Hot weather can be unbearable without a reliable air conditioning system. Before temperatures rise, home owners should consider whether or not they can get another season out of their aging HVAC units. Even the most maintained HVAC system isn’t going to last much more than 20 years.
As with all things mechanical, once the air conditioner gets old, its components gradually wear out. That means frequent breakdowns and expensive repair bills. Even if it manages to limp along, home owners can expect steep energy bills.
Signs of an aging HVAC system
A central air system can break at any time, but it is rare for it to completely stop working unexpectedly. In most cases, there will be red flags appearing long before the air conditioner gives out.
Home owners should watch out for the following signs:
- Buzzing: Air conditioners often make buzzing noises, when they experience restricted airflow.
- Squealing: This could mean a dry fan belt or a bearing that needs oil. However, if the sound is coming from outside, there may be a refrigerant leak.
- Increased energy consumption: When air conditioners go into total disrepair, their efficiency can go down in ways that dramatically increase the power bills. Home owners are advised to monitor their energy bills closely for this.
- Bad smells: HVAC systems accumulate dust or mildew, which can account for that dirty sock smell. Other odors may be due to a clogged condensate drain, which may be leaking water.
Determining the HVAC system’s age
Knowing the date of manufacture of the central air system will give a good idea of how much longer home owners can expect the system to last. However, they may need to do a bit of detective work to determine its actual age. Older air conditioners are often poorly labeled and many of them have no clear information about their origins.
Steps to determine the age of an HVAC system:
- Step 1: Find the label. The label should be on the inside of the front door on the unit, inside the home. Scan the label for a date of manufacture. If it’s not readily apparent, home owners will need to inspect the serial number for the year.
- Step 2: Decode the serial number. The week of the year that the system was manufactured is sometimes represented in the first two digits of the serial number. Likewise, the third and fourth numbers suggest the year of manufacture. For example, the number 1298 means the system rolled off the assembly line in the 12th week of 1998.
For systems made in the year 2000 or later, it’s the last four digits of the serial number that home owners need
This is how many HVAC manufacturers dated their products in the 1990s. In the 2000s, they changed it up. For systems made in the year 2000 or later, it’s the last four digits of the serial number that home owners need to pay attention to, which point to the month and the year of manufacture. For example, 0705 would mean that the system was made in July 2005.
Efficiency of HVAC systems
Older units are not efficient when compared to modern HVAC systems, which provide increased comfort at a fraction of the cost. Modern systems include energy-saving features such as:
- Variable-speed drive: HVAC systems with variable-speed technology can more precisely control the delivery of cooled air throughout the home. These systems run slower and at lower energy use, thereby eliminating those abrupt on-off cycles.
- Higher SEER rating: The SEER rating is the seasonal energy efficiency ratio. This number indicates a system’s efficiency. The higher the SEER rating, the more energy the HVAC unit saves. Consider it the miles-per-gallon of the HVAC world. Manufacturers must meet a federal minimum of SEER 13, but some of the best models boast SEER 20 or higher rating. Many older models in use currently have a SEER 8 or less rating.
If the HVAC system is pushing 15 years, but is mostly operating fine, home owners may be able to squeeze another season out of it, with professional preventive maintenance. In the meantime, they should begin budgeting for a new and more energy-efficient HVAC unit, which will save money in the long run. Interested home owners can schedule an appointment with Bob's Heating & Air Conditioning.