How Long Do Air Conditioners Last?

As temperatures heat up in the Mid-Atlantic, it’s a good time to think about how to keep your air conditioner working efficiently for as long as possible. Since the average air conditioning system costs a minimum of around $3,000, depending on the size of your house and your existing duct system, it’s important to your household budget to get as much use out of it as possible. Fortunately, there a number of things you can do to help extend your air conditioner life span.

The Average Air Conditioner Life Span

The average air conditioner life span is around 15-20 years, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. While there is no way you can guarantee that your unit will last forever, there ARE a number of things that you can do to make sure it lasts as long as possible.

1. Keep up on maintenance. If you only do one thing to take care of your air conditioner, make sure that you schedule an annual maintenance call before the start of the warm weather season. During this call, the technician will clean your air conditioner and check all key components to make sure that there isn’t a problem lurking. Catching issues early on can help minimize repair costs and keep your AC system from failing during the middle of the summer. Your AC service call will more than pay for itself in the long run!
2. Keep shrubs and other debris away from your condenser. When the condenser is crowded by foliage and other debris, the motor has to work harder to push the air through that mess. That extra effort can shorten the life of your system so it’s best to keep the three-foot area surrounding your condenser clear.
3. Change your air filters regularly. Dust-clogged filters can also make your motor work harder than it needs to. Mark it on your calendar to change the air filter in your AC system at the beginning of every month. The few dollars you spend on extra filters will be more than repaid in the extra years you’ll get out of your AC system.

Extend the Life of Your AC System in MD or DC with Michael Bonsby HVAC!

Keeping your air conditioning system running smoothly and efficiently for as long as possible is an important part of what we do at Michael Bonsby Heating and Cooling. We offer a variety of AC maintenance plans that take the hassle and guesswork out of keeping your system well-maintained. We’re AC specialists who have been helping Maryland and DC homeowners like you with all their cooling needs for more than 20 years. Call us at 301-990-7970 today to schedule an appointment.