Florida has a very long cooling season when air conditioners run during most days. All the stress that ACs undergo in our hot and humid climate means that we must take special care of them so they will have the longest service lives possible and provide the best return on our original investment in them.
However, you should never let an air conditioner run and run until it has a final collapse. If you do that, you’ll have a period when the AC will waste enormous amounts of energy, and then suddenly find yourself with no air conditioning at all… probably on a searing hot day. It’s a smart idea to replace an old air conditioner before it turns into an energy-gobbler on the verge of dying.
Is your AC no longer worth keeping?
Now that we’re at the end of summer and your air conditioner has just gone through a few tough months, you should ask yourself if it’s time to schedule a replacement when the cooler weather arrives. Here are some specific questions to ask that will help focus your answer:
- Is the air conditioner reliable? – If the AC has a recent history of malfunctions that have made repairs a routine affair, then keeping the system around much longer is a bad idea. If AC repair bills for the year are around $500, you’re probably paying too much.
- Is the air conditioner older than its estimated lifespan? – An AC has a manufacturer’s estimated lifespan, which usually falls between 10 to 15 years. If your system is past this age, consider replacing it.
- How much does it cost to run the AC each summer? – What you’re looking for here are indications that the air conditioner is losing its energy efficiency and costing more to run. An air conditioner, provided it has routine maintenance each year, should maintain 95% of its efficiency rating for most of its service life. When efficiency drops, it means the air conditioner is in its last stages.
If you are looking for a professional opinion regarding replacing your air conditioning system, call up Kool Breeze of Northwest Florida, Inc. We serve Pensacola Beach, FL.