Owning and operating an air conditioner in Freeport shouldn’t break the bank. Unfortunately, when home cooling equipment is improperly sized, too old or poorly maintained, the costs of using it can skyrocket. Worst of all, even as homeowners pay more to use their cooling systems, their overall comfort level declines. Here are some considerations in determining whether your AC is still efficient or if it’s time to have it replaced.
What’s the Remaining Lifespan of Your Air Conditioner?
Just because your AC still turns on and blows cold air doesn’t mean that it’s doing its job efficiently. Most air conditioners have a maximum expected lifespan of 15 years. Moreover, once they pass the 10-year mark, they’ve already lost about 30% of their efficiency. As the years continue to go by, their efficiency will continue to decline, and the financial and environmental toll of using them will progressively increase. If you haven’t replaced your air conditioner in a decade or more, doing so now could be the most cost-effective choice.
Have Your Home Energy Costs Increased?
Unless you’ve added a few new household members or recently purchased a variety of large appliances, your home energy bills shouldn’t experience any significant jumps. From year to year, the costs of seasonal cooling should remain basically the same. If you’re paying far more to cool your home than you did last summer or the one before, it’s probably because your air conditioner is using more energy to do the same amount of work. When making these assessments, be sure to factor in your cumulative repair bills as well. Air conditioners that frequently need repairs tend to be far less efficient than those that don’t.
Do You Have Hot and Cold Spots in Your Home?
Hot and cold spots throughout the house also indicate inefficiency. They often mean that the air conditioner is having a hard time pushing air through the ducts to all areas. Unless you have zoned central air conditioning or a ductless mini-split system, your cooling equipment should be able to cool down the entire building uniformly.
At Dog House, we’ve been serving homeowners throughout the Greater Freeport area since 2010. We offer heating and cooling installation, maintenance and repair services, fuel conversions, gas appliance hook-ups, water heaters and more. If you’ve been paying a fortune to run your air conditioner, we can help you get a more efficient cooling solution in place. Our technicians can resolve all your HVAC problems. Call us today to request a quote or to schedule service.
