11 Sinister Warning Signs You Need a New Air Conditioner

In Australia, we rely on our air conditioner year-round to keep us comfortable. From unbearably hot summer days to below-freezing winter nights, this is one appliance most of us can’t live without.

When your air conditioner breaks down at the height of a heat wave or on the chilliest night of the year, you’d understandably be quite frustrated. Thankfully, your air conditioning system will generally give you some warning signs that it’s on the way out so you can be prepared.

This applies whether you’ve got a split system, ducted air con or a portable air conditioner.

We’ve compiled 11 of the most common signs that you need a new air conditioner so you know what to look out for.

The Benefits of Replacing Your Old Air Conditioning Unit

Before we explore the common signs you need a new air conditioner, let’s first take a look at the worthwhile benefits of air conditioner replacement.

• Increased energy efficiency: A new air conditioner will help you to save on energy bills by typically delivering greater energy efficiency than an older air conditioning unit.
• Better indoor air quality: Modern air conditioning systems come with advanced air filters that drastically improve indoor air quality.
• Consistent air temperature: Say goodbye to hot and cold spots; a new system ensures consistent temperature control. No more intermittent cold air patches in winter and hot air regions in summer!
• Greater comfort: Enjoy reliable cool air during summer and warm air in heating mode.

Most air conditioning units these days offer these benefits and many more. Replacing your air conditioner ensures optimal performance, smoother air flow and greater long-term savings.

With these in mind, let’s now look at how you can tell that it’s time to replace your air conditioner.

1. Moisture is Accumulating or the Unit is Leaking

Finding a little moisture from condensation on the outdoor unit of your aircon system? This, thankfully, is fairly natural when you’re heating and cooling air. However, if you find larger volumes of water pooling on or around your air conditioning unit, that is a problem. Worse yet, a leak from the indoor and outdoor units of your unit is a clear tell-tale sign that you need an air conditioning specialist ASAP.

This extra moisture could be the result of an internal mechanism malfunctioning or related to the refrigerant. Regardless, both of these issues need to be attended to quickly whether you have an existing air conditioner or a brand-new AC unit.

Unwanted water dripping in your home can lead to water damage which can be very costly to repair. Exposed refrigerant, on the other hand, has a whole host of health hazards attached to it.

While you might be able to have a licensed technician repair your ducted or split system air conditioner in this case, replacing the system can often be the more cost-effective option.

2. The Unit Is Producing Strange Smells

A malfunctioning air conditioner will often produce a variety of strange smells when something is wrong. For example, excess moisture that has resulted in mould or mildew growth will often create a musty smell. You can even find animals or insects that make their way into your ductwork, meet an untimely end, and produce a sulphuric smell. No matter what the situation, you can tell a lot about an AC unit from how its odour.

While all smells indicate that there’s something wrong with your air conditioning, some can also put you and your family’s health at risk and can even be life-threatening. Hopefully, a thorough clean of the unit or a simple repair can take care of the bad smells. However, this could be just another of the signs you need a new air conditioner.

3. It’s Started Making Strange Noises

No air conditioner is completely silent. Over time, you come to learn the normal sounds your current air conditioner makes. If yours has started suddenly making uncharacteristically strange sounds, this is cause for concern.

When AC units make screeching, grinding, rattling, buzzing, or ticking noises, these are all clear signs that there’s something very wrong. Is it a hazard or hazardous condition? Either way, if these noises are coming from your indoor unit, do not ignore them.

Depending on the issue causing the noise, an air conditioner replacement could be in order.

4. No Cool/Warm Air is Coming from the Air Conditioning Unit

If you turn your air conditioner on but your house still feels stifling hot in summer or bitterly cold in winter, that’s a clear sign it’s time to replace your air conditioner.

There’s a long list of reasons why your air conditioner isn’t creating the cool or warm air you’re after. They include:

• Dirty air filters
• Low refrigerant levels or refrigerant leaks
• Malfunctioning thermostat
• Blocked air ducts
• End of lifespan
• Leaking ducts
• Damaged outdoor unit
• Faulty electrical components

Some of these reasons will simply require a relatively basic fix. Others will require the expertise of a licensed and qualified aircon system expert. They’ll be able to assess the situation and determine whether repair or air conditioner replacement is your best course of action.

5. You Have Poor Air Flow

Have you noticed a considerable change in the air flow from your air conditioner? Within a few minutes of turning your HVAC system on, you should notice warm or cool air coming from the unit. If this isn’t the case, there’s likely something restricting the airflow in the air vents or the fan could be faulty.

Problems like this don’t fix themselves. With regular maintenance, you’ll generally pick them up early on and nip them in the bud as soon as possible. Air conditioning technicians will be able to identify the issue and repair it or install a replacement unit.

6. The Temperature is Inconsistent

Speaking of air flow, the whole point of your heating and cooling system is to deliver a consistent flow of air at your chosen temperature setting. While a little fluctuation is to be expected as the system regulates the temperature, large inconsistencies are not normal.

Air conditioning units that blow out hot air when in cooling mode likely have a serious problem like a damaged compressor. An inconsistent temperature could also be caused by faults in:

• the air filter
• condensing coil
• condensation drains
• any other internal component

Major faults that stop your air conditioner from producing a consistent air temperature or a diminished cooling capacity often come with exorbitant repair costs. In these situations, a full air conditioner replacement is preferable to repair work.

7. The AC System Short-Cycles or Struggles to Start

Most air conditioners cycle through on and off states to maintain the desired temperature. Inverter systems are the exception to the rule. If your system struggles to start up or is randomly turning on and off in short cycles, this is potentially a sign that a new unit is in order.

Frequently turning on and off in this way will strain your air conditioner and reduce its lifespan. If you’re lucky, it’s simply a blown fuse. Otherwise, you’ll likely be up for a new air conditioning unit.

8. Your Home Gathers Excessive Dust

Well-maintained air conditioners do more than just heating and cooling. They also clean the air inside your home with their air filters so you can breathe easily. But they can only do so with clean filters and an AC unit that is up to scratch.

If you’ve started noticing more dust than usual around your home or a thick collection of it on your air conditioner’s filters, this could be one of the signs you need a new AC.

Give your filters a clean and if the problem persists, it might be time to consider some new air conditioning systems.

9. You’ve Had Inexplicably Higher Electricity Bills

As the seasons change you expect your energy bills to fluctuate a bit. Winter and summer will often see us use our air conditioners more frequently, so it makes sense that you’ll often get higher energy bills for these seasons.

Over time, you come to develop a reasonable expectation of your energy bill. Unless your energy retailer has significantly increased their charges, large price spikes that come out of nowhere are often a sign that something is wrong at home.

If you’ve got an older air conditioner or have noticed any of the above signs in combination with an unexpectedly high power bill, your air con could be at fault.

10. Your Air Conditioner is Old and Inefficient

Old age affects us all, including our air cons. If energy costs or your home’s energy efficiency is a concern for you, then that alone could be a reason to upgrade your current system to something new.

Newer models can save you more money in the long run than older air cons with their lower running costs. Inherently more energy efficient with their newer technology, simply compare the Energy Rating of your old unit and a new unit.

11. Your Air Conditioner is Old and Needs Frequent Repairs

Even a regularly serviced air conditioner will show signs of wear and tear as it reaches the end of its typical lifespan. In these situations, it’s often better to just replace older air conditioners than repair them.

By choosing to replace your air conditioner instead of constantly repairing it, you’ll likely save money in the long run. This is especially true after the warranty expires and you’re up for the cost of repairs entirely.

You’ll also get to enjoy all the great features new AC systems come with such as their smart capabilities and more energy-efficient performance.

How Much is a New Air Conditioner?

So AC repair proves to be more trouble than it’s worth and the signs it’s time to replace your air con become too hard to ignore, there’s likely one question you’ll ask yourself.

How much does an air conditioner replacement cost?

That question does not come with a simple, straightforward answer. An air conditioner that might slip right into one home could require significantly more labour to install in another. There are several other factors you need to consider during the decision-making process beyond just the type of air con you want to install:

• Size of the room to heat/cool
• How insulated your home is
• Gas or electricity
• Type of system (split systems, ducted system, evaporative cooling, portable air conditioner)
• Zoning
• And more!

When it comes to new air conditioners and the need to replace your old AC unit, there is certainly a lot to consider.

Finance Options** for Air Conditioner Installation

Depending on the air conditioner you want to be installed, this could be quite a costly investment. You can keep the winter chills or summer sweats at bay by installing now and paying later with Metropolitan Air Conditioning.

Don’t let an emergency air con installation dictate your finances. We have a range of finance options** so you can pay it off at a rate that suits your budget and lifestyle.

Ready to replace that old air con? At Metropolitan, we can install, maintain and repair all major brands, including ActronAIR, Braemar, Carrier, Mitsubishi Electric, Rinnai and many others.

Contact Metropolitan AC now and we can have an expert at your door today for a same-day air conditioner replacement.

Please note: Thanks for reading our blog “11 Sinister Warning Signs You Need a New Air Conditioner”. This information is provided for advice purposes only. Regulations differ from state to state, so please consult your local authorities or an industry professional before proceeding with any work. See our Terms & Conditions here.