A country like Singapore does not experience the four seasons that are normal in western countries. Since it is located in Asia, the weather in Singapore is mostly hot and humid the whole year through. This is why it is essential to most homes to own centralized air conditioning units.
AC units are not cheap. They are big investments and so buyers should be extra careful with the quality of the unit they buy and the amount of care that they give their units once they are regularly using them.
Maintenance is very important in air conditioning systems. It helps keep their efficiency so that they can function at low energy costs and with less stress on the motor. With proper maintenance, you can greatly increase the life span of your air conditioning unit too.
Speaking of which, a good HVAC unit normally has a life span of 15 – 20 years. That is if you buy a quality unit from a good brand. Other cheap brands can only last up to five years, although you can help extend it with proper care of the unit.
Proper installation and matching the air conditioning unit with the right size of space that it is going to cool down can also influence its life span. For instance, if you buy an air conditioner that has a low capacity for a room that is large, it will work harder to meet the temperature that you have set and that will greatly stress the system. Therefore, before buying a unit, measure the size of the room first and consult with the salesperson to know the ideal unit for your home.
In the same manner, even if you buy a good quality HVAC unit that promises to last up to 14 -18 years but fail to maintain it, the unit can break down much earlier. This is why to be safe with estimates, an air conditioning unit has an average life of 10 – 15 years, which can be extended with good maintenance.
If you bought the unit yourself, it would be very easy for you to keep track of its life so that you can prepare to buy a new one. However, if you moved to a place that already has an air conditioning system installed in there, you may just be surprised one day that the unit just would not turn on. To avoid this, here some signs to look out for, signifying that your unit is close to dying.
First, if you are sure that it is more than ten years old. As mentioned above, the average life of an AC unit is 7 – 9 years, so you are already walking on the thin wire here. In such case, be more observant of any sound or smell that may come from your unit and have it checked by a technician to verify if it can still work for the next year or so.
Second, observe your energy bills. If you see any increase, it could be because your AC unit is not efficient anymore. If this is the case, it is best to buy a new one. You might have to shell out a big amount of money for a new unit, but you can get that back with the savings that you will generate on less energy consumption. A new unit will also eliminate any worries that your system may die down in the middle of a hot summer night in Singapore.
