End of Summer Home Maintenance – Here are 4 Signs You Need to Replace Your Air Conditioner

Your home’s air conditioner is probably something you hardly think about unless there’s a problem with it. In the best-case scenario, it purrs along without problems, swiftly cooling your home for maximum comfort. However, there are several things that indicate it’s time to replace your air conditioner. Common problems occur due to things like inadequate maintenance, leaks, and electrical faults.

Your Utility Bills Are Abnormally High

Many people carefully plan their budgets from month to month to avoid unexpected financial hardships. You can’t always anticipate costs, but it’s easier to do if you’re perpetually aware of how much money you put towards ongoing expenses, such as rent, groceries, and utilities.

If it’s costing more than usual to cool your home, yet your usage habits haven’t changed, that’s a clear indicator it may be time to get a replacement unit. Before taking that approach though, make an appointment with a service technician to get the problem diagnosed.

The Unit is Very Noisy

If you’ve had your air conditioner for a while or operate it regularly, you’re probably well aware of how it sounds when everything’s working correctly. When an air conditioner is excessively loud, that could mean there are internal faults causing the unusual loudness.

Your Air Conditioner Needs Frequent Repair

A malfunctioning air conditioner causes bothersome disruptions to everyday life, especially if the problems happen during particularly hot periods of the year. When initially dealing with air conditioner issues, most homeowners typically pursue repairs rather than replacement units.
However, if you have to get repairs done throughout the year and on a regular basis, consider having a replacement air conditioner installed instead. Have a frank discussion with your HVAC technician and talk about whether it’s more cost effective to purchase a new air conditioner instead of repeatedly fixing the existing one.

The Air Conditioner Smells Weird

An air conditioner that’s working properly shouldn’t smell funny. However, if your air conditioner is so well used the wire insulation has burned out, you’ll probably detect strong odors near the air conditioner’s vents. You may also notice a musty aroma, which is definitely a mold problem.

By dealing with a reputable HVAC company such as Wagner Mechanical, you can get advice about the severity of your air conditioning problem, and learn more about the options that exist.

Some people mistakenly ignore odd air conditioner problems, either hoping they’ll go away, or that the symptoms aren’t caused by something serious. However, it’s best to schedule a service call immediately so you can understand more about suggested solutions.