If you’re like most homeowners, you want to save money on your energy bills. One of the best ways to do that is by reducing your air conditioning expenses. And that’s why you should know what to look for when it comes to the condition of your home’s air conditioner.
First, it’s important to understand how long a typical air conditioning system Air Conditioner Repair lasts and what the average lifespan of individual parts is. This will help you decide whether it’s time to replace your unit or repair it.
In some cases, a repair might be less costly than buying a new one. If the cost of repairs exceeds $5,000 over a period of five years, it’s likely time to consider replacing your system.
This is especially true if your air conditioner has broken down multiple times in recent months. If you have to pay a service technician to fix it, it could be better to just replace the unit and forget about any further repairs.
The cost of a new air conditioner may be high, but it’s often worth the investment if your current system isn’t working correctly or doesn’t keep your home cool enough. It’s also a good idea to ask about warranties on new systems and see if they are transferable if you eventually sell the house.
You can also save a lot of money on your energy costs by getting your air conditioning checked for efficiency regularly. A reputable HVAC contractor should be able to tell you if your air conditioning is running as efficiently as possible and recommend improvements that can reduce energy usage.
A dirty filter can invite allergens, pesticides and other irritants into your home. Change your filter regularly to maintain your air quality and keep your energy bills down.
Your home’s ductwork can leak up to 30% of the air it passes through, according to Pacific Gas & Electric. Your technician can run a duct-leakage test to find out how much air is escaping your air conditioning.
Another potential problem is a damaged or clogged outdoor condenser coil. This can reduce your system’s cooling capacity and cause it to use more energy than it should. You can clean the coil and replace the ice if necessary, but it’s not a DIY project.
If you’re unable to find the problem, you can also call a professional HVAC repair service to come to your home. They’ll have the equipment to diagnose the problem and order the needed replacement parts.
The compressor is one of the most common parts to fail in an air conditioning system. This can occur for a number of reasons, including poor installation, corrosion or excessive wear and tear.
In addition to causing the air conditioner to run poorly, a bad compressor can also trip your circuit breaker. When this happens, you should call a professional to check the compressor and fix it before it causes further damage.
You should also call a professional if your outdoor condenser fan doesn’t work properly or if the indoor air temperature doesn’t drop to your desired level. Your technician will check for the fan motor or compressor to determine the issue and make an estimate of the cost of repairing it.