How Long Does Air Conditioner Last – You wonder how long the Air Conditioner Last? According to Energy.gov, a central air conditioner is usually lives for about 15 to 20 years. But it actually depends also on many factors, there are some cases that cause the air conditioner to be more long-lived or even shorter than its estimated life span.
very item that is produced by a factory will certainly have a life span or when it will end to no longer be used.
Likewise with an Air Conditioner Unit, an electronic item as well as a mechanic has an average age of 10 to 15 years if used properly and routinely carried out maintenance.
So knowing how long does an air conditioner last is very important, so we can decide whether it will be repaired or prepare to replace the air conditioner with a new one when later there is a problem with the tool.
There are many factors that can affect the age of an Air Conditioner. Below are some factors that generally affect the durability of the air conditioning system.
Your air conditioner suddenly goes silent. Your house starts warming up in the bright Florida sun. With a sinking feeling, you check the thermostat. You fiddle with the temperature settings and then flip the switch off and back on. It’s no use — the AC is dead. As you set up a repair call, you try to remember exactly how old the system is. Has it been a decade already? Or is it even older than that? You might be better off replacing the system than repairing it.
Lifespan of Air Conditioners
The average life of air conditioners depends on a number of things, including location. In St. Petersburg FL, your air conditioner works hard to keep you cool for an extended period that could stretch from March or April all the way into November. In a northern state, the ac might be needed for only two to three months. This extra service time, understandably, can affect the life of the unit. Another major factor affecting how long air conditioners last is the amount of service and care that the system receives over the years. If you skip tregular tuneups, allow debris to clog the outdoor unit and ignore filter changes; you have a recipe for early replacement.
Tips to Extend the Life of an AC
Even in Florida’s tough humid climate, how long an air conditioner might last can be positively impacted with a little TLC. Start protecting your investment from the beginning by scheduling routine maintenance every spring. The coils need regular cleaning, and the drain system needs to be checked for blockages. The technician will also check the refrigerant and inspect the unit for worn-out parts. As a homeowner, you should also make it a habit to periodically clear any piled leaves or debris from around the outside unit. Inside, make yourself a note to change the filter every month.Manufacturers also recommend that you keep furniture and curtains away from the vents and refrain from running the AC in chilly weather. If your ductwork hasn’t been inspected recently, consider asking a technician to check for leaks. Leaky ducts force your air conditioner to work extra hard to cool the home. Sealing the ductwork can help the unit run more efficiently, which could translate to less energy consumption throughout the season.
Reasons to Upgrade Your AC
If your air conditioner is nearing the 10-year mark or is even older, it’s time to start thinking about replacement. The good news is that new air conditioners achieve greater energy efficiency than models from just 10 to 15 years ago, so you could see an immediate change in your energy bills. New units also use eco-friendly refrigerants that take less of a toll on the environment.
Senica Air Conditioning can help you evaluate whether it’s time for a new air conditioner. We’ve been serving the area since 1974, so you can rest assured that we’re more concerned with providing excellent service than with pushing someone into a quick sale. Call Senica Air today to set up a free, no-obligation consultation with a heating and cooling specialist. See more detail .
If you’ve purchased an air conditioning system recently, or you’re wondering whether it might be time to replace your old one, you probably have a very common question on your mind: how long is an air conditioning system supposed to last, anyway?
Turns out, that isn’t an easy question to answer. AC units and HVAC systems in general (the whole system, that includes the heating unit as well) vary widely in terms of their lifespan, based on a variety of factors, including the manufacturer, what kind of unit it is, how big the unit is, how well you maintain the unit, how often the unit is used, and even the environment in which you live.
Many professionals say that, roughly, an AC system should last about 15-20 years. AC units last less time than furnaces – 15 years as opposed to 20 – because they are typically outdoors and subject to weather extremes. In Florida, as with other hot, humid coastal areas, AC units tend to last even less: closer to 8-14 years, due to the salt, sulfur, and other natural chemicals in the air.
Again, though, your mileage may vary. Some AC professionals argue that regular maintenance is the key difference between an AC unit that lasts for 25 years and one that gives up after 10. Air conditioner maintenance tasks might include: changing the filter once a month, getting seasonal tune-ups every year (usually at the beginning of the season when you’ll be using it most), removing any debris that builds up around the unit, and checking/replacing the insulation as necessary. more detail
Properly maintaining your AC system can extend the lifespan of your unit by several years even in South Florida’s harsh conditions. Constant exposure to natural elements such as storms or very hot days can cause internal parts to deteriorate faster than the manufacture intended. We suggest our Florida residents have their AC units tuned up at least once a year; this can prevent costly unexpected repair cost in the future
How Long Does an Air Conditioner Unit Last in Phoenix, AZ?
But since you live in Arizona, where the sun mercilessly beats down on the outside unit, you may be wondering how long your air conditioner will last.
From our experience, we’d say an air conditioner in Arizona will probably last about 10 to 14+ years.
This lifespan varies based on these factors:
- Your system’s type (straight cool vs. heat pump)
- Proper system sizing
- System maintenance
We’ll show you how those 3 issues that can affect the lifespan, and what you can do to extend the life of your air conditioner.
3 factors that determine an AC’s lifespan
1) Your system type
The lifespan of your air conditioning system depends on the system’s type:
- Straight cool: 14+ years
- Heat pump: 10 to 14 years
A heat pump is an air conditioner that can both cool and heat your home. The big issue for these types of air conditioners is that the lifespan is shorter because it’s running year-round. Whereas a straight-cool air conditioner lasts several years longer because it gets to rest during the cooler months (what few we have!) and let the furnace take over.
2) Proper system sizing
All air conditioners come in a particular “size,” which is measured in tons. Size measures the air conditioner’s cooling ability (how well it can remove heat from your home). The larger the system, the more quickly it can remove heat.
Now, here’s the important part: Improper sizing will reduce an air conditioner’s lifespan. Essentially, air conditioners are like shoes: If you have the wrong size, you’re going to have painful problems.
For example, here are 2 common AC sizing issues:
- Oversized system: In this case, the air conditioner is too large and will cool your home too quickly. That may not sound like a bad thing, but it is! Cooling your home too quickly causes the unit to turn on and off too often, which increases wear and tear and therefore decreases the system’s lifespan.
- Undersized system: In this case, the air conditioner is too small and struggles to cool your home on hot days, forcing it to run constantly. This constant running reduces your system’s lifespan.
Do this: If you’re looking to get a new air conditioner soon, ensure that you hire a professional Phoenix AC technician to find the size or AC you need by using a load calculation.
3) System maintenance
Air conditioners are like cars: If you don’t maintain them properly, they’re more likely to break down, resulting in decreased lifespan.
So, how can you maintain your air conditioner? Two ways:
1) DIY maintenance: Change the air filter
A dirty air filter is the #1 cause of AC breakdowns. Which is unfortunate because changing the filter is so easy.
A dirty filter causes big problems because it restricts airflow to the AC. This restriction can cause your AC to:
- Overheat and trip your circuit breaker
- Not cool your home properly
- Break down
- Increase your energy bills
Do this: Check your filter once a month and change it if it looks like the one on the right:
2) Professional maintenance: AC tune-up
To prevent breakdowns and unwanted costs, air conditioners need a professional tune-up once a year, according to ENERGY STAR.
What’s so important about professional maintenance?
Well, besides keeping your warranty valid, tune-ups take care of important tasks like cleaning the outside unit. If that outside unit gets too dirty, the AC will struggle to cool your home, causing it to run constantly. see more
Essentially, a dirty outside unit causes the same problems as undersizing the air conditioner.
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