The last thing that anyone wants as the days get longer and hotter is to discover that their air conditioner is getting weaker and less reliable. However, this is a situation that many residents across the greater Coeur D’Alene and Spokane area encounter at least once in their lives.
Realizing that your AC is starting to break down without a chance of recovery isn’t a good feeling, but thankfully this situation isn’t without hope. Catching the warning signs of an AC that needs to retire gives you a chance to schedule an air conditioning replacement in Spokane before you are left without a cooling system for days or weeks on end.
“Warning! Your Air Conditioner Is Going to Break Down!”
Wouldn’t it be nice if each air conditioner came with a tiny warning system that spoke up and warned you when your system was about to break down and needed to be replaced? While this would be great, it isn’t a function that comes with any AC systems just yet. That is why we want to make sure we are doing our part to inform you about what the indicators are that you need a replacement system (and you can always put on your announcer’s voice and give that vocal warning announcement to make things official).
5 Warning Signs to Watch For
- An Aging AC: Air conditioners are built to last a minimum of 10 years. A well-maintained system should bypass that 10-year minimum and make it closer to or go beyond 15 years of use. With that said, if your system is 12 to 15 years old or more, it is a good idea to start preparing for an AC replacement in the near future.
- Increasing Energy Bills: Energy bills will fluctuate based on your use of your AC. However, your bill shouldn’t skyrocket anytime you use your system for a few hours. Huge spikes in energy use are indicators of an air conditioner with a problem.
- Repairs Are Through the Roof: An optimized and efficient air conditioner shouldn’t need repairs more than once every couple of years. If your system is seeing a repair technician on a yearly basis, or its repair service is far too expensive (equal to half the cost of a new system) it is a sign that you need to start shopping for a new unit.
- No Cool Air: Your air conditioner has one main job–to keep your house cool. If it is unable to accomplish this even with regular maintenance and repairs, there is no point in keeping it around since, without the ability to do its job, it is now just an overpriced fan.
- Your System Uses R-22: The refrigerant known as R-22 was phased out of production in January 2020. This means if your system still uses R-22, recharges will be expensive and eventually impossible. If you have an AC that still uses R-22, it is time to plan for a replacement.
ACI Northwest is here to help with your home comfort needs or concerns. Please do not hesitate to contact us for helpful advice.