Certain telltale signs indicate that it’s time to consider replacing your air conditioner, or improving the performance of your system. If your system has any of the following issues, it may be time to replace your air conditioner.

#1: Age
If your air conditioner is more than 10 years old, you should consider replacing it with a unit that has earned the Energy Star label. Installed correctly, these high-efficiency units can save your home up to 20 percent on cooling costs.

#2: Increasing costs
If you are noticing that your equipment needs frequent repairs and your energy bills are steadily going up, your cooling equipment my have become less efficient.

#3: Unreliable temperature control
If you’re noticing that some rooms in your home are too hot or too cold, or if you’re noticing that there are fluctuations and uneven temperature control, it could mean that your equipment is not functioning properly. These problems are often associated with duct problems or inadequate insulation and can be repaired.

#4: High humidity
If your home has humidity problems then it is likely that you could have poor equipment operation, inadequate equipment and/or leaky ductwork. All of these issues cause the air to be too humid during the summer months

#5: Excessive noise
If your cooling system is getting noisier than usual, you could have an undersized duct system or a problem with the indoor coil of your cooling equipment.

If you do not have a programmable thermostat, it’s probably a good time to invest and install one. These thermostats allow you to save energy and money while you’re away or sleeping. There are a large variety of thermostats that will help you accomplish a lower energy bill, and some are even programmable from your smart phone!