Almost any home can have central air conditioning if you’re willing to invest in duct work and make design provisions for it. But, before you make that decision, arrange an in-home consultation with an HVAC specialist like DesmondHVAC. We can explain the process and other cooling options, such as ductless split or geothermal systems. 

You should do it before your current system breaks and you are forced to make a replacement. Fortunately, there are a few indicators that it’s time to start considering your options.  

• Your unit is over 10 years old 
• It is not keeping up with your needs 

• It incurs a significant increase in your operating costs 
• It requires regular refrigerant refills. 

A simple repair may be all that’s needed in certain circumstances, but if it’s no longer safe or practicable to invest more money in your air conditioner, we’ll explain why and give recommendations for the best replacement.

If properly maintained, many air conditioners can last 15 to 20 years. You may require a few repairs along the way, but during your yearly Clean & Check, your HVACR specialist can generally detect and address minor issues.

On each side of your air conditioner, you should have at least one foot (or 12 inches) of clearance. The manufacturer of your air conditioner may have specific clearance recommendations, but they will generally recommend between 12 and 24 inches. 

If your air conditioner is running but not lowering indoor temperatures, one possible cause is a clogged or blocked condenser coil. When working properly, the condenser fan draws air into the outdoor unit via the condenser coil, extracting heat energy from your home. 

Air conditioners that require frequent repairs may indicate that it’s time to replace them. If your air conditioner is constantly breaking down, never properly cooling your home, and always operating loudly, it is time to replace it. 

Other common problems with existing air conditioners are caused by faulty installation, inadequate service procedures, and insufficient maintenance. Improper central air conditioner installation can result in leaky ducts and low airflow. 

Simply put, air conditioning systems cool a home while ventilation systems bring in fresh air from the outside. 

The process of replacing or exchanging air within a space is represented by the V in HVAC for ventilation. This improves indoor air quality by removing moisture, smoke, odors, heat, dust, airborne bacteria, carbon dioxide, and other gases, as well as controlling temperature and replenishing oxygen. 

If you have a hot room in an otherwise comfortable house, you can use a special fan installed on the wall or floor to pump existing cool air into that hot room. Depending on the position of the blower unit, a ventilator fan can blow conditioned air up or down.