Here's How Often You Should Replace Your Air Conditioner

An air conditioner can help make the summer heat bearable and give a relaxing environment for everyone in your home. It should ideally be energy efficient while ensuring maximum comfort throughout the house. The system should also be able to lower the temperature enough to allow individuals to sleep properly or enjoy their activities while awake.

Although your air conditioner may be reliable today, it will not last indefinitely. It will eventually break down and need to be replaced, just like any other equipment in your home. To that end, various elements can influence when you should update your cooling system, and some key factors that may play a role include how many hours each day the unit operates, how well you care for it, and if it had to be repaired in the past. According to House Beautiful, most air conditioning units are designed to survive roughly 10 years on average, though they may last as long as 15.

Like that of a car, your air conditioner's health is mostly determined by its age. The A/C is likely to run rather consistently year after year during the summer, and even if you haven't had many major problems with it, you might expect to require a complete replacement soon if it's reaching its predicted end of life.

Furthermore, if your air conditioner is frequently breaking down, it is most likely nearing the end of its useful life, Energy Star says. Instead of spending money on minor repairs, replacing your air conditioner may be more cost-effective, especially if it is more than 10 years old.

Overall, if an air conditioner starts to break down little by little, it's likely past the point of no return. Many HVAC providers recommend that when the cost of repairs is more than half the replacement cost, it is better to replace the unit rather than fix it.