A new air conditioner is a big investment for your home, so you likely want to get the longest life possible out of the system that you install. Many factors determine how many years your air conditioner will end up lasting, and they span from the day your system is installed to its final day of operating. Today we’re going to help you control those factors by talking about how to increase your air conditioner’s life expectancy!
What is an air conditioner’s typical life expectancy?
Generally speaking, an air conditioner’s life expectancy is about 15 years. If you follow all of the advice below, your air conditioner will almost certainly last that long, if not a bit longer. If you do not follow one or more of the tips below, your air conditioner will have a much less likely chance of reaching 15 years. The more of the factors below that you neglect, the less amount of time your system will last.
How to increase your air conditioner’s life expectancy
- Choose a high-quality system. There are many different makes and models of air conditioners, and some are much better than others. A high-quality air conditioner from a trusted manufacturer will last longer than a cheaper and low-quality system. Jerry Kelly Heating & Air Conditioning installs an exclusive brand of air conditioners called Emerald, which are proven to be durable, reliable, and high-performance systems. In addition to the brand and model you choose, adding advanced features like two-stage cooling and a variable speed air handler will help increase your air conditioner’s life expectancy because they will minimize the amount of stress your system undergoes throughout its lifetime.
- Choose a high-quality contractor. Even if you choose one of the best air conditioners on the market, your system will not last as long as you expect if it’s installed by a low-quality contractor. Factors like the size of your air conditioner, the quality of work performed by your installers, and where your condenser unit is placed all contribute to whether or not your system is installed properly. An air conditioner that’s installed by a low-quality contractor will not last nearly as long as the same system that’s installed by a certified, trusted, and high-quality contractor like Jerry Kelly Heating & Air Conditioning.
- Keep your system well-maintained. One of the leading factors that determine an air conditioner’s life expectancy is how well the system is maintained throughout its lifetime. You wouldn’t go years without changing your car’s oil or rotating its tires, and the same logic should extend to your home’s cooling system. The two most important maintenance tasks that you are responsible for as the owner of an air conditioner are to change your air filter regularly and schedule annual tune-ups every single year. By keeping a clean filter installed and having professional maintenance performed annually, you can increase your system’s life expectancy by a matter of years.
- Avoid mismatching parts. Although it’s possible to replace your air conditioner without replacing your furnace at the same time, it’s not recommended. That’s because your furnace and air conditioner share some of the same internal parts, and running a new air conditioner with some older components will decrease its lifespan. This is easy to avoid if you always replace your furnace and air conditioner at the same time.
- Minimize your system’s workload. The less work your air conditioner has to perform throughout its lifetime, the less wear-and-tear it will go through and the longer it will last. You can minimize your air conditioner’s workload by following our summer energy-saving tips and by using a programmable thermostat to ease the stress on your system daily.
If you have any questions about your air conditioner’s life expectancy, or if you’d like a cooling system serviced or installed in your home, contact Jerry Kelly Heating & Air Conditioning, your St. Charles, MO, air conditioning contractor. We provide service all over the St. Louis area, including towns like Weldon Spring, Wentzville, and Winghaven, MO.
