Why Did My Air Conditioner Break Down?

If your air conditioner has stopped working the two most likely culprits are usually a single defective part or lack of routine maintenance. Similar to your car, your air conditioner is a mechanical system and requires regular maintenance and service. How long would you expect your car to last if you never changed the oil? How long could it go if you never rotated the tires or checked the brakes? The same thing can be said about one of the most important pieces of equipment in your life, your air conditioner. Without a routine maintenance program, our automobiles break down and so do our air conditioners.

Unfortunately, most of us get complacent when it comes to conditioning our living space. We do not want to think about air unless there is something wrong with it. We fall into the classic trap of out of site, out of mind. We may not even notice that our energy bills are climbing higher and higher every year. That is when the "hot summer" hits us the most. The utility bill doubles and we end up writing multiple large checks.

If your air conditioning system is over 10 years old, excessive energy consumption and frequent repairs are the trademarks of worn out system. Although many systems can function for many more years, a new high-efficiency system can save you time, money, and headaches. They may even pay for themselves by dramatically lowering your utility costs.

If your air conditioning system is under 10 years old a routine maintenance service is almost always the preferred choice. Many homeowners don't know that they can significantly increase their air conditioning performance with annual or biennial check ups.

The most expensive option is the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" sentiment. Chances are that an old air conditioning system will fail when it's working the hardest and you need it most. Contractors know this and adjust their prices accordingly. Not only are you waiting one to two weeks for an "emergency" install, prices increase 15-20% during peak months. The pressure on your wallet may be the least of your concerns. A damaged or defective air conditioning system can put you and your family at risk from a fire, biological, asbestos or other hazard.

Take a few moments and think about your air conditioning system. If it's over 10 years old it's probably time to start budgeting for a new high efficiency model. If it's less than 10 years old, make sure your system is professionally maintained so you can keep your cool and your utility bills low.