Photo: What are the benefits of replacing versus repairing the AC?Īir conditioning systems are also vulnerable to plenty of problems that the average homeowner wouldn’t necessarily notice. The fact is that, like cars in the driveway, the AC system typically cannot fulfill its expected lifespan without adequate service. To service a system properly, according to Kenyon, technicians must go well beyond “a quick, visual inspection” to address all “key components,” from the compressor-condenser to the fan and blower (and sometimes even ducts). It’s the best thing you can do to prolong the life of your air conditioning, Kenyon says, while clarifying that it’s not always an elective measure, as “many manufacture warranties require it.” Note that care of a cooling system calls for not only regular maintenance, but comprehensive maintenance.
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Kenyon advises homeowners with AC to seek regularly scheduled professional system maintenance. How do you ensure peak performance, now and in the future? Does the system grate, grind, rattle or whine? Does your home feel humid (or does the thermostat report a relative humidity over 50%)? Do you notice an unusually large amount of dust on household surfaces? Such warning signs “indicate the possible need for repair, if not replacement,” Kenyon says. But if you suspect your system may be nearing failure, set aside a few minutes to monitor performance. If yours was installed recently, it may be a decade before you start considering an upgrade. In and of itself, heavy usage does not doom a cooling system, but if the homeowner relies on it daily, for months on end, while ignoring its maintenance, Kenyon says, “it’s only a matter of time before system fatigue sets in.” A well-made, well-maintained central air-conditioning system under average demand typically lasts 12 to 17 years. Usage matters perhaps most of all. “The more often you use the system, the more wear-and-tear it withstands,” Kenyon says, noting that systems can endure for decades in a temperate region like New England, while lasting not nearly as long in the desert of the Southwest. David Kenyon, a product manager with Sears Home Services, points out that different variables determine long-term performance to different degrees. Like so many other questions in home improvement and repair, the answer depends on a host of variables. What determines the lifespan of an air-conditioning system?