How Long Can an Air Conditioner Last?

When buying an air conditioner, everyone expects it to work long and without interruption. But what is the real service life of air conditioning equipment? Everything depends on many factors: the model, operating conditions, regular maintenance, and quality of installation.

In this article, we will analyze how long an air conditioner works on average, what signs indicate wear and tear, and what can be done to make the equipment last longer. And if you are just planning the installation, professional air conditioning and heating installation in San Diego will help lay a solid foundation for stable operation of the equipment for many years to come.

Reasons For Air Conditioner Breakdown

If you follow all the rules and technical specifications of the equipment, even the cheapest climate control system will last more than ten years, so you will not have to spend extra money on a new purchase. However, some factors affect the rapid breakdown of the device.

Incorrect Choice of Air Conditioner

The service life of the air conditioner directly depends on the room in which it is used. Incorrectly selected power of technical equipment leads to the fact that the air conditioner quickly breaks down, since it works to wear and tear, not coping with the tasks set. Before choosing any climate control system, it is best to consult with specialists who will help take into account all the basic requirements for technical equipment, including:

• The total area of ​​the room
• Location of climate control equipment relative to natural light sources
• Architectural parameters and features of the room
• Number of people constantly staying in the room
• Location of communications
• Optimal placement of indoor and outdoor units
• Presence of heating equipment.

All these characteristics directly affect the operating efficiency of climate control systems, so it is important to take them into account when buying an air conditioner.

Unprofessional Installation

It is not enough to simply plug the air conditioning system into the socket for it to start working. Installing an air conditioner involves a whole range of activities that will ensure optimal performance characteristics of the equipment. Only experienced professionals with good tools can cope with this task. Self-installation is associated with the following consequences:

• Freon leaks. This is possible due to leaky soldering of the pipeline. This not only affects the service life of the equipment, but also negatively affects people’s health. A breakdown leads to the combustion of the compressor, which will require expensive professional repair of the air conditioner.
• Insufficient amount of freon. In this case, the service life of the compressor is reduced several times.
• Getting metal shavings inside. This leads to severe damage and premature failure.
• Incorrect drainage. Inaccuracies in calculations when planning liquid drainage lead not only to a decrease in the performance of the equipment but also to a quick breakdown of the building.

That is why it is better to entrust the installation of the air conditioner to a company that specializes in air conditioning and heating installation, for example, Tytum in San Diego.

Saving on Maintenance

Modern household air conditioners work well with regular maintenance. For this, it is better to contact qualified specialists who will perform all the necessary actions with minimal costs. Usually, maintenance involves performing the following manipulations:

• Cleaning the filtration system
• Checking the tightness of the system
• Filling with freon if necessary
• Cleaning the indoor unit
• Checking the functionality of electrical modules
• Lubrication of mechanisms;
• Cleaning the outdoor unit

How to Extend The Service Life of an Air Conditioner?

The period of time an air conditioner can operate directly depends on the quality of installation and timely maintenance. Prevention is the best solution for those who want to take care of expensive equipment. To extend the service life of the unit, it is important to consider the following subtleties:

• Clean internal filters every month.
• Contact specialists at the first signs of malfunction.
• Carry out maintenance before the start of the season.
• Limit the use of equipment at low temperatures (in the absence of an all-season unit).

By following simple rules, the standard service life of the air conditioner will be more than ten years. This will reduce the costs of major repairs and the purchase of new equipment.

What Breaks Down Most Often in Air Conditioners?

Air conditioners – domestic or industrial – cost quite a lot of money. And it happens that they break down periodically, and instead of dismantling the old air conditioner and buying a new one, it is much better to repair the old one and be sure that it will work in cooling or heating mode for years. Modern air conditioners are considered to be quite complex equipment, and the following technical problems can be observed in them:

• No cold is generated. The reason for this may be insufficiently high voltage, which causes the compressor equipment to be unable to spin up to high speeds and begin to throttle freon. The solution to the problem is to connect the air conditioner to a voltage stabilizer.
• No heat is produced. This is often associated either with insufficiently high voltage or extremely low ambient temperature. It is important to know that rotary compressors reliably start at 44°F, while inverter compressors – up to 86°F.
• The compressor does not turn on. The cause may be both physical wear of the compressor and frequent voltage surges. The solution is a complete replacement of the entire compressor.
• Weak operation. The air conditioning system may register insufficiently high freon pressure; if freon is added inside through the ball valve, the air conditioning system will again operate in normal mode.
• Error codes. As a result of a voltage surge, the “brain” of the air conditioning system may fail, and it will start showing error codes. The solution is a complete re-soldering of the electronic board by specialists.

Conclusion

The service life of an air conditioner can be from 8 to 15 years, and with proper installation and timely maintenance – even more. The main thing is not to ignore regular cleaning, checking filters, and diagnostics. Remember: quality installation plays a key role in the longevity of equipment. If you are in Southern California and want your equipment to work reliably and without failures, entrust this process to air conditioning and heating installation specialists. With Tytum, your comfort will be under reliable protection for many years.