If your air conditioning unit is at least ten years old, you should be thankful for its longevity and start looking for a new one. Air conditioners typically don't last more than a decade. To keep your home at a comfortable temperature during the summer months, all the mechanisms must be working properly. If you experience any of these 10 signs, contact a professional HVAC technician right away.
One of the most common indications that your AC unit needs to be replaced is an increase in dust accumulation in your home and higher humidity levels than before. While it's normal for utility bills to go up a bit during the summer months, if you're paying a significantly higher bill than last summer or even a few summers ago, your air conditioner could be the cause. A strange smell coming from your air conditioner unit could also mean that it needs to be replaced or repaired. This smell could be due to things like mold in the ducts or the melting of the wires.
Temperature inconsistencies often indicate that the air conditioning unit is no longer powerful enough to cool the house or that the ducts are not installed correctly. Another sign that your air conditioning system needs to be replaced or repaired is an energy bill that rises rapidly without additional consumption. In some cases, you'll notice a water leak through the HVAC system; at other times, ice will form inside the air conditioning unit on copper refrigerant lines outside the condenser. If you've kept your air conditioner in good condition throughout its lifespan, you'll likely need to change it in about 10 to 15 years. Investing in a newer unit can save you from frequent visits by an HVAC technician and money in the long run. In any case, if you decide to keep your air conditioning system to save money, you'll only end up living in an uncomfortable home environment.
