AC Replacement: Understanding the Signals Your Air Conditioner Sends

Old Friends & Old ACs: Knowing When It’s Time for an AC Replacement

“April showers bring May flowers,” according to English poet Thomas Tusser. It also means that the long cooling season has begun. For the next several months, your residential air conditioning system will be a close family friend. There are some remarkable similarities between a friend and an air conditioner. Consider these:

You might have an old air conditioner friend. How many years have you been depending on your air conditioner’s service? Old air conditioners range between 15 and 20 years old; relying on too many years past this mark might lead to an emergency AC replacement.

Check the serial/model number plate on your condenser unit. If the manufacture year is not on the plate, take the numbers to the manufacturer’s website and look up the year. Don’t expect too many more years beyond the typical lifespan of service.

Keeping an old friend around for a long time usually requires frequent updates and care. This is also true with your air conditioner friend. The US Department of Energy, every HVAC system manufacturer, and all HVAC professionals recommend an annual inspection and cleaning by a trained technician. Set some calendar prompts to remind yourself to change the air filter quarterly. It’s the little things that mean so much.

5 Tips to Know When It’s Time for an AC Replacement

Air conditioners communicate if you take the time to listen you can tell if it is time for an AC replacement.

1. When you skip maintenance, even changing the air filter quarterly, they express dissatisfaction by failing to cool the home properly. A clogged air filter restricts air flow, and air conditioners really need the air to be moving through the air handler closet. If you notice that it is not as cool as normal, check the air filter first.
2. Air conditioners make recognizable sounds to communicate stress. No words are involved, but you might notice a few discernible sounds. The normal cooling cycle might be short and frequent, or the cooling cycle may be much longer than normal. The latter is understandable during periods of extreme heat, but if the cooling cycle is different than normal, it may be a cry for help (or maintenance, at least).
3. Other unusual sounds from a disgruntled air conditioner might include load buzzing (an electrical component nearing failure) and loud thumping or grinding noises (indicative of a blower motor problem).
4. Tears may result from years of neglect. An oft-ignored function of air conditioners is removing humidity from the indoor air; each day, several gallons of water condense and drain away. However, the water can collect debris or grow algae enough to clog the drain line. With nowhere else to go, it spills out onto the surrounding floor. What a mess! It can cause real damage.
5. When the situation is really bad, the evaporator coil or compressor motor may ice up. This usually results from a refrigerant leak. When the Freon in the closed network of pipes is suddenly released, it drops to about 400 Fahrenheit, cold enough to cool an entire house. When some Freon leaks, the suddenly released Freon drops below freezing, causing the condensing water to freeze. Eventually, the whole evaporator coil is surrounded by a block of ice. A similar freezing can happen outside on the compressor motor for the very same reason.

Treat your air conditioner like a good friend. Give it the care that it needs to thrive. Pay attention to the communication it sends to you. Learn to hear when it is time for an AC replacement.

Cooler Comfort Ahead: Knowing When It’s Time for AC Replacement

The analogy of a friendship to highlight the importance of caring for your air conditioning system, noting that like an aging friend, an old AC unit (15-20 years) may be nearing the end of its lifespan. Air conditioners communicate problems through reduced cooling, unusual noises, leaks, and icing, which can be signs that it might be time for an AC replacement.

For more information about R.M. Mullinix and our College Station AC maintenance services, schedule an appointment or visit our AC repair and maintenance information page.