When it comes to air conditioners, the expected lifespan of a unit can vary greatly depending on a variety of factors, such as where it's installed and how well it's maintained. Generally speaking, with proper maintenance and care, you can expect a new, high-efficiency air conditioning system to last between 15 and 20 years. On the other hand, if an air conditioner is not properly taken care of, its lifespan could be much shorter than 10 years. If you're uncertain whether or not to repair your air conditioner or take the plunge to completely replace it, there are several signs that indicate it's time to buy a new one. These include higher-than-usual energy bills, loud noises during operation, irregular cooling in all rooms of the house, leaks around baseboards or window sills, bad odors from ventilation grilles when running, or rust inside or outside the unit. When deciding whether or not an air conditioner needs to be replaced, consider how old the current unit is and when it was last serviced.
If the compressor is on its last legs or if you have an old air conditioning unit nearing the end of its life, it may be time to replace it before costly repairs are needed.