These days, the life span of air conditioning and furnace equipment is a long time. While chronological age does factor into an AC’s service life, there are a few other signals that it is time to replace your unit.
So, if you are wondering if it’s time to spend the money on a new unit, or if you think your AC is acting strange, check out these 7 signals that it’s time to get a new AC installed.
1. AC Unit Age (Obviously!)
The typical lifespan of an air conditioner is around 10 to 15 years. Older units will expend more energy to run and, if the unit is not sized properly, it may not cool the house completely. Additionally, older units will start to require more repairs and those repairs get costlier as the unit gets older.
2. More Repairs & More Money
Because older units may require more repairs due to age, those repairs can be quite expensive. Repairs at this stage of the game are usually a stop-gap to keep the unit running and those repairs will keep on coming. (More importantly, repairs typically come when least expected and at the absolute wrong time. Don’t wait until its 95 degrees with 100% humidity to go without your AC!)
3. AC is Always Running
If your AC is always running and never seems to shut down, this can indicate an efficiency issue. Constant running can also mean the unit is not the correct size for the size of the home it is trying to cool. Most importantly, constant running costs more money by increasing your energy bills.
4. Room Temperatures Very Room-to-Room
If one room is warmer or doesn’t seem to be getting any air flow it could indicate an equipment issue. Imbalanced temperature could also indicate improperly sized ductwork or AC unit. While it may not seem important, this variation in cooling balance could cause long-term damage to your HVAC system.
5. Unit is Loud & Noisy
A loud unit isn’t just annoying when you are sitting outside and enjoying the summer evening. It could indicate a system failure. Loud, noisy units could mean a motor breakdown or coil issues.
6. Increased Indoor Humidity
Let’s face it, we love our AC mainly to get out of that nasty humidity in the summer. If the humidity levels in your home are high too, this could indicate that your HVAC system is the wrong size for your home. It could also indicate it is not cooling as efficiently as it should be.
7. ComEd Bill is Frightening
Rising energy bills are typical with older AC units. Energy-efficient units really do save money. Additionally, again, the size of your HVAC system could be too small for your home.
So, if you notice these 7 signals it’s time to get a new AC before the heat of summer arrives. If you aren’t sure whether these signals really do mean you should get a new unit, give us a call and we can come out and give you a free estimate. We can do a quick overview and let you know what we see and if you should invest in a new unit.
-
Brian Sloan is the President of TR Miller Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical, one of the western Chicago suburbs' leading family owned home service companies, serving homeowners across more than 80 communities throughout Will, Kendall, DuPage, Kane, and Cook counties.
TR Miller is more than a business to Brian, it's a family legacy. The company was founded by his father, Tim Miller, and Brian and his brother Jim have played an important role in growing the business from a small local operation into a full service residential HVAC, plumbing, and electrical company serving homeowners throughout the greater Chicagoland area.
Brian's perspective on the home services industry comes from firsthand experience. Before taking on leadership responsibilities, he worked in the field as an HVAC Service Technician and Fabrication Technician, diagnosing heating and cooling systems, assembling custom HVAC components, and supporting residential installations throughout the western suburbs.
That hands on foundation continues to influence the way Brian leads TR Miller today. He understands both the work taking place inside a customer's home and the systems, training, and support required behind the scenes to consistently deliver a great customer experience.
Over the course of his career at TR Miller, Brian has worked across nearly every major area of the business, including operations, marketing, sales, job coordination, customer service, finance, and leadership. Today, as President, he is responsible for the overall strategy, growth, culture, and performance of the organization.
That breadth of experience across both the technical and business sides of home services has helped shape how TR Miller operates: combining the systems and accountability of a professionally run organization with the care, responsiveness, and personal connection of a family business.
Brian's philosophy is straightforward, make home services convenient and reliable while giving homeowners the information they need to make the best decisions for their homes and families. That means educating customers, providing clear options and upfront pricing, and making sure homeowners understand both what was found and why a repair or replacement may be recommended.
Under Brian's leadership, TR Miller has expanded beyond HVAC into plumbing and electrical services, grown across multiple locations, invested heavily in technical and leadership development, and been recognized seven times on the Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest growing privately held companies.
Credentials & Affiliations:
- President, TR Miller Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical
- Membership Officer, YPO Chicagoland
- Board Member, Nexstar Network
- Former Vice Chair, Board of Directors, Plainfield Shorewood Area Chamber of Commerce
- Associate's Degree, Waubonsee Community College
- Former HVAC Service Technician & Fabrication Technician, TR Miller
