Have you ever considered how old your air conditioner is? Every summer your HVAC system keeps cooling you off, providing the comfort and freshness that you so desperately need. But, your air conditioner has a life span too. Heating or cooling performance largely depends on air conditioner age. You may have felt lately that the air conditioning system in your home or office isn’t working as efficiently. This could be because it is too old.
You must have noticed that every time you call a service person for air conditioner maintenance or repairs, they first ask you the air conditioner’s age. That is because air conditioner age determines what issues you may face. It also tells you whether it is more economical to repair or replace the system.
Looking for heating and air conditioning service in St. Louis or want to learn more about how to decide if it is time to repair or replace your system? Contact us online or give us a call at 314-993-1110.
How to Find Out Air Conditioner Age?
If it has been a long time since you first installed your HVAC system, or it was already installed when you moved into the house, it is likely that you do not know its exact age.
But don’t worry, all you need to do is look for any of the following things:
- A nameplate attached to your AC: Most manufacturers usually attach a metal plate to the air conditioner’s condenser unit that has all the details on it. Starting from the make and model of the AC to its technical specifications to the date of manufacturing, everything should ideally be available on this nameplate. Look thoroughly to see whether your AC unit still has that plate attached (maybe somewhere other than the usual spot). If yes, you should be able to determine the air conditioner age.
- Serial number of the unit: All electronics have a designated serial number assigned to them at the time of manufacturing which is unique to the particular unit. Once you find the serial number of your HVAC unit, you can look it up online on the manufacturer’s website to get the details, including the manufacturing date. If you don’t find anything online, you can also call their customer service number to find out as well. If that doesn’t help either, send it to any good HVAC contractor in St. Louis and they should be able to decode the serial number to give you the manufacturing date.
- Documents received from previous homeowner/ estate agent: The first two options almost always work. But in case they don’t, you may have to check the documents you received at the time of buying the house (if the AC was already installed). Check for any warranty card, user’s manual, or other documents from the seller where you may find the manufacturing date.
Is It Time to Replace Your Air Conditioner?
It may be hard for you to tell when is the right time to replace your AC. Most residential or commercial air conditioning units have a life of 10 to 15 years. After 15 years, your air conditioner age is usually maxed out, and it is often a good idea to get the system replaced as repairing and maintenance become uneconomic for you.
But some systems may need replacement sooner than that. It depends on several factors like operating conditions, the overall quality and build of the system, the extent of use, maintenance schedules followed, and so on. Air conditioners that have been maintained well and serviced regularly will usually last longer.
If your air conditioner age is over 10 years, and your HVAC unit has become too problematic or adds tremendously to your energy bills, you might want to consult an HVAC maintenance contractor to get it checked.
Hire the Best HVAC Contractors in St. Louis
When your residential/commercial HVAC unit needs repairs or replacement, Galmiche & Sons is the right company to call. With over 60 years in the industry serving St. Louis residences and businesses, we have the expertise and experience your air conditioning system needs. Get in touch with our heating and air conditioning professionals by phone or request a quote on our website today.
