Cars, filters, carpet, even clothes—there are some things people naturally know need to be replaced over time.
When was the last time you replaced your air conditioner?
Should I Replace My Air Conditioner?
How often do you schedule maintenance for your air conditioner? Just like a car needs regular tune-ups, your AC needs seasonal maintenance (once in the heating season, once in the cooling season). It’s a lot more important than you think! It saves you money on utility bills, sure, but it can also help your AC live longer!
Related: “Bigger Isn’t Always Better: What HVAC Size is Best?”
If your AC is reaching the end of its life, there’ll be signs. And you don’t wanna wait until the worst heat of summer to think about a replacement! But if you do wait, don’t worry. Morris-Jenkins can get out to your home faster than anyone to get your new air conditioner installed so your family can be cool and comfy again.
It might be time to replace your AC if:
1) Your air conditioner is 12 years old or older.
The life expectancy of your AC unit is 10-12 years, though it isn’t uncommon for them to last between 7-8 years instead. If you haven’t kept up with regular maintenance, your air conditioner isn’t likely to live as long as one that’s been well-maintained.
If your unit has reached 12 years of age, it’s time to consider replacing it. An older unit is far more likely to have serious problems, especially once we approach the summer’s extreme heat and high humidity. You don’t want to risk your AC going out when summer is in full swing. Not only that, but older ACs tend to be less efficient and can cost you more money in the long run.
2) Your energy costs are getting higher.
If your energy bill seems higher than ever, it might be time to consider installing a new air conditioner. If nothing else, at least have a trustworthy Morris-Jenkins technician inspect your AC in case something can be done to optimize it.
Sometimes, contractors will install an improperly sized system in someone’s home, which can result in high energy bills. Quite simply—your AC can’t keep up or it’s shutting off so quickly that it isn’t removing humidity. Other times, your AC is aging, or parts are going bad, making it hard for your system to keep up with demands to cool your home.
3) Your home is too humid.
Did you know your AC collects one gallon of water each hour that it’s running?
The number one job of an AC unit is humidity control. In fact, that’s the original reason it was invented! It is much easier to cool air when humidity levels are kept in check. If your home feels humid even with the AC running, it’s probably not removing humidity as well as it should, and that means it’s not doing its primary job! If that’s the case, it’d be a good idea to talk to a professional about a replacement.
4) Your house doesn’t seem to get cool enough in the summer.
Even if your air conditioner is young, it may not be the right size for your house. If this is the case, it’ll never have a chance at keeping up with climbing temperatures! Either it’ll start and stop constantly or it’ll never stop running. Either way, you need to replace it with something sized for your house specifically.
Sometimes, your AC is simply too dirty. A dirty system won’t cool your house well. If you haven’t been replacing your filters often enough (every 30-60 days), or if you’re not using the right kind of filters (we recommend MERV 8), dust and debris can build up on your AC, making it hard for it to breathe.
In the indoor unit, there is a piece called a blower. The blower resembles a hamster wheel—it has spinning blades, and these blades push air through your house. When you swim, have you ever noticed a difference in how much faster you swim when your hands are cupped? When your palms and fingers are flat, you swim much slower. The blades inside the blower are just like your hands when you swim. They’re curved to push air faster, but if you don’t replace your filters, debris can collect in the blower, reducing the curve of the blades and basically making them work as if they’re flat. When this happens, the airflow of your system is reduced, and this can cause major problems with heating and cooling.
Recommended: “Do You Need HVAC Maintenance?”
The outside part of your system collects dirt and dust (much like a vacuum bag) all summer long. This debris acts like a thick winter coat on your AC that keeps it from cooling. That’s why it’s always a good idea to schedule an annual Check’n’Wash with Morris-Jenkins! It that includes a thorough cleaning of your outdoor unit to remove this coat, allowing your air conditioner to breathe!
5) Your air conditioner hasn’t been maintained. People often don’t know their AC is broken until hot weather hits.
Did you know your AC unit will only keep your house about 20 degrees cooler than the outside temperature?
If your air conditioner is working and it’s 85 degrees out, your house should get down to 65.
If it’s 95 degrees outside, your unit should go to 75.
During milder weather, you won’t need that 20-degree difference. If it’s 70 out, you likely aren’t turning your AC down to 50 degrees, so the temperature difference is far smaller. Because of this, your AC doesn’t have to run full-blast until the hot weather hits, and you may not realize that it isn’t capable of working at full-power until it’s too late.
You might not know your AC is broken! Before the heat of a Carolina summer hits, schedule an appointment with a technician to inspect your system. Our techs are trained to detect problems proactively, so by scheduling regular maintenance, you can ensure your AC will run smoothly when the summer heat rolls in!
If you’re considering replacing your air conditioner, it’s best to do it earlier in the season.
When was the last time you went shoe shopping? Have you ever seen a great pair of shoes, only to find that they seem to be available in every size except your own?
HVAC supply houses have far more products available early in the season, but they’re always careful not to over purchase. Just like shoe stores, sometimes they run out of the more popular sizes/styles. If you wait until later in the season to buy a new heating and cooling system, it may have to be special ordered and it can take longer to arrive. Time spent waiting for your new unit is time spent with a broken AC. Luckily, Morris-Jenkins isn’t caught off guard by the crazy Carolina summer heat! We keep stock of tons of air conditioners to make sure we’re ready when families call for help keeping their homes cool. No matter the time of year, we’re ready to help!
Regular maintenance can reduce breakdowns by as much as 95% and can lower utility bills by 30%.
No one wants to think about their AC breaking during the summer! If you’re looking to get as much life out of your air conditioner as possible, consider becoming a Priority Advantage® Member.
Priority Advantage® Member. Our members get two maintenance checks per year to keep their systems in the best shape possible!
The heat is coming.
Will you be ready?
To learn more about the benefits of becoming a Priority Advantage® Member, click the button below:
Looking for AC Installation in Charlotte?
If you’ve realized installing a new AC is the best decision for your family, Morris-Jenkins is here to help! We install ACs in Charlotte, Concord, Gastonia, Huntersville, Fort Mill, and other surrounding areas! For a free consultation, click the button below. We’re so excited to help your family stay cool this summer!
