uneven temperatures in your home

That old air conditioner has given you years of loyal service, which is why you might be tempted to hold out a little longer. Instead of shopping around for a new system, you might anxiously await the autumn months—when you can finally throw open those windows and switch off your unit altogether. Unfortunately, as your air conditioner reaches the end of its useful lifespan, you might notice illusive problems that seem like simple quirks. Here are two signs it might be time to replace your air conditioner:

1. Hard Starts

Does your air conditioner sound like it is about to take off whenever it starts up? In addition to startling pets and small children, noisy air conditioners can also make it hard to sleep—especially if you run your system overnight. Although you might assume that a noisy system isn't anything to worry about, hard starts can actually damage your system.

Air conditioners work by circulating refrigerant to and from your home's air handler or furnace, where air is pushed across cooling coils. Moving large amounts of air and pumping refrigerant long distances can take a lot of power, which is why efficient air conditioning motors are so crucial. Unfortunately, as your system ages, it can become more difficult for motors to engage, creating loads of extra noise and damaging system components. Hard starts can be caused by low refrigerant levels, worn motors, or low electrical voltage to your unit.  

If your system makes a lot of noise before it starts circulating air, it might only be a matter of time before your entire system fails. However, if you can't afford a brand new system just yet, an HVAC professional might be able to install a hard start kit to help your system to start more efficiently until you can replace your air conditioning unit. Hard start kits work by using capacitors to give the air conditioning motor a little extra power, so that it can start up seamlessly. Hard start kits cost about $250-$500 on average, but keep in mind that they aren't a permanent fix for a dying air conditioner.

2. Your System Runs Constantly

The older your air conditioner gets, the less efficient it will become. Over time, electrical contactors can stick in place, letting your system run for hours—regardless of the indoor temperature. If your evaporator coils are dirty, your system won't be able to remove humidity from the air as efficiently, which can impact the heat index inside of your home. Refrigerant can escape over time, which might meant that it takes your system longer to cool the air in your home.

If you notice that your system stays on constantly, try to find out when your system was originally installed. Air conditioners are only projected to last around 15 years, so if your system is older than that, it might be time to switch it out for a newer model. However, since newer systems are more efficient, you might be able to save as much as 20-40% on your annual energy costs. To put those numbers into perspective, if you spend $3,500 to update your air conditioner, and you typically spend $150 a month on power, you could slash that bill to between $90 and $120—just by upgrading your system. With a 40% savings, your new system would pay for itself in as little as 4.8 years.  

Talk with an HVAC professional, like those at Elite Heating, Cooling and Plumbing, if you notice that your air conditioner has gotten a little quirky. By recognizing problems early, you might be able to set aside a little money, shop around, and replace your system with a more efficient unit.