When I started having major problems with my air conditioning, I already knew I wanted a new one.
My AC unit was almost fifteen years old, and that is the average life of an AC unit.
I had one that lasted longer, but it was an anomaly. It lasted for almost twenty years, and I never had any major breakdowns. We had a few that were normal, like a broken fan blade, needing the coolant refilled, and my negligence in changing air filters. This was the worst problem we had with the air conditioning. Forgetting to change the air filter caused an airflow problem. We ended up needing some repairs done, and we also had to have the ductwork cleaned. I assumed the ductwork needed to be cleaned for several years, and noticed a big change in the smell and feel of the air once the ductwork cleaners left. When the HVAC technician arrived to inspect the AC unit, he told me he could repair the AC unit. I told him I didn’t want any repairs made. I wanted a new air conditioning unit. He looked at me like I was crazy. After telling him I knew how old the AC unit was, and I knew this was just the beginning, he shook his head. He told me it would be a minor repair, but I knew how my airflow was diminishing. I wanted the new air conditioning unit before the weather got too hot to go an hour without air conditioning, let alone needing to go a few days.