Your AC unit is one of the most important parts of your home during the summer. Without it, most people feel like summer might swallow them whole. When your unit starts to act up, it can leave you weighing the pros and cons of repair versus replacement, depending on the seriousness of the problem. One thing that can weigh heavily on the decision is the age of the unit. If you are unsure of how old yours is, Steve’s Heating & Air is here to help you find out that information.
How Do You Read AC Serial Numbers & Nameplates?
There are a couple of different ways that you can discover the age of your AC unit. Here are your two best options.
– Nameplate on AC Unit: The nameplate is found on the outside of your unit somewhere. This small piece of metal will have the company name, model number and the date your unit was manufactured. The location of the nameplate will be different depending on the brand that you have. Simply give the outside of the unit a thorough inspection until you find it.
– AC Serial Number: Sometimes, over time, the nameplate can become difficult to read due to wear and tear on the unit. If you can’t get the date off there, you can turn to the serial number to find out when the unit was made. The serial number is encoded with this information, and you should be able to find it with a quick search on the internet.
What Year Was Your AC System Put in Your Home?
Not only do you need to know when the unit was made, you should know the date it was installed in your home as well since these two can be different from each other. The installation date will help you know how many years the unit has been in use. You will be able to find this information in the closing documents from the purchase of your home. The owner will have specified when they had it installed, or you will be able to see when the owner purchased the home from the builder.
When Should I Replace My Air Conditioner?
It can be difficult to know when it’s time to replace your unit rather than repair it. Here are some circumstances that may leave you better off with replacement.
– High Energy Bills: If you have noticed a spike in your energy bills, it may be time because your unit isn’t efficient anymore.
– R22 Refrigerant: If your unit uses R22 Freon and has sprung a leak, it will be expensive to repair and recharge the lines since R22 has been discontinued as of the end of 2020.
– Frequent AC Repairs: When your AC is constantly breaking, it’s time to invest in a more reliable system.
– Age of AC Unit: Even if you kept your air conditioner in good condition over its lifetime, you can expect to need a replacement in about 10-15 years.
Central Air Conditioning Preventive Maintenance Tune Up, Emergency Repair, Replacement & More in Sumrall, Purvis, Oak Grove, Dixie, Leeville, Petal & Hattiesburg MS & Pine Belt, Mississippi
If you’re having AC trouble, call on the experts at Steve’s Heating & Air to get your unit back on track or install a new one completely. Call us today!
