Tip-Offs That Your AC isn’t Long for this World

If your home’s air conditioning system has been working away to keep your living spaces cool and comfortable for more than 10 or 15 years, it’s probably a good idea to keep an eye out for red flags that suggest the system is nearing the end of its service life. (Actually, the mere fact that it’s been operating that long is a red flag in itself.)

Typically, an AC can be expected to last 12-15 years, though it can be more or less depending on:

• Usage. A cooling system that’s operating for most of the year 24/7 in Phoenix, Arizona, won’t last as long as one in Ohio that does its job for five months a year, more or less.
• Maintenance. An AC that gets annual maintenance from a Cincinnati air conditioning company should last longer (and perform better) than one that has not had maintenance or has been neglected or mishandled.
• The initial quality of the system. Generally speaking, all else being equal, a higher-quality cooling system will last longer than a lower-quality system.

Red flags with an older AC system

Your Cincinnati, Ohio, air conditioner needs more frequent repairs

The system starts needing small repairs more often than in the past. Older systems tend to break down more often (which, of course, is the case with any mechanical system).

Performance starts sliding

For example, an air conditioner that once had no trouble cooling rooms throughout the house, even rooms far away from the equipment, begins struggling to fully heat the house.

Another example would be a system that at its prime could provide reliable home-wide cooling, even in very hot weather, but now really struggles when temps outside rise above 90 for extended periods.

(Before assuming a drop-off in performance is the fault of the equipment, make sure it’s not a result of other issues, such as the ductwork/register system or a failure to replace a clogged air filter. Your Cincinnati AC repair technician also may find that the problem is the fault of one replaceable part or component.)

Your utility bills are going up

You notice your electric bills are getting higher in the summer and there’s no other factor that could explain that increase. An older AC gradually begins losing its efficiency, which means it takes more power to provide the same amount of cooling.

In this case, as with above, make sure some other factor isn’t at fault, such as a clogged air filter, dirty heat-exchange coils, blocked registers, dirty or leaking ductwork, etc.

Your system suffers a significant breakdown two times in three years or less

With an older air conditioner, if the compressor dies, it likely means you effectively have a broken AC that will need to be replaced. The good news is that the new system will provide much better energy efficiency than your old one, and your cooling bills will begin paying you back immediately.