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What Is The Age Of My A/C Unit?
An ac system will offer you about 10 to 15 years of service, usually. So among the very first things you will want to do is identify the age of your present cooling system and whether it is near the end of its useful life. If you purchased the system yourself, you shouldn’t have too hard a time finding out its age, specifically if you’re the organized type and you submitted or scanned the original receipt.
Nevertheless, in a case where the a/c unit was currently in place before you bought your house, you’ll have to do a bit of investigator work. If you are lucky, you will quickly discover the info you require on the metal nameplate that is attached to the A/C’s outdoor condenser system, where the manufacture date is frequently written out as the month and year.
If the date is not apparent, photograph the nameplate or jot down the trademark name, model and identification number showed. You can then use this info to track down when the unit was made, by either browsing online or asking a knowledgeable HVAC pro.
Service Or Replace Air Conditioner?
When you need to decide whether to fix or change your air conditioning, the appliance’s age plays a vital function. No, we’re not attempting to be ageist here, but an older A/C system has at least 2 strikes versus it:
1. Refrigerant
The Canadian government is phasing out this unsafe ozone-depleting substance. Since January 1, 2020, Canada prohibited the sale of Freon products. Eventually, it will be unlawful even to utilize existing R22. So what does this phase-out indicate for you? You may likewise smell coolant originating from your air conditioning unit.
If you have a refrigerant leak and require your system topped up, you won’t have the ability to buy the R22 that you require.
2. Wastes Energy.
A/C energy use is determined in regards to the ratio of BTUs of cooling energy to the watt-hour of electrical intake (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio). The old SEER rankings were a minimum of 10; that has now increased to 13 or better.
A modern energy-efficient system will lower your carbon footprint, along with conserve money on your electrical energy expenses. If you select air conditioning system replacement, whether you ‘d like a ductless A/C or central air, search for Energy Star certification.
Another element (which is not special to older systems) is how much you’re investing in repair work. When your A/C is costing you a fortune in fixes, it might be time to set up a new a/c unit. Consider a big repair expense for an older (however still serviceable) system might be half the cost of a brand-new replacement system.
Nevertheless, if you require to make another costly repair work in a year or two (or 5) all of a sudden that short-term cost-saving repair work will wind up costing you more than if you had just replaced the system, to start with! Plus, that new air conditioning system unit will come with a service warranty and the expectation of hassle-free operation for a years.
Lastly, consider your home’s convenience element. If the A/C leaves your indoor air damp and sticky-feeling, cools unevenly or is overly loud, it’s probably time to check out a much better model, such as a new Trane a/c.
Keeping Your Air Conditioner Running Efficiently?
Whatever the age or SEER score of your a/c, there are a few useful actions you must take to keep it performing at peak efficiency and prevent unnecessary repairs, particularly:
Clean or alter the air filters. Do this every 30 days for standard fiberglass filters, and every 5-6 months for the most expensive pleated filters.
A sign of dirty air filters is your ac system will stop cooling. Schedule routine tune-ups. Treat your cooling system to a professional tune-up annually, either prior to you start using it in spring or in the fall when you’re ready to shut it down for the season. Require repair quickly. Is your A/C not cooling appropriately– or running all the time? Do not postpone. Contact Lougheed Heating and Cooling today, prior to a little problem becomes a larger problem. .