Wondering about the health of your air conditioner?

Regular maintenance can extend the life of a modern air conditioner by many years. Sooner or later, though, repair costs will rise and performance will decline.

Let’s look at some signs that suggest your air conditioner needs to be replaced:

1. Your Air Conditioner Runs All the Time
If your air conditioner runs many hours a day to maintain the target temperature, it may be on its last legs. This is a costly state for an AC to be in, since it draws so much electricity. A qualified professional should check the ducts – if airflow is okay, the problem rests with the unit itself.

2. Your Air Conditioner Emits Odd Smells
Strange smells can be indicative of a serious electrical problem with your unit. If these scents are strong and sudden, be wary. Stop running any unit if the air has a metallic or smoky odour. Mild musty smells can be traced to bad air filters, but intense ones indicate a bigger problem.

3. Your Air Conditioner Runs Warm
Some air conditioning units generate lukewarm air for the first few minutes after activation. If this persists, the unit may be low on coolant. If it continues to blow warm after coolant is filled, internal components may be damaged. This is usually cheaper to replace than fix.

4. Your Air Conditioner Stops Working Entirely
If your air conditioning stops working completely, the fault usually lies with it. If you notice home-wide issues like digital clocks resetting, lights dimming, or lightbulbs breaking frequently, there may be an electrical system problem. In most cases, though, the AC motor is shot.

Once your air conditioner has any of these serious symptoms, it’s definitely time to consider a new unit. You might be able to get marginal performance out of the existing one for a little while longer, but it’s likely to be much more expensive to operate than it should be.

In many cases, there’s also risks: A fire, the development of serious indoor pollution, and more.

Although buying a new air conditioner is a significant investment, it is worth it in the long run. Today’s units are capable of running more efficiently at a much smaller cost of ownership. Plus, they use parts and materials that are more resistant to mechanical failure.

To find out more about your options, contact Syles Mechanical today.