An air conditioner will not last forever. Performance peaks at the beginning of its life. After that the only way is down. It gradually dwindles until it reaches a point where it is no longer good enough.
Determining the life of an air conditioner is not an exact science. There are many answers to the question ‘how long should you use an air conditioner for?’ as it depends from one air conditioner to another. Some air conditioners start being a menace at the tender age of 7 years while others continue to perform well even after they exceed 15 years. A good lifespan for an air conditioner is usually between 10 and 15 years.
If your air conditioner is showing signs of problems before it reaches 10 years of age it is probably because it hasn’t been installed or maintained properly. Another reason could be that you purchased the wrong model or hired the wrong AC repairman.
Maintenance should be handled by both the repairman and you. You must do your bit by changing the filter and dusting the outside. Advanced maintenance like cleaning the unit from the inside or lubricating the parts can be performed by an air conditioner repairman. We at East Texas Refrigeration do this on a regular basis. You can give us a call if you need some help.
Ice build on or around the AC unit, frequent breakdowns and low performance levels (that repairs don’t fix) are the best indicators of an air conditioner that has run its course. You frequently notice these problems when the air conditioner is between 10 and 15 years. If you detect these problems before the unit is 10 years old, then something may be wrong with your air conditioner and it requires a new repairman. At this point give East Texas Refrigeration a call. We will fix this issue using our skills and years of experience.
We hope this answers your question on when it is time to get rid of an air conditioner.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this blog post might not be relevant to your AC unit. All units are unique and how long they last will depend upon the brand and how well they are maintained.