A short quiz. What is the most important component in your air conditioning system?
- The blower fan
- The condenser coils
- The evaporator coils
- The compressor
- The thermostat
- All of the above
If you answered “6,” you’re right! There isn’t such a thing as “the most important component” out of options 1-6, because if any of these fail, you won’t have cooling from your AC. No fan means no air sent into the ventilation system. Losing either set of coils means the AC can’t carry out heat exchange. No thermostat means cooling can’t be turned on. And no compressor means the entire air conditioning system is dead and probably needs to be replaced.
Well, you could ask politely … not all air conditioners are sensitive about their age!
It’s August, and some of the harshest hot days are going to strike during this month and the next. Air conditioning systems have already put in a great deal of work, and with more on the way, homeowners may start to ask the question: “Is my air conditioner going to wear down so much that it breaks?” Nobody wants the answer to be “yes.”
The best time of the year to make a major change to the HVAC systems responsible for your year-round comfort in your house is during the spring and the fall—i.e. the times of the year when you need to rely on the AC or heater the least.
The biggest debate in the HVAC world is whether a piece of equipment should be repaired or replaced when it breaks down. Sometimes repairs are the easier and less expensive method; but there are times when repairs are throwing good money after bad, and the better long-term solution is to have a new installation done.
When it’s time to replace a 
