3 Indicators That the Life Span of Your Home’s Air Conditioner Is Nearing Its End

Schedule Now

When your home’s air conditioner is humming along in good working order, you’re able to enjoy a cool, comfortable haven from the summer heat and humidity. If the system’s reliability is questionable, though, you’re no doubt wondering how long it will last and how you’ll know it’s time to consider replacement. There are some easy-to-spot indicators that can warn you that the A/C is nearing the end of its service life:

  • Age of the equipment – The average air conditioner life span is roughly 15 years. As an A/C ages, its reliability, efficiency and cooling capabilities gradually decline, even if it receives annual professional checkups and cleanings. Over time, you can expect to see more frequent repair bills, as well. If your equipment is over 10 years old, replacing it before serious problems develop can let you avoid the discomfort and inconvenience of a mid-summer failure.
  • High utility bills – If your electric bill rises sharply in the summer months, an inefficient air conditioner is likely the culprit. Just 10 years ago, the standard A/C seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) rating was 10. In comparison, the efficiency of today’s models range from 13 and 24 SEER. To put these ratings in perspective, a older 10 SEER A/C consumes 60 percent more energy than a new 16 SEER unit. Investing in an efficient Energy Star-rated equipment can slash consumption by an additional 15 percent.
  • Humidity issues – As the cooling capacity of an air conditioner decreases, its ability to remove moisture from the air also declines. An aging and inefficient A/C often doesn’t circulate air effectively, so a home stays stuffy and sticky even when the equipment is running. A warm, humid living space provides the ideal conditions where mold and mildew can flourish and degrade indoor air quality. If you’re noticing musty odors, peeling paint and water damage on the woodwork and ceilings, it’s likely due to aging cooling equipment.

If you’d like to learn more about air conditioner life span and its impact on comfort and energy savings in your Cincinnati area home, contact us today at Apollo Home Heating, Cooling and Plumbing.

Image via Shutterstock.com

"Ernie & Mike did a superb job on my new furnace and A/C installation. Despite having more than a day’s work to do, they came in and stayed until the job was done. They were organized, efficient, and protected the rest of the house well. Got both furnace and A/C installed the same day. Ernie was courteous, informative, and clearly knew his job better than anyone I’ve encountered before. The units look so good guests now get The Tour of our new system. Apollo is clearly not a fly-by-night company. I would recommend them to anyone in need of a new furnace and/or A/C."
- Jerry A.
"I called Apollo because of a water leak I thought I had in our upstairs shower going into the kitchen. Robbie came and assured me everything was fine & looked at all the other plumbing. He ended up changing a few pipes for our washer & clearing a drain. He was very nice & knowledgeable with all my questions. I ended up signing up for the care plan & was very happy with my service."
- Cassandra B.
"The team at Apollo exceeded my expectations. As a business owner, my attention to the details and commitment to providing excellent service is high. From the sales rep. to the installation team, everyone’s performance was outstanding. For example, the installation team went to great lengths to protect our floors, placing floor runners and across the wood floors and up the stairs. They even were spot washing walls upon their departure. I highly recommend this company."
- Randy B.
"We scheduled an estimate AND a tune-up. We knew something was wrong with our furnace, but hoped we could make it through the rest of the season. Upon telling Bill what our furnace was doing, he warned us immediately what the possible outcome was going to be; a cracked heat exchanger. He watched the flames roll backward, tested carbon monoxide levels, which were so high they meter’s last reading was 5,600 before saying “high”. He immediately shut it down, tagged it, and explained that with levels that high and children in our home he wanted off right away. He continued his inspection and showed us via a camera that not only was it cracked in multiple places, but had holes all over it. He gave us a few options for repairing it; his knowledge as well as genuine concern was beneficial and refreshing. Luckily we also scheduled an estimator, Micah, to come too and we were able to get costs between repairing and replacing (with several options). We decided to replace with a much higher efficiency furnace and one sized properly to our home. Hands down, not only did they both provide us great service and knowledge, but without sounding dramatic, they may have saved our lives. This was our first time calling Apollo, but it won’t be our last."
- Sarah B.
"Apollo is an excellent company. I always receive great service. Alex A. was professional and friendly. He kept me informed during the process of checking my furnace and heat pump to make sure they were working properly. The company makes sure you are notified who is coming and when they are on the way. All my interactions with the company have been wonderful."
- Beverly S.
    Image

    Financing

    Image

    Apollo Care Plan