It’s that time of year when temperatures are beginning to rise quickly. You may even find yourself turning on that air conditioner for the first time since last year to keep your home on Long Island cool. It’s been a while since you last ran your air conditioning system; do you know that it’s going to last another summer?
It’s not always obvious when it’s time for a new air conditioner, especially because many home performance issues like under-insulation feel a lot like air conditioning issues. Here is what you need to know about your air conditioner — and how you can find out whether it’s time for a new unit.
Signs That It’s Time for a New AC Unit
Even if your air conditioner is still running, upgrading to a new, more energy efficient model could help you save more money in the long run thanks to reduced maintenance costs. Some signs of a failing AC unit to watch out for include:
-
Your air conditioner needs frequent repairs
-
Your energy bills are high when it’s hot out
-
Your AC has severe damage (like a broken blower motor)
-
Your unit is over 10 years old
Maintenance Can Help You Assess Your Air Conditioner
Whatever the signs are with your air conditioner, it’s a good idea to schedule annual maintenance for your AC unit early on in the spring. Spring maintenance is the perfect time for your HVAC technician to determine whether replacing your air conditioner is necessary. Plus, if your air conditioner is in good condition, maintenance allows your technician to make optimizations which will help your unit run more efficiently all spring and summer.
Home Comfort Issues? Start with an Energy Audit
Many homeowners experience indoor comfort issues like a hot second floor or high utility bills and are quick to blame the air conditioner — only for the real issue to be something else like air leaks or an under-insulated attic. If you’re looking to improve your home comfort and think it may be time to replace your air conditioner, we recommend starting with an energy audit.
An energy audit by Green Team LI includes comprehensive diagnostic testing to help you pinpoint the real cause of your home comfort issues, so you don’t end up making home upgrades that are unnecessary. Once we have a better understanding of what your home needs for greater comfort and energy efficiency, our team can help you complete any recommended upgrades — whether that’s air conditioner replacement, new insulation, or air sealing.
