I can not believe it is possible that a central air unit can last over 30 years but mine has (knock on wood)...I had a tech service it recently and he said I was living on borrowed time and would have to replace the unit soon...Could it be possible he is just telling me this so I will fork out the money to have it replaced? Should I just wait and see what happens? He said they usually don't last past 20 years!! Opinions please...
2007-08-17 02:07:51 · 12 answers · asked by transcriberchick63 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
There are lots of units out there with 20 plus years on them...The first unit i helped install in 1968 is still running this very day...as long as it works good..I would leave it right where it is....you will save money on your electrical bill with a new unit with a higher seer rating...you need to make sure you buy the ten year warranty that comes with the unit...if it will last that long without needing major repairs you will be lucky..
2007-08-17 05:32:26 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get rid of the unit. If it is that old it was built in a time when efficiency was nowhere near what it is today. A new unit will not only work better, it will use far less electricity and may pay for itself completely in just a few years, plus you might be able to get a rebate from the local electric utility for installing a new high-efficiency unit.
The longer you wait the more money you will lose. Have it replaced in the winter, when A/C businesses are short on work and may give a discount.
2007-08-19 02:04:35 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If they are kept clean, don't have freon leak issues and are not over-sized, it is not unusual at all for air conditioners to last 30 years.
You could carefully do the math on what a new unit would save in electricity. Get twelve months of utility bills and figure out what your electricity usage is for the months when you are not using either a furnace or air conditioner. Subtract this amount from your electric bills that represent months where you use your A/C. It is usually lower than you expect. You will save half or somewhat less than half of this amount.
You could have many years left of service if you keep it maintained.
2007-08-17 04:11:55 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
He's right. If he didn't tell you this he should have:
You're 30 yr old system is also costing you a lot more money to operate than a new one. You've got an 8 SEER unit at best right now. The minimum efficiency you can buy a unit for now is 13 SEER they go all the way to the low 20's for SEER. It could operate about 2/3 more efficient than your old one and save you money. The payback on a new system could be in as little as 2 or 3 years.
Oh, and good job on keeping it serviced regularly. That's probably the one single reason it has lasted as long as it has.
2007-08-17 04:59:03 · answer #4 · answered by dee 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
No, he is being honest with you. The average lifespan for a central heat/ac unit is about 15 years, 10 if you live in an extremely hot or cold climate. You are on borrowed time with your 30 year old unit...literally, it could blow anyday so be prepared.
2007-08-17 02:15:51 · answer #5 · answered by Doogie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had one that lasteed 23 years, and that was a real stretch. Yours is probably rather inefficient since it's so old. If you shop several (not just 2 or 3) HVAC companies before it dies (and you're desperate) you can save lots of $$ by finding the best deal on a replacement. You'll pay extra if you wait til the last minute.
2007-08-17 02:36:42 · answer #6 · answered by dllou1 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well, i would say that an air conditioner doesnt work hard in a clean house, a preventivley mantained unit could last a very long time. just remember some of these techs in this line of work do work under commission based salaries. keep this unit mantained and dont make it work hard by keeping a clean house and changing the filter
2007-08-20 15:44:07 · answer #7 · answered by joe s 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
HVAC Tech.: If it ain't broke don't fix it!! The one you have might last a good while longer, then again it might not.You should wait for the NEED before you spend that kind of money.There is progress being made every day in this field toward better and more economical products. You seem to be doing all the right things to maximize the lifespan.
2016-04-01 19:52:00 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
He is probably being honest. I would start saving money but you can wait till this one breaks down before getting the new one. I wuold also get pricing from a few different places so have have an idea how much it will cost when the time does come.
2007-08-17 07:12:46 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it cools your house well enough and doesn't cost you too much to operate, just keep running it until it quits. But yes that is a very old unit. It will fail before too long
2007-08-17 04:11:34 · answer #10 · answered by TB28 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋