How Long Do AC Units Last In Denver

Air conditioners are growing in importance in Denver. In the heart of the city, you might need your air conditioner in the middle of the day as the temperatures creep towards three digits, while a cool evening breeze may give you a chance to open up the windows and enjoy a moment of fresh air.

Heat is no longer something you only have to worry about in the summer; we’ve been known to see record breaking high’s in spring and fall too. All of this means more wear and tear on your AC unit, which means it can wear out faster than anticipated.

How long do AC units last here in Denver? If your air conditioner is more than a few years old, what’s a reasonable timeline for replacement?

Of course, it’s impossible to give an exact timeline of how long an AC unit will last. There are a lot of factors that determine the lifespan, including where the equipment is located, how protected your house is from the elements, how often you use the equipment, the make and model or your AC unit, and how well your air conditioner is maintained. Still, it isn’t out of the ordinary for an AC unit to last fifteen years or more.

The biggest factors that determine how long your AC unit will last includes:

The size of the AC unit

With some products we buy, the concept of “bigger is better” often holds true. Not with your AC unit. An oversized AC unit will cycle on and off more frequently due to it hitting peak temperature faster because of increased airflow. An undersized will run longer as it works hard to keep your home the temperature you demand. One of our technicians can take a look at your current system and tell you if it’s appropriately sized. That ensures it works at peak performance, giving you the longest life possible.

Routine maintenance

Once your AC unit is sized properly, it’s important to keep it operating every year at peak performance. It doesn’t take much, but it does take a routine visit from one of our technicians to ensure it’s ready for the upcoming season. We ensure parts are working correctly and refrigerant levels are where they should be. We fix the small things so they don’t turn into big things on the hottest day of the year.

Ventilation

Your AC unit is the “AC” in HVAC – heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. Even though you aren’t using your heating system during the warm months of the year, the ventilation system – your ductwork – is always used to supply conditioned air throughout your home. If that isn’t working the way it should, it can make your AC unit less efficient. When one of our technicians visits each spring, we will also ensure your ductwork is intact, and working efficiently as it delivers conditioned air.

Before we move into spring here in Denver, is your AC unit working the way it should? There’s no better time to get on our schedule and have your AC tested and ready for the first warm day of the year.