How Long Do AC Units Last in Arizona? If you live in Arizona, you must have asked your HVAC technician this question when you got your new ac unit. Air conditioning units are not luxury, but a necessity for the people of Arizona as its temperatures can go well above 100°F.
According to the US Department of Energy, an air conditioning unit’s average lifespan is about 15 to 20 years. However, In Arizona, an AC unit wears out faster than the same model used in any other state because of higher temperatures and constant use. These factors make its average lifespan different than the national average. But they can achieve the national average and can last 12 – 15 years if they are maintained and serviced annually.
Several factors contribute to how long an air conditioner will last in Arizona. Taking each of them into consideration can give you a good idea of the lifespan of AC unit at your home. You can also check out this article discussing how long a Goodman AC lasts if you’re looking for information on a specific brand.
Let’s have a look at these factors:
1. System Type
The first factor that can affect your AC unit’s lifespan is the type of system you have. Your cooling AC unit might be:
- Heat pump: A heat pump is an air conditioner that can both cool and heat your home. During summers, it provides cooling, and during winters, it heats your home. As these air conditioners run year-round, they go through more cycles making their lifespan shorter than a straight cool system. They can last anywhere between 10 to 14 years.
- Straight cool: On the other hand, a straight-cool air conditioner lasts more than 14 years because it has only one cooling cycle, and it gets to rest during the cooler months.
So, if you have a heat pump that is used throughout the year, it’s probably not going to last as long as a straight cool air conditioner because it will go through more cycles.
2. Proper Sizing of the AC Unit
Improper sizing can reduce an air conditioner’s lifespan. A lot of homes do not have a properly sized air conditioning system; they are either:
Oversized system: In this case, the AC unit is too large and will cool your home too quickly. Cooling your home too quickly causes the unit to turn on and off too often, increasing wear and tear and, therefore, decreasing the system’s lifespan.
Undersized system: In this case, the air conditioner is too small and struggles to cool your home on hot days, forcing it to run continuously. Since it’s not removing enough heat from your home, the evaporator coil will freeze. This may cause liquid refrigerant to flood back to the compressor, causing compressor pressure issues and damaging it, reducing your system’s lifespan.
An oversized or an undersized AC unit – both need to work harder than a unit that is correctly sized for a home. That’s why it’s better to have a properly sized system. If you get a properly sized air conditioning system after consulting an air conditioning technician, you’ll see an increase in lifespan of AC unit at your home.
3. How Well the AC Unit is Maintained
Another factor that tends to impact how long do AC units last in Arizona is its maintenance or lack thereof. Regular maintenance and cleaning can help you catch issues early that may be causing the unit to work too hard, dramatically increase its lifespan. On the other hand, a lack of maintenance can result in low efficiency, numerous breakdowns, a major breakdown, and an early replacement of the air conditioner.
You must contact a professional and get your AC unit checked at least twice a year. A well-maintained AC that receives professional service twice a year will always last longer than a poorly maintained unit. If there’s ever a loss in efficiency or a preventable breakdown, the technician visiting your home will tell you what can be done. If developing problems are left to worsen, then your AC life will be affected drastically.
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