Having a centralized air conditioning system in your home is a great way to keep you and your family comfortable throughout the scorching hot summer months. However, it’s important to realize that the average cooling system will last anywhere between 10 and 15 years. It’s a good idea to be on the lookout for common signs that indicate it may be time to upgrade your existing HVAC system.
1. Excessive Noise
Probably the most obvious sign that your air conditioning system needs to undergo replacement service is that’s making excessive amounts of noise. With a well-functioning centralized air conditioning system, you’re going to experience a whooshing sound as the air circulates throughout your home. However, you shouldn’t be hearing any sort of odd noises like vibrations and grinding. As your system starts to wear out over time, its components can become loose and worn out, which can cause consistent noises whenever your system is running.
2. Rising Energy Bills
While the cost of electricity does rise from time to time, most homeowners have a good idea of how much money they’ll spend every summer to power their air conditioning systems. If you start to notice that your energy bills are strictly increasing, it could be an indication that your air conditioning system is on the outs. As your system ages, it becomes less efficient over time. This is simply the result of its internal components wearing out and not working as efficiently any longer.
3. Frequent Repairs
It’s not uncommon for your home’s air conditioning system to break down from time to time. It has a lot of internal components that can become faulty or wear out. However, if you experience multiple repairs within a year’s span, that’s a key indication that your air conditioning system likely needs to be upgraded. It’s never a good idea to keep pouring your hard-earned money into air conditioner repairs for a system that isn’t going to last much longer.
4. Visible Signs of Rust
One visible sign that you’ll be able to identify with an aging AC system is rust. While these systems are designed to be protected from the elements and moisture damage, that security only lasts so long. As the unit ages, it becomes more susceptible to moisture and weather damage. If you notice that the outside of your unit has a lot of rust and even some holes in it, it’s highly likely that the mechanical components on its inside are also rusting out. It’s typically more cost effective to buy a new unit instead of trying to replace all of your existing unit’s rusted components.
5. R-22 Refrigerant
Traditionally, R-22 refrigerant was commonly used inside residential air conditioning systems. However, this type of refrigerant has been discovered to be harmful to the environment. Therefore, it has been outlawed from being used in any new HVAC systems. While it’s still legal to use existing systems that rely on R-22 refrigerant, it’s increasingly expensive to have your refrigerant recharged. This is simply due to the fact that the supplies of R-22 are fairly limited.
6. Existing System Over 10 Years Old
When your existing HVAC system hits the 10-year mark, it’s time to start thinking about purchasing a new unit. It’s been proven time and time again that air conditioner efficiency significantly drops with age. While your system may have been very efficient at the time you purchased it, after 10 years, it’s likely not even close to the same efficiency level.
7. Want to Reduce Energy Usage
One reason that you may want to consider upgrading your existing cooling system is that you want to be more energy efficient in your home. HVAC technology has come a long way in the recent decades. Systems are becoming more and more energy efficient, which translates to lower utility bills for you. Each system will be given a SEER rating with a higher rating meaning the system’s more efficient. Economy cooling systems will typically have a SEER rating of around 14 to 16. More efficient units will have a SEER rating of 17 and above.
8. Increased Indoor Humidity
As your air conditioning system naturally operates, it will pull excess moisture out of the air and onto its evaporator coils. Unless you live in a very humid climate, it’s likely that your air conditioning system will regulate your indoor humidity level to keep it at a comfortable range. If you start to notice that the inside of your home seems to be more humid than you are used to, it could be a sign that your HVAC system isn’t running as efficiently and is likely having trouble keeping up with your demands.
9. Constantly Running
While it’s expected that your cooling system will run more often during the hottest days of the summer, your system shouldn’t be running constantly on average days. If you start to notice that your air conditioning system just isn’t keeping up with adequately cooling your home while it seems to be running non-stop, it’s a key indication that your air conditioning system is nearing the end of its lifespan.
10. Frequent Refrigerant Recharges
The lifeblood of any great cooling system is refrigerant. This magical substance works to absorb heat and transport it to the outdoors. Unfortunately, refrigerant can leak out of holes in your copper tubing, and your air conditioning system will struggle to remove heat from the air inside your home. If you’re finding that you need to call your HVAC repair specialist to recharge your refrigerant on a yearly basis, it’s time to think about upgrading your system alongside its refrigerant lines.
11. Visible Damage
While your outdoor condenser unit is constructed to withstand adverse weather conditions, unexpected significant weather events could create damage to your unit. Whether it’s heavy hail or hurricane-force wind, your unit could undergo too much physical damage to be repaired. In other cases, it may not be a weather event but rather something that came directly into contact with your outdoor condenser unit and caused significant damage.
12. Enjoyable New Features
Another reason that you may want to consider upgrading your existing air conditioning system is that you simply want to take advantage of the new features a modern-day system has. Some of these include ultra-quiet operation, zone capabilities, connectivity to smart home systems, and so much more.
13. Home Addition
While you might be excited about your new home addition, it’s important to understand how it affects your entire home’s functionality. Your existing HVAC system is going to be specifically designed for the original home size. Depending on the size of the addition that you have installed, you may need to upgrade your existing cooling system to meet the new demands of your bigger home.
Expert AC Service
TCS Heating and Air Conditioning offers expert AC service for the entire Doylestown, PA area. We can also assist with all of your heating, heat pump, ductwork, ductless mini-split, HVAC zoning, and indoor air quality needs. Give our office a buzz today to schedule your next service consultation.
