Has your air conditioner stopped working as well as it once did? If so, it may be time to buy a new air conditioner for your home. Here are some signs that your air conditioner is on its last legs.

Odors

Odd odors that are coming from your air conditioner are a warning sign that something is wrong. A burning smell could be caused by motors that are overheating. Musty smells could be caused by mold that is growing inside the appliance. In general, your air conditioner shouldn't be producing odors to be concerned about.

Sounds

Keep an ear open for odd sounds that could be produced by the air conditioner. The most concerning one is a grinding sound, which is caused by moving metal touching another piece of metal. Adding more lubrication may not be enough to fix the problem, leading to the whole system needing replacement.

Energy Efficiency

Is your air conditioner no longer producing cold air like it did before? This could be a sign that your air conditioner is no longer energy efficient, causing the unit to run longer than necessary to cool your home. Replacing the aging using with a new one will save you money over the years because the new one will be more energy efficient compared to the old one.

Air Flow

The air produced by the air conditioner may be cool, but it won't do any good if it is trickling out of the air vents. Air flow is just as important as air temperatures, since that cold air needs to push its way through your home to cool down the living areas.

Age

Appliances like your air conditioner do have a natural lifespan to them. Consider replacing the entire unit if it is up there in age and a major repair is needed. For example, an air conditioner should last for about 15 to 20 years. If the repair is necessary in the late teens of the air conditioner's lifespan, have the entire unit replaced rather than fixed.

Humidity

One job of the air conditioner is to remove humidity in the air as it cycles through your home. Be concerned if your air conditioner is running and your house still feels very humid, since it means the air conditioner is not working properly to remove humidity.

For more info about why you should replace your air conditioner, speak with a local HVAC installation company.