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With summer fast approaching, it’s time to get ready for outdoor activities -- and for keeping cool indoors. If your home is more than 10 years old, you might be wondering if your air conditioning system will make it through another season. But should you replace it now or hold out?

Air conditioners, like any other mechanical systems, last only so long. Typically, they should serve you well for 10 to 12 years. Going beyond that might be a stretch, though.

Here are some signs that your A/C may be headed for trouble:

• The condenser unit is rusty. Check the outside part of your A/C system. Is it rusty? Oxidation has done more to destroy mechanical equipment than any other deteriorating factor.
• It's noisy. Air conditioning systems are designed to be quiet. If your condenser unit outside or the air-handling unit inside are rumbling or screeching, a professional should check your system.
• There's no power. When you try to turn on the system and nothing happens, you can be sure you have a problem. It doesn't necessarily mean you need a whole new system. It could be a circuitry problem -- a much simpler fix.
• It doesn't cool enough. The biggest indicator of a dying system is that it fails to produce enough cool air. If you notice this problem, though, check your air filter first -- maybe a new one will solve your problem.
• The system cools unevenly. Many homeowners struggle to balance the temperature among their various rooms. But if you find that your system can’t cool rooms that it used to cool or can’t cool rooms that are farther from the air-handling unit, that’s an indicator of pending failure.

Don’t assume your A/C is dying because you see one of these indicators -- your system could require only a minor repair. Several simultaneous problems may indicate pending failure, however. Serving clients throughout Northern Indiana and Southwestern Michigan, the professionals at Home Comfort Experts always welcome questions about A/C systems. Please feel free to contact us anytime.

Home Comfort services the Mishawaka/South Bend areas of Indiana.  To get started, check out our website or see our special offers.