With Melbourne’s harsh climate, it’s hard to get through a hot summer night or a cold winter day without proper heating and cooling. Whether you’re at home or in the office, everyone gets affected when the air conditioner is faulty.
While it’s easy enough to get a broken unit repaired, there’s a difference between simple fixes and irreversible problems. Sometimes, getting your air conditioner routinely maintained and serviced isn’t enough. The performance will begin to suffer and the cost to maintain and run your air conditioning will shoot up!
Have you noticed an obvious sign that your air conditioner is on its last legs? If any of the following symptoms are frequently appearing, it may be time to say goodbye to your air conditioner.
Here is a list of 13 unlucky warning signs that it’s time to replace your air conditioner.
Do you know how old your air conditioning system is? Most air conditioners are designed to have a life expectancy of up to 10 years before any major repairs or replacements. When a unit is over 10 years old, it’s harder to find spare parts. If your machine is reaching its full decade of service, it might be time to start considering a new one. This is especially the case if you find yourself needing major repairs or extra services to keep your AC going.
The other reason to replace an older air conditioner has to do with efficiency. If you have an old system, there will undoubtedly be newer, more energy-efficient, and more cost-effective air conditioners on the market.
Modern systems can help you save money in the future thanks to their reduced running costs. Packed with newer technology and increased energy efficiency, a modern air-con will be worth the investment.
While this primarily applies to older systems, you might also want to replace a system that isn’t old but has a lower energy star rating. Maybe you’ve just moved into a house with a 3-star split system, or perhaps you’ve had a less efficient system for a few years, and you’ve decided it’s worth upgrading.
Check the Energy Rating of your old unit and compare it to a new one to see the difference!
How does your HVAC system know how to heat or cool your home? In most cases, your air conditioner will have a thermostat that sets the temperature and lets your system know how hot or cold the home needs to be. The thermostat will continue measuring the temperature, so your air conditioner knows when to power up and down, allowing for optimal performance.
If your thermostat isn’t working, this whole process falls apart. You might be able to have your air con’s thermostat fixed, but if not, it’s definitely time for a new system.
Whether you have air conditioning in Rowville, Box Hill, or beyond, the air conditioning technicians from Australian Climate Systems can advise you on the best solution for your needs.
Is your energy bill steeper this year compared to your last period of peak cooling or heating usage? It can be difficult to pinpoint exactly what’s responsible without a full energy audit, but your air conditioning unit might be to blame.
An air conditioning system that needs to be replaced will be overcompensating and overworking to make sure its faulty parts can offer the same performance. Most of the time, an older system won’t be able to produce the same results, despite the hard work. But that won’t stop your air conditioner from sending your electricity bill and other energy costs through the roof.
Most modern air conditioners operate silently (or as close to silently as possible). If you notice your machine making unnecessary loud noises or strange noises such as rattling, ticking or buzzing, it might be time to replace it rather than get it repaired. Noisy air conditioners are often a sign of a severe problem in the operating mechanics, and these issues aren’t always easy or affordable to fix.
It’s easily noticeable when foul or strange smells are coming from your air conditioning unit. If you catch the scent of odd or musty smells quickly enough, a simple internal repair or changing of your air filters may be able to do the trick. But if the odour is persistent no matter how many times you get the ductwork cleaned or internals checked, then it’s time to look into getting a new air conditioner.
Efficient heating and cooling systems are supposed to stay dry, whether or not they’re in use. If you’re noticing water build up around the base of your machine or it has an active leak, this will need to be looked at by a professional right away. Refrigerant leaks are a particularly concerning source of moisture because air conditioning refrigerants are bad for you and the environment.
Arrange air conditioning repairs to determine the next step. Depending on the diagnosis, you may be better off getting a new unit rather than having your broken system fixed.
Proper heating and cooling systems aren’t just meant to change the temperature in your home. They’re supposed to maintain a comfortable and consistent temperature. Do you need to keep adjusting the temperature settings manually? Maybe you’ve noticed that the system is constantly adjusting the settings itself.
Perhaps your air conditioner is oversized or undersized, or maybe something has gone badly wrong with the internal electrical components. To fix inconsistent temperature problems and restore a consistent air temperature, a new system is often the best course of action.
This point applies not just to an air conditioner blowing out hot air, but a heater blowing out cold air or any system blowing out room temperature air when it’s not supposed to.
These temperature troubles could be caused by a range of factors. Some of them are easy to fix while others will spell the end of your system. If you have ducted reverse cycle heating and cooling or a reverse cycle split system, you should make sure your system isn’t in the wrong mode. A fan-only mode on any heater or cooler might also be the cause of room temperature air.
If your issues aren’t so surface level, you should be prepared to consider a replacement system.
The only thing worse than the wrong air coming out of your system is no air coming out at all! This could be related to your thermostat, your compressor, or even your filters. If you have no airflow or it’s seriously reduced compared to peak performance, check all the minor problems and then consider a new unit. If you have a ducted system, a change to airflow may be associated with a duct becoming loose or unattached. Airflow issues can also be related to vermin damage or poor quality ductwork that may be perishing.
If your air conditioner is out of its warranty period and you suddenly need a major repair, consider the costs and think about replacing it instead. Even if the replacement costs are slightly higher, you would benefit from the unbeatable performance of a brand new system.
It doesn’t need to be a major and expensive repair either! Minor but frequent repairs might not seem like much of an expense, but the more they are needed, the faster these simple repairs will cause costs to add up.
At most, you should only need one major repair for your air conditioner in its lifetime! Frequent breakdowns shouldn’t really be occurring, especially if you’re keeping up servicing and regular maintenance every 2-3 years.
Does it feel like your air conditioner has a mind of its own? Whether it’s shutting off by itself outside of its routine cycle or having trouble getting started, it’s a sign of extreme malfunction. Getting it checked by a professional as soon as possible may be enough to save it, but if you’ve left it too late or the problem is too severe, you will have to get your broken unit replaced.
Air conditioners help to control and balance the humidity in your home. A broken unit can cause a build-up of moisture, an uncomfortable sticky feeling, and overly high humidity levels. This type of malfunction could also cause mould problems, which may lead to a very unhealthy environment for your family.
Faulty systems can also cause humidity levels to drop really low, causing your skin, hair, and airways to feel really dry.
While high humidity levels are more likely to be a major problem, both high and low humidity can lead to health risks and give you a great reason to replace your air conditioning. Call our air conditioning specialists for a proper evaluation of your system.
Do you recognise any of the signs listed above with your current air conditioner? These signs might be unluckier than the number 13 itself, but you can turn fortunes in your favour.
By chatting to the friendly team at Australian Climate Systems, you can find the best new system for your needs and put an end to your old, expensive, and underperforming system.
The price of a new air conditioner will vary based on a number of factors, including how many rooms you want to heat or cool and the size of your property. The choice between refrigerated air conditioning, evaporative cooling, or another heating and cooling system will also affect the final price.
Whether you need new air conditioning in Ringwood, Templestowe, or beyond, our experienced team can assist you with the sale and installation of a brand new system!
Alternatively, you might find that you can get your system fixed and operating at its best again for a great price! Whatever you need, Australian Climate Systems will help you stay comfortable in summer, winter, and in between with our heating and cooling services.
