Read on to learn when and how to tell you to need a new air conditioner installed so that you can schedule an appointment with an installation expert.
- The air conditioner is past its prime years
How old is too old for an air conditioner? Energy Star suggests that you should consider your air conditioner too old once it reaches the 10-year mark.
Typically, your unit should last longer than that, up to at least 20 years, with proper maintenance. The only issue is that it’ll start working less efficiently and break down more often after ten years.
Running an old air conditioning unit is more expensive than installing a new one. It’ll break down more often, and you’d have to pay for replacement and repairs if the warranty doesn’t cover them. Replace an old conditioner as it is because health safety matters in the end. Your technician can help you select the best upgrade.
- AC is producing strange sounds
Most air conditioners produce a humming sound when switched on before the sound becomes constant. Also, strange sounds like grinding, chattering, and squeaking happen when something goes wrong inside the AC.
These sounds are probably happening because a component broke apart inside your AC. If repairs don’t do, then you’ll have to replace it.
- A foul smell from your air conditioner
With rattling and strange squeaking sounds from your air conditioner might come strange smells. Strange smells indicate mold overgrowth inside the unit and probably the ductwork, which might be hard to eliminate.
Perhaps it has dead critters, too, which only means bacteria are present. Foul smells from an air conditioner indicate that you are breathing contaminated air. Contaminants like mold thrive in a warm moist environment, like an AC that harbors moisture.
Mold growth from pools of water in the AC might be because of leaky refrigerant. Treat the odor from your unit with the urgency it deserves, as it indicates serious problems. Let replacing it be your top solution, especially when you can’t salvage the situation.
- Air conditioners require frequent repairs
Replacing an air conditioner requires frequent repairs that cost more than 50 percent of what it will cost to get a new one. Frequent repairs indicate that your unit is breaking down, and one day it might fail to work entirely.
Consider replacing the AC, mainly when the warranty doesn’t cover the repairs and replacements. You can ask your technician to ascertain that replacing your unit is the only way.
- When you’re getting little or no cold air from your AC
When the AC doesn’t do what it’s supposed to, cool and condition your indoor air space, it is time to trade it in for a new one. Cool air should come from your air conditioning unit as soon as you switch it on. Delays or total failure in delivery show that it’s time to budget for a new AC.
An AC that doesn’t blow cold air might be blowing warm air into your space. A clog in the ductwork or vents could be causing this. See if you can fix that first but if the underperformance persists, then starts looking for an upgrade.
- The thermostat isn’t working properly
Your air conditioner receives commands from the thermostat. They work in tandem as the thermostat directs how cold the air should be. A thermostat also takes indoor temperature measurements to ensure the air conditioner is as required.
A problematic air conditioner that short cycles or fails to start causes the thermostat to make inaccurate recordings indoors. Check the readings on the thermoset and see if they coincide with the air conditioner. An expert will tell if the problem is the thermoset or your AC. If it’s the AC, a replacement might be on the horizon.
- AC unit consumes a lot of energy
Running a broken-down air conditioner is the most expensive thing for your household. An old worn, out AC unit tends to overwork to cool your space. As a result, it consumes more energy than a new one would cool and function. It is typical for this, too, as an air conditioner loses its Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio SEER points over the years.
Other issues, like leaking AC refrigerant, can drive up energy consumption in your home. Refrigerant leaks are often repairable, but an entire system replacement is inevitable when you can’t fix it. Wait for the unit to self-adjust, and you’ll spend money unnecessarily like you never have.
- You experience high indoor humidity
The evaporator coil is the part that extracts war, air, and excess moisture from your space. The condensation drips out of the unit by design. You can tell that you need a new AC when the evaporator coil fails to remove excess moisture from your home as efficiently as it did once.
The indoor air feels clammy, and fog forms on the windows. Mold and mildew also start to grow when your house gets too humid. Replacing your current AC with a new one stops this.
Conclusion
If you’re able to recognize the problem signs and issues within your HVAC system early on, you may be able to recognize when you should be installing a new AC unit. However, regular maintenance on your unit allows you to catch concerns early, so you can fix or repair issues without having to replace the unit entirely.
Involve an expert when choosing the new air conditioner to avoid mistakes that could lead you to the same issue. It will be best if you avoid attempting a DIY AC installation to save money, as professional HVAC providers can install your AC unit much more quickly and easily, while allowing the unit to last longer down the line.
