Is it Time to Replace Your Air Conditioner?

Every summer for years you've been able to depend on one thing.  Not the ice cream man.  Not the neighborhood children shrieking their way through the sprinklers.  Not even your annual sunburn.  No, it's your air conditioner.

But even though you've been together for nearly a decade and you've done your best to treat it right with regular maintenance and cleaning, it's been a tough few summers and your air conditioner doesn't seem to be working as hard as it once did.  It's tough to admit, but it may be time to replace your air conditioner.  Before you rush into anything, here are some ways to tell that it may be time to get a new air conditioning unit:

If it's more than 10 years old...
If your air conditioner is more than ten years old, it's most likely time to replace it.  This isn't just because appliances like this get more inefficient and break down over time, it's also because equipment from 10 years ago is probably not the most energy efficient equipment available.  Upgrading to a more modern model can save you money while it also saves the environment by consuming less energy for the same cooling power.

If it has been needing frequent repairs...When you find yourself on a first name basis with your air conditioner repair man, it may be time to replace your air conditioner.  Even though you might look forward to your weekly chats with the repairman down at the service shop, when things start breaking frequently you are going to find yourself spending more money on repairs to your old unit than it would cost you to replace it.

If you have noticed your energy bill increasing...
Even if your air conditioner hasn't outright shut down yet, you may notice that your energy bills during the summer are increasing even though you are keeping your house at the same temperature.  This means that your air conditioning unit is getting less and less efficient and it is taking more energy to produce the same results.  It is time to consider investing in a new, energy efficient unit so you can see those bills drop while you get the same cool house.

If it is noisy...
When your air conditioner starts making weird noises, clanking sounds or rattling sounds, those are a good indication that something is not quite right with your unit. Your first course of action should be to call in a licensed repair person, especially if it's a newer unit, but prepare yourself for bad news if your air conditioner has been part of your family for a while.

A new air conditioner can indeed represent a big expense, but keep in mind that as your unit gets less efficient, your energy costs will go up which could end up costing even more in the long run.

Maintaining Your Air Conditioner in the Winter

During the summer months, your air conditioner unit is probably on your mind constantly.  You are downright grateful when it is working properly and may find yourself cursing it when it is not.  However, as soon as the first fall chill crosses the threshold of your front door, you probably switch it off and don't think about it again until things heat back up.  This temptation is certainly understandable.  After all, what could your air conditioner possibly need during the winter when it is turned off completely and not in use?

It's true that you don't need to worry too much about your air conditioner during the winter, but you will want to perform some preventative care even when you are not using it, in order to make sure it is ready to go on that first day of summer.

First, you'll want to make sure that your air conditioner is clean before you put it out of your mind.  If you have a wall unit, split system, this may mean cleaning it yourself using an at-home cleaning kit, or having it professionally flushed and cleaned by a trained air conditioner professional.  By making sure it is clean before it is turned off for a few months, you can prevent dangerous mold growth inside the unit as well as an inefficient and clogged up rotor when you go to turn it on again.

If you have a portable air conditioner that is either moved from room to room in your home or temporarily mounted in a window, you will want to store it away safely, either in its original box or using another safe and dry method.

For a central air conditioner that is located outside your home, you will still want to make sure it's clean, but you also may choose to cover it for the winter.  Covering your air conditioner is particularly important in climates that experience harsh winter weather.  Accumulated snow or rain can damage an air conditioner system easily.  Similarly, bugs, dust, dirt, and debris can become caught in the air conditioner and cause it to operate with less than its maximum efficiency.  There are many commercially available air conditioner covers that can protect your central air conditioning unit during difficult winter months.  The investment in this type of cover may prolong the life of your air conditioner, actually saving you money in the long run.

The proper cleaning and storage of your air conditioning unit during the winter can mean the difference between a comfortable and cool welcome to the hot summer or a painful and frustrating call to a repair service.