Remodeling a Home

Some things are meant to last forever, but your home's air conditioning system isn't one of them. There is such a thing as your A/C system being "too old" for your home, especially when it comes to overall performance and efficiency. The following explains what old age can do to your A/C system and why you'd want to make the switch to a newer A/C system.

How Age Affects Your A/C System

Think of your home's A/C system the same way as you would the human body. As you age, you might notice that you're not as flexible or as resilient as you once were when you were younger. The same applies to your A/C system -- as it ages, it may lose some of its cooling performance. As a result, your A/C unit may not cool your home as well as it once did when it was brand new.

Age can also take a toll on the internal components that make up your A/C system. Components such as the compressor and blower fan motor can wear out and require replacement. The evaporator and condenser coils can also deteriorate, allowing small amounts of refrigerant to escape. Old age can cause gaskets and seals to dry and crack, which could also cause refrigerant and oil leaks throughout the system.

Age can also impact your A/C unit's energy efficiency. The older your A/C system gets, the more energy it consumes to keep up with your home's cooling demands. As internal components wear down, they'll also require an increased amount of energy to perform the same amount of work. It's no wonder that modern A/C systems often require 30 to 50-percent less energy to satisfy the same cooling demands as an A/C unit installed during the mid-1970s.

When Should You Replace Your A/C System?

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the average A/C system has a lifespan of roughly 15 to 20 years, depending on how well it's maintained. It's not out of the ordinary for a well-kept A/C system to last for far longer. A poorly maintained A/C system might have a much shorter lifespan due to overall neglect and upkeep-related issues.

Most experts recommend that you consider replacing your A/C system around the 10-year mark. In most cases, this will give you enough time to save up for the latest high-efficiency A/C unit that best satisfies your home's cooling needs.

Couldn't You Just Run Your Current A/C System Forever?

Replacing an A/C system can be an expensive endeavor in many cases. According to HouseLogic, it can cost an average of $3,000 to $4,000 to replace a typical A/C system with brand-new components. If you're running your household on a tight budget, then you're probably wondering if you could just nurse your current A/C system along for the foreseeable future.

While there are instances of A/C units built back during the 1970s and 1980s operating to this day with regular maintenance, those examples are pretty rare. In most cases, the cost of maintaining and repairing an older A/C unit can quickly outstrip the average cost of a brand-new unit. In addition, older A/C units consume far more energy than their newer and more energy-efficient counterparts, resulting in more money spent on your utility bills each month.

Also keep in mind that the longer you run an older A/C system beyond its projected life expectancy, the more likely it is to suddenly suffer a catastrophic breakdown. Worrying about your A/C system giving up the ghost at any given moment can be exhausting, so it pays to replace your older unit with a newer one when the time comes. Contact a heating and air conditioning contractor for more information.