Updated April 3, 2024
Have you ever heard the saying, “never judge a book by its cover?” Well, when it comes to the exterior appearance of your A/C unit, the same notion applies. The general exterior appearance of the system doesn’t always tell you its age or even the condition that it may be in. The air conditioning experts from Precision Heating & Air explain how to determine your air conditioner’s age accurately so you know when it’s time for an air conditioning replacement in the Atlanta Metro area.
3 Ways to Discover Your Air Conditioner Age
Since your unit is outside, it’s exposed to a lot of environmental factors, such as rain, wind, sunlight, and even snow occasionally. Although these factors may affect the exterior appearance, the interior components are completely fine and protected, meaning that your unit works well, even when the housing can take a beating.
There are three surefire ways to determine your AC’s age:
- Check the condenser nameplate. You’ll find it on the metal condenser box that sits outside of your home.
- Look for the manufacturing date. Once you locate it, you’ll need to interpret the serial number, which we go into more detail below.>/li>
- What’s the installation date? Typically, the installation and manufacturing date are usually close to one another.
Understanding the Manufacturing Serial Number
On most units, the age of your air conditioner is deciphered by looking at the first 4 numbers of the serial number. However, it may take a little more time to distinguish what these numbers mean. For example, if your serial number says something along the lines of W301114213, the probable manufacturing date may be the 30th week of 2011.
If your air conditioner is 10 years old or younger, you may be in luck in the efficiency department. AC units that were made less than 10 years ago were designed to be more energy efficient, meaning your electricity bill should cost you much less compared to older air conditioners.
Determine Your AC Unit’s Age with a Cheat Sheet
If you are apprehensive about distinguishing the true age of your air conditioning unit, it’s best to use the cheat sheet from the Building Intelligence Center. It provides an easy and user-friendly explanation, so you can be sure about the age of your AC.
Extend Your Air Conditioner’s Lifespan
The average unit lasts anywhere from 10 to 20 years.
Here are some key items to keep in consideration when running your air conditioning unit that can help it last as long as possible:
- Don’t make your air conditioner work harder than it needs to. Keep fans running in your home to get the air circulating and keep blinds down to keep your home from heating up from the sunlight. This will work out better for both the air conditioning unit and your electricity bill.
- Don’t close off rooms. Always leave doors slightly ajar to get the air circulating throughout the home.
- Maintain your unit by having an expert come by every so often for regular air conditioning tune ups. Keeping up with this is kind of like brushing your teeth – always a great idea in the moment and for the future. When you join our Maintenance Agreement, you receive perks like discounts on parts and repairs.
- Always keep the condenser and compressor free of obstructions. If your air conditioning unit is outside, make sure the condenser and compressor are free of any type of obstruction. The unit works best when there are about 24 inches of clear space in all directions. For this reason alone, it’s best to get rid of nearby shrubs, tall grass, obtrusive branches, and any other type of debris that may interfere with your unit.
Contact Precision Heating & Air Today for AC Service
Serving the Atlanta metro area, the technicians at Precision Heating & Air provide amazing HVAC service. Give us a call at (770) 758-4552 or simply fill out our online form. We can’t wait to help you with all your air conditioning needs!
