In our last post, we put up a friendly spring reminder: have your air conditioning system professionally maintained! There’s nothing better for a hard-working central AC than to have an annual inspection and tune-up. It means better performance, fewer repairs, energy-efficient operation, and a long system life.
But let’s talk about that last advantage a bit more: how long can an air conditioner keep working? Maintenance extends its service life, but no level of diligence can make an AC work forever. Your home’s current air conditioner will eventually need to be replaced. Is this something you should discuss with your HVAC technician during maintenance?
Remember, Your Tech Is There to Help!
First things first—feel free to ask a maintenance technician anything. That’s why they’re there! Unless you’re also an HVAC professional, you can’t be expected to know all the details about air conditioners and heaters. As long as you have a trustworthy technician on the job, you can expect honest answers about the AC and no attempt to sell you anything you don’t need.
Times When Asking About a New AC Is a Good Idea
If you have an air conditioner that’s only been in place for a few years, you probably aren’t thinking about replacing it yet. An exception is if the AC has a manufacturer’s flaw, which happens in around 2% of the units leaving the factory. If this is happening, the technician will detect it during maintenance and inform you if the unit needs a replacement. As long as the AC is under warranty, you’ll be protected from paying for problems due to a “lemon” from the factory.
For older air conditioners, it’s best to ask your technician about a replacement if one or more of the following is true:
- The system is more than 10 years old.
- The technician tells you the system needs an expensive repair.
- The system has needed repairs almost every year over the past few years.
- The AC is costing much more to run than it once did.
The technician can provide you with a full assessment of the air conditioner and provide you with a prediction of the next few years of its performance. You may find out that a basic repair should keep the cooling system in good operating condition for a few years and a replacement would be premature. Or the tech may inform you that the AC will cost too much to repair and run compared to investing in a replacement.
The Benefits of Newer ACs
Here’s something else to ask your technician: why kind of high (or higher) efficiency air conditioners are available for installation? Many of the newest cooling systems have excellent energy-saving capabilities that will start lowering your utility bills right away. The technician can help you make a choice that will give you long-term savings and better comfort.
When it’s time for your Staten Island, NY, air conditioning maintenance appointment, you can trust our technicians to be professional and provide you with an honest assessment of your cooling system.
Bob Mims Heating & Air Conditioning has served Staten Island’s Heating and A/C needs since 1955. Schedule AC maintenance today if you haven’t yet!
