9 red flags that your air conditioner needs replacing

Is there anything more frustrating than the mid-summer realisation that your air conditioner is producing more of an asthmatic wheeze than an Antarctic blast of cold air? 

Frustrating because the chance of finding an airconditioner technician when the temperatures are pushing 40C are next to zero. 

To save your household from unnecessary stress over the intense summer months, we’ve put together this revealing list of 9 telltale signs that your air conditioner needs replacing. 

READ MORE: Geothermal Heating and Cooling is here! Forget the energy crisis

The red flags that your air conditioner needs replacing

Poor or no air flow: If your air conditioner is not blowing air as robustly as it should – leaving you with very little or no cold air circulating through your home – it’s a sign that your compressor or another major component is failing. After checking your filters, you’ll need to call in the professionals to diagnose the problem. 

Blowing hot, when it should be cold: If the air being produced doesn’t live up to your thermostat’s settings, or if it stops cooling altogether, it’s a sign of serious problems. Inconsistent temperatures, such as when some rooms are hot and others cold, are also a red flag. While it could be a problem with the valves or filters, the entire unit may be heading out. 

If it is leaking water: While it’s normal for Evaporative Coolers to drop water outside your home, this is not the case with Split and Refrigerated systems. If you have one of the latter and find it is leaking water or producing a lot of condensation, you definitely need to call in the experts because your air conditioner may need replacing. 

Energy bills are suddenly higher: If your energy bills have suddenly spiked and you’ve eradicated other culprits as the problem, your air conditioner is likely stressed and overworking due to an underlying problem. It may just be due for a good service but if that too is not the case, you’ll need to call us in to provide an expert diagnosis. 

Your air con smells: You’ll need to eradicate a range of potential problems – such as dead birds or vermin, mould in your ducting and a filter that may need replacing. But once you’ve eradicated those issues and still have a unit pumping out obnoxious-smelling air, you may be looking at a complete unit replacement.  

The air con is older than 15 years: The average life of an air conditioner is about 15 years, although they can last up to 20 if they are well serviced and maintained. As it starts to age, you’ll notice that your air conditioner is becoming less efficient and even starting to break down regularly. And at the end of the day, it will be cheaper to replace it. 

Frequent short cycling:  A healthy airconditioning unit will occasionally cycle on and off to maintain the temperature set at the thermostat. But if your system is suddenly switching on and off all the time, or you have trouble getting your system started, it could be a serious problem that means your air conditioner needs replacing. Constant cycling can lead to complete system failure. 

Strange noises: Healthy air conditioners are almost silent when running.  Properly functioning HVAC systems operate almost silently. Minor sound changes may require minor repairs to a loose fan or something similar. However, if you hear grinding, heavy rattling, or buzzing, your unit may have a fatal fault.  

Vibrations from your condenser: Your condenser, also known as your outdoor unit, should not be vibrating and if it is, you could have a big problem requiring expensive repairs or worse. Your condenser draws fresh air into your home, so it is essential it’s working properly.  

Better still, call Plum Trade Services today!

If you notice any of the above symptoms, it’s critical that you get your air conditioner check by a professional that you can trust. 

After all, it may not actually need replacing at all and if caught early, may be a simple fix. 

Here at Plum Trade Services, we’re able to offer a full suite of products and services when it comes to your Heating, Cooling, Electrical and Hot Water in Melbourne and Geelong.  

We’re a family-owned company whose staff live and breathe our 6 core values of trust, reputation, friendly staff, honesty & integrity, responsiveness, and best customer service! And the best part is, all of our staff and trades are highly trained and skilled professionals in their field, who offer superior guidance and exceptional service that we are incredibly of.  

And our customers agree. They’ve left more than 1500 five-star reviews on Google – an accomplishment we challenge any of our competitors to match! 

Call our friendly team today on 8360-9622 in Melbourne, or 5292-2219 in Geelong.