How Can I Check The Age of my AC?
Do you know how old your air conditioner is? We are not trying to be nosy – there is a reason why we are asking this. Now is the time to prepare for another scorching hot summer in Ontario. The first thing that should be on your to-do list is to ensure that your home will be reliably cooled by your air conditioner.
Whether you having some issues right now, or just need to have some seasonal maintenance done on your air conditioner, how old your air conditioning system is will be one of the major predictors of how well it performs this year. When asking for a service call it will be one of the first questions that you are asked.
If there was central air already installed when you purchased your house, then you may not know exactly old it is. However, with some basic detective work, it will be easy to figure this out.
How Can I Determine How Old My Central Air Conditioner Is?
Does It Have A Nameplate?
Your Air Conditioner’s outdoor condenser unit should have a metal nameplate attached to it. The exact location varies, depending on the brand. On Trane air conditioners, for example, the nameplate is located on the top part of the unit, towards the back right. On Goodman air conditioners, it is located on the back part of the outside unit.
Lots of useful information can be found on the nameplate. Usually, it will include the name of the company that made the system, the manufacturing date (month and year), and the model number.
Can The Serial Number Be Researched?
If for some strange reason the manufacture date is not shown on the AC nameplate, search for the serial number. This number should have the date that the system was made encoded in it.
Write the model and serial number down. Or even better, take a picture. Then do a quick search to find the age of your air conditioner. If you are unable to find what you are searching for or would like to save some time, just send a photo to us along with a description of the problems your air conditioner is experiencing.
When Was The Air Conditioner Installed?
The air conditioner’s installation date is another important piece of the puzzle. It is defined as being either:
The date the home was purchased from the builder by the original owner (on new construction) OR
The date that the AC unit was installed (applicable to most houses)
To find the date, look through the paperwork that you got from the seller when you purchased your home. The AC registration, warranty, the invoice will display the installation date. Usually, the installation date is within a couple of months of manufacture, so it is a good indication of how old your air conditioner is.
When Should My Air Conditioner Be Replaced?
A central air conditioner’s normal service life in Ontario is anywhere from 10 to 15 years (although we have heard of some ACs running for more than 20 years!).
If your system falls within that age range, it has probably had one or several problems, including:
It is a lot less energy-efficient compared to current models that are developed according to new standards and the latest technology. Replacing your air conditioner will help you save money on electricity costs and reduce your carbon footprint.
Your air conditioner may use R22 (Freon) as its refrigerant. Freon has been phased out by the Canadian government due to the material’s ozone-depleting characteristics. This makes it very difficult to repair problems such as refrigerant leaks.
It might frequently break down, leaving your family without cooling in the middle of a summer heatwave. You could also end up having massive air conditioner repair bills to pay. Financially it makes much better sense to purchase a new central air condition than try to patch up an old one.
Give JD Swallow a Call When Your AC Needs To Be Replaced or Repaired
If your central air conditioner is not able to sufficiently cool your home any longer, contact us here at JD Swallow. We are experts at central and ductless air conditioner replacement and repair in Ottawa and the surrounding areas.
