In Florida, the salt and sulfur that naturally accompanies living in a humid coastal area impact the lifespan of your air conditioner. While AC units last 15-20 years in many areas, Florida’s tropical climate cuts the average down to 8-14 years.

The last thing you need is to wait too long and have your home air conditioner conk out on you in the middle of a Florida summer. We all have a habit of pushing things to the limit, hoping our old AC unit will make it one more season.

The costs of repeat repairs and operating an older unit that is not energy efficient add up. Let’s take a look at some tell-tale signs that it is time to trade in your old air conditioner for a new model.

Your Old AC Uses R-22 Freon

The Environmental Protection Agency began phasing out production of Freon, also known as R-22 on January 1, 2020. This is because R-22 is a hydrochlorofluorocarbon refrigerant and its elimination is in compliance with the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, an international treaty.

Freon is being replaced with an R410A refrigerant. The old Freon is still available to add to your AC unit, but it is expensive. Once whatever remaining product is in the market runs out you will only be able to run your unit as long as its existing Freon lasts. 

Your Home Air Conditioner is 10 Years Old

Any AC unit over 10 years old is approaching its total life expectancy. A unit that old will also use R-22 Freon, making the cost of maintaining it more costly.

The life and efficiency of your AC unit may be shorter or longer than normal, depending on whether you have had annual North Port AC maintenance checks. How often you use the AC, how hot and humid the area you live in is, and whether the unit was properly sized for your home also impact its lifespan.

Not Effectively Cooling

Do you have your AC running, but the home doesn’t seem to be as comfortable as it once was? Does it seem to be taking longer and longer for it to cool down? These are signs your unit is no longer operating efficiently.

Look at the SEER rating on your old air conditioner. That rating lets you know how energy efficient your unit is. The current standard for AC units is a minimum SEER rating of 14. If your rating is lower than 14, your unit is costing you more to operate than a current model will.

Another factor in efficiency is if your energy bills are climbing through the roof. If your usage is the same and the cost is increasing, that is an indication that your AC is losing efficiency. 

Costly Repairs

When you receive a quote for a costly repair, you need to evaluate whether it is a financially sound decision to pay for the repair or put that money toward purchasing a new unit. If your unit meets any of the criteria above, purchasing a more energy-efficient unit will save you money.

Even if the repair cost is low, if you have Cliffs Air Conditioning and Heating on your speed dial your AC unit is on shaky ground.

North Port Air Conditioning Service

If you are experiencing problems with your old AC unit, give Cliffs Air Conditioning and Heating Inc. a call. We have been providing AC services in North Port, Punta Gorda, and Charlotte since 1978.

Even if you are not having problems, don’t miss your annual maintenance check. Contact us today to schedule an appointment. We work on all makes and models.

If you have an emergency call us at (941) 629-2863 24-hours a day. You will never get a voice mail, we answer every call!