How did you handle the recent heatwave? Wasn’t it just peachy? I think just about everyone across the board can say they don’t like to be hot. Something about the heat just makes a person grumpy. Maybe because there’s not much you can do about it and you try to be as comfortable as you can in your own skin during the heat.

While dealing with the heat, you probably run home to the cool air to get some relief and satisfaction. You probably even let out a sigh when you walk in the door, as if to say, “Oh yeah…that’s the stuff!”

In cooling that home of yours, have you thought about what you’re going to do when you have to replace your swamp cooler or air conditioner? Many people understand that even with good maintenance, there is still a certain life expectancy of a cooling unit. And others have a belief that the cooling unit will live forever. Unfortunately, that’s not true. We’re going to provide you with some signs to look out for when you need to replace your trusted swamp cooler or air conditioner.

SWAMP COOLERS

If you’ve been reading our blogs (I’m eternally hoping that you have been), then you know that “swamp cooler” is another name for an evaporative cooler. These pull water from your water heater, that water is then distributed over pads, a fan blows air on those pads and the cool air is pumped into your home to cool it down. The downside to these is that they don’t work well in high temperatures (like triple-digit), or with high humidity.

What can you look out for when replacing your swamp cooler? Take a look at this list:

Rusted out pan. This is usually the nail in the coffin for many swamp coolers. If the pan is metal and it’s rusted out, it’s only a matter of time before your cooler is kaput.
How old is your current swamp cooler? Have you lived in your home for a long time but haven’t ever replaced the cooler? Then it’s probably time you started thinking about it.
When the cost of repairs outweighs the cost of replacing it. Would you rather pay more in repairs than the cost of a new one? Didn’t think so.

AIR CONDITIONERS

More people are converting from evaporative coolers to air conditioners for a myriad of reasons. For some, they don’t want to fool around with the parts, getting up and down on the ladder or even making sure they have enough windows open to alleviate the pressure in the home caused by evaporative coolers. Many are aware that air conditioners cool a home better than evaporative coolers, even though their energy bills rise substantially during the summer.

When is it time to replace your air conditioner? Here are a few ways to know:

Have you had energy bills that were higher than usual? You may have an older system that isn’t as energy efficient as you’d like. Or as it used to be.
Can you hear yourself think, or even speak, over the compressor? If the answer is no, that could be a sign that you need to replace the AC.
Just like swamp coolers, if the cost of repairing the air conditioner outweighs the cost of replacing it, then it’s probably time to say goodbye to the current unit. No one wants to pay more for repairing it than it costs to replace it.
Also, just like swamp coolers, if your air conditioner has been at the house longer than you have, then you will need to consider how much it will cost to replace it.

While you may not be looking forward to spending the money to replace your cooling unit, or to convert from swamp cooler to AC, it will be all worth it when you’re chillin’ in your home. The best news is that the sophisticated technicians with Albuquerque Plumbing Heating & Cooling can come to your home and provide you with a free estimate* for the best cooling unit for your home. Pretty comforting to hear, right?

If you’re looking for fast and reliable furnace services, then check out our services in the following locations:

Looking for help in California? Check out our Friends over at Ace Pelizon Plumbing! For more information, click the link below!