How To Know If It Is Time For A New Air Conditioner Installation | Fort Worth, TX

How To Know If It Is Time For A New Air Conditioner Installation | Fort Worth, TX

Photo By C5Media at istock

There are certain things that people don’t like thinking about. Air conditioner installation is one of them because no one wants to buy a new AC. In fact, the only time that air conditioner installation in Fort Worth, TX is exciting, would be if you don’t have an AC system and you are about to get one for the very first time. Outside of that, air conditioner installation sounds like an expensive process that you would like to avoid if you could. Unfortunately, AC units are just high-priced pieces of machinery and eventually, even the best system will die.

If you own a home in Fort Worth, TX you have to be open to the possibility that one day your AC unit will need to be replaced. With any luck, you won’t come to this conclusion in the middle of the thick summer when your AC dies, but it does happen on occasion. Usually, your AC does not die however without giving off a few signs that it is on its way out. If you know what to look for you can be better prepared for when it is time for a new system, and that will make air conditioner installation a little better.

The best way to replace an AC system in Fort Worth, TX is either before or after the summer season. Air conditioner installation is a lengthy process that involves removing the old system and installing a completely new unit. It can take 12 hours and sometimes up to two days. That is two days during which you will have to bake under the warm Texas sun. A lot of people book a hotel because they find the heat to be too brutal to contend with, and we can’t say we blame them, but this is a good reason to try to avoid ending up in this situation.

As spring rolls into Texas and the temperatures start rising now is a great time to take a closer look at your AC unit and consider whether or not this is going to be its last year. There are a lot of factors that go into making that decision, and it can be hard to replace a unit that appears to be working for the time being. However, there is a lot of wisdom that comes with making the decision while you still have time for air conditioner installation that is not terribly intrusive.

Keep in mind that while air conditioner installation is expensive, so is a unit that is not performing at its peak energy efficiency. Older AC units are not half as efficient as newer models, and as they age they become even less efficient. You may be spending hundreds on energy bills that could be drastically lowered by simply upgrading your AC unit. When you look at air conditioner installation in this light, it becomes a cost-saving installation process instead of one that breaks the bank.

Ultimately the only person who can make the decision is you (unless of course your AC breaks down and cannot be repaired). The best thing you can do is look for the signs that your AC system is on its way out so you can make the educated choice to replace it. Are you starting to think that it may be time, but you just aren’t sure? Here are a few of the top signs that a new air conditioner installation is in your future. Keep in mind that if you need any further advice, your local HVAC technician can offer you professional input into the overall shape, condition, and efficiency of your current model during an annual cleaning.

It’s an Antique

As we already covered, all AC units eventually die, but the chances of yours dying sooner than later increases as it continues to age. Most AC units don’t make it past 15 years, and some don’t even make it to 12 years. Therefore, if you have an AC unit that is over 15 years of age then it is time to seriously start thinking about a new air conditioner installation. At this point attempting to make it another summer with the same AC is a very risky venture, and unless you like to live on the wild side it is time to start pricing out new units.

A lot of HVAC technicians recommend that you start thinking about new units once your unit hits the age of 12-13. In theory, you could have two to three years left, but this gives you some time to budget and save for an upgrade so that when it is time for the air conditioner installation it doesn’t feel as painful to your bottom line.

If you do happen to have an antique that appears to be ready for one last summer in Fort Worth, TX, keep in mind that technology has changed a lot in the last 20 years. At this point, the strides manufacturers have made in energy efficiency are immense. Your old model is likely very inefficient and wasting an extreme amount of energy that is probably driving up your energy bills. You aren’t saving much if you are paying it out monthly, and since most AC units run around the clock during Texas summers, you probably are wasting quite a bit of money hanging onto an old relic.

Your Energy Bills Are Out of Control

This of course leads to the next sign that it is time to replace your AC unit: out-of-control energy bills. Your energy bill is like an inside look at the efficiency of your AC. As the summer goes on you should expect your bills to rise, but if they are nearly doubling then you have a clear sign that something is wrong. One helpful way to figure out if your AC unit is on the way out is by digging out last year’s bills and taking a look. If they are about the same then your AC may be able to hang on another year with proper maintenance. However, if you notice a huge difference between the same month bills, then it is time to give a new air conditioner installation a second look.

Keep in mind however that higher energy bills do not always call for a new air conditioner installation. If your system is not that old they may indicate that you need routine maintenance, and a simple tune-up is all it takes to get you back on track. Components that can be replaced do wear out over time, and almost every AC unit there will run better once the air filter has been changed and the machine has been cleaned. The best thing you can do is hire a local Fort Worth, TX HVAC company to do a routine maintenance visit and ask for their opinion on whether or not air conditioner installation is in your future.

The Humidity Inside of Your Room is Rising

While the number one job of your AC unit is to cool your home, it also is responsible for removing the humidity from the air which is partially why it is much more comfortable inside your home than outside of your home even on days when the sun is not quite so bright. Humidity can make you feel sticky and uncomfortable, which in turn will make you feel warm even when the temperature is not boiling. If your home is set at a comfortable 72 but you still feel gross like you were standing out under the sun, this is a clear sign that something is not working right with your AC.

Many times if your AC stops removing moisture from the air it points to the evaporator coil. You can replace the evaporator coil if your machine is not too old and this may allow you to skip a new air conditioner installation for now. However, if replacing the coil does not solve the humidity issue then it’s a sign your system is simply not functioning like it used to. At this point, you need to replace your system or spend the rest of the summer uncomfortable inside of your home.

Keep in mind also that humidity will wreak havoc on your home in addition to making it harder to breathe and appear warmer within your home. If humidity is allowed to persist unchecked it will lead to mold growth in your home and potentially cause wooden items to warp or break. This is usually a problem in the basement first where items placed in storage slowly rot or grow mold that destroys them. Ideally, you want to plan for a new air conditioner installation before it gets to this point.

You & The HVAC Tech are on a First-Name Basis

Another sign that air conditioner installation is probably on the horizon is if you and your HVAC technician are getting pretty friendly. Frequent repairs indicate that your AC system is starting to show signs of wear and tear, and those signs are not going to stop until you finally break down and replace your machine. While it is perfectly acceptable to make a few repairs, you should not be calling out the HVAC tech every couple of weeks. Not only are you probably baking in the sun every few weeks, but you are just putting off the inevitable and spending a lot more money in the process.

If you are eventually going to have to pay for a new air conditioner installation, it doesn’t make sense to continue to pay for repairs on an old model. Each repair you make is money that you could have used to buy a new unit. When you buy a new unit you are investing in the future of your home. When you repair an older model that is falling apart you are buying time and throwing your money away. Unsure of how much is too much? Ask the HVAC technician who has become your best friend if it’s time to replace it instead.

It’s Always Running

During the hot Texas summer, you should expect your AC to run frequently, but it should not be running all of the time. If you notice that your AC is not cycling, but is instead running all day this is a clear sign that something is wrong with the system. Sometimes fixing something like the contactor or refilling the freon can be all it takes to get back on track, but most of the time this is a sign that it is time to move on.

What happens is that your AC has to work harder to get your home to the same low temperature. Eventually, it doesn’t matter how hard it is working, it will not be able to keep up with the hot Fort Worth, TX sun. This leads the system to run non-stop all day in an attempt to keep your home cool, and this intense workout will lead to intense wear and tear that leaves you with a broken-down system sooner than later.

It doesn’t have to be running all day to be a problem. This is also a problem if you notice your AC is frequently turning on and off. There should be a clear consistent pattern to the way your AC cycles. If you notice that it turns on almost immediately after it turns off this is just as large of a problem that needs to be immediately addressed.

If you have noticed one of the above signs, or are already aware of the fact that a new air conditioner installation is looming in your future it is time to call One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth. We would be glad to run through your options and get the process completed before summer sets in.