Long Island summers are brutal for air conditioners. From late June to September, central air systems run continuously at high loads. If your AC unit is on the edge of failing, the first serious heat wave could push it over the edge. If you’ve been wondering if your system has another summer in it, you can follow some steps now before you experience an air conditioning emergency in 95°F heat.
Soundview Heat and Air Conditioning Corp. is your partner for energy-efficient HVAC installations and replacements in Suffolk County. Here are the warning signs to look for before summer peaks.
Warning Signs That It’s Time for an AC Replacement
Run your air conditioner for a full cycle today and pay attention to its behavior. These are the signs that can tell you that something’s wrong, and whether you need a tune-up or a complete AC replacement.
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Air Conditioner Warning Signs |
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Warning Sign |
What it Means |
Tune-Up or AC Replacement? |
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Constantly Running Without Reaching Set Temperature |
Low refrigerant, a dirty coil, or an undersized system. |
Tune-up first to check overall health. |
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Short Cycles (Turns On and Off) |
Oversized unit or refrigerant issue. |
Tune-up first. |
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High Humidity When Cooling |
System is short-cycling or low on refrigerant. |
Tune-up first. |
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Unusual Grinding and Banging Sounds |
Mechanical wear. Motor, fan, or compressor failure. |
Call an HVAC contractor immediately for inspection. Potential replacement. |
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Ice Forming on the Indoor Unit |
Dirty filters or low refrigerant. |
Check filters first. Tune-up if filters are clean. |
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Electric Bill Spikes |
Efficiency loss from age or a refrigerant issue. |
Consider replacement if it’s over 10 years old. |
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System is Over 10 Years Old |
Combined wear across major components. |
A good time to think about an AC replacement. |
In a lot of these cases, the outcome could go either way. A tune-up can resolve common issues with cleaning and minor repairs, but at a certain point you will need to consider replacing your system. It’s important to choose a trusted HVAC contractor for accurate advice and detailed diagnostics.
Soundview HVAC has served Suffolk County for over 25 years and is one of the top-rated heating and cooling companies on Long Island.
The Age Factor: When Is it More Economical to Replace an Old Air Conditioner?
Age is the most important variable when considering whether to repair or replace your air conditioner. A system that’s just 7 years old with a couple of warning signs will almost always be more economical to repair. If the system is 10 years old or even 15 years old, repairs are only likely to be a stopgap before the system fails entirely.
The 50% rule applies in most cases. If the cost of an AC repair is more than 50% of the cost of a new system, a new HVAC installation is usually the better financial decision.
Book a Tune-Up if You Missed Your Pre-Season Inspection
It’s best to book an AC tune-up in spring, but if you forgot, now is the time to talk to a technician. A professional inspection and tune-up mean more than just a filter change. The process involves thorough cleaning of indoor and outdoor coils, a refrigerant level check, blower performance testing, thermostat calibration, safety inspections, and an overall assessment of your air conditioner’s health.
A tune-up is the easiest way to know what to do next. Either your system will be optimized with a few tweaks and potential repairs, or you will find out that it’s time for a replacement. Soundview HVAC will be transparent and explain all findings, no matter the outcome.
Avoid a sudden, catastrophic air conditioner breakdown this summer. Book an HVAC service by calling us at 631-209-1744 today.
