Having a functional air conditioner in your Leesburg, FL home is essential. Without reliable cooling, the region’s hot and humid climate can make your living space feel muggy and oppressive. It can also place residents at risk of dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.
While your current air conditioner may still turn on and distribute air, that does not always mean it is worth keeping, especially if it needs repairs. At a certain point in an air conditioner’s lifespan, scheduling a new AC installation becomes the safer and more cost-effective choice.
Below are seven signs your Florida air conditioner may be too old to keep repairing.
- Advanced Age
The average lifespan of an air conditioner is 15 to 20 years. However, in high-humidity regions, an AC system can wear out sooner. Florida’s year-round moisture contributes to corrosion and can cause components like capacitors, coils, and refrigerant lines to break down over time. While Leesburg is not directly on the coast, it still receives occasional salty coastal air, which can accelerate corrosion.
Florida heat also shortens air conditioner lifespans. Long hot days, warm nights, and an extended cooling season cause AC systems to run more often, increasing wear on internal parts.
Most air conditioners experience the highest number of repair issues during the final two to three years of their service life. If you have an older AC that needs repairs now, it may need another repair soon. Many older systems have also lost warranty coverage.
- Frequent Repairs
Frequent repairs are one of the clearest signs of declining AC reliability. In Florida, where cooling is essential for health and safety, you cannot afford repeated breakdowns during extreme heat.
Many HVAC professionals recommend replacement when repair costs rise too high. A general guideline is to consider replacement when cumulative repair costs exceed half the cost of a new system.
- Rising Energy Bills
A noticeable spike in energy bills during cooling season can indicate your AC is losing efficiency. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, HVAC use accounts for nearly half of the average home energy bill. Comparing current bills to past summers is one of the best ways to spot rising energy use. If you have a smart thermostat, you may also be able to review historical energy data through the thermostat’s mobile app.
- Poor Efficiency
Even if your AC was high-efficiency when installed, it will not maintain that performance forever. Air conditioners gradually lose efficiency as they age. Cooling cycles become longer and less effective, which means your system must run more often to maintain comfort.
Longer cooling cycles increase operational strain and often lead to more frequent repairs. In many cases, the constant stress accelerates system decline.
Some estimates suggest air conditioners can lose as much as half their efficiency after about 10 years. If your system is older than 10 years, it is likely far less efficient than when it was first installed.
Minimum efficiency standards for new systems have also increased over time. As a result, older AC units often cost more to run while delivering less comfort.
- Inconsistent Cooling
Central air conditioning should cool the home evenly. If you notice major hot and cold spots, your system may be struggling. When older air conditioners begin failing, uneven cooling often becomes more frequent, and quick fixes may not fully resolve the issue.
- Humidity Problems
In Florida, humidity control is just as important as cooling. Aging systems often struggle to remove moisture from indoor air. Wear on evaporator coils, condenser coils, and drainage components can reduce dehumidification performance and leave your home feeling damp.
Poor humidity regulation increases the risk of mold and mildew, causes musty odors, and can reduce indoor air quality.
- Hard to Find or Obsolete Parts
Older systems often require parts that are difficult to locate or no longer manufactured. During peak cooling season, waiting for rare parts can leave you without comfort for longer than expected.
Another common issue is refrigerant. If your AC is about 20 years old or older, it may still use R-22, often called Freon. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency began phasing out R-22 in 2003, banned its use in new equipment in 2010, and banned domestic production and importation in 2020.
Limited supplies of R-22 still exist for service, but it is increasingly expensive and harder to obtain. Fewer technicians also specialize in safely handling and recharging older refrigerants.
Refrigerant changes can also affect systems that are not extremely old. R-410A, often referred to as Puron, began its next phase of reduction in January 2025. While it is still used in existing systems, manufacturers have shifted toward newer refrigerants in new equipment. If your system uses older refrigerants and requires recharging, replacement may be the simplest long-term solution.
Keeping an aging air conditioner often leads to:
- Decreased home comfort
- Poor humidity control
- Declining indoor air quality
- Rising energy bills
- Decreased home marketability and value
Older systems may also create persistent hot and cold spots and make repairs more difficult due to limited part availability. If your AC needs frequent repairs, costs more to run, and no longer delivers consistent comfort, replacement is often the best option.
Proudly serving Leesburg, FL and surrounding communities since 2002, M&S Air Conditioning offers expert AC installation and repair services. For new installations, we provide financing on approved credit through Synchrony Bank. We also provide 24/7 AC repair support. Our trained and uniformed HVAC technicians undergo background checks and arrive in branded, fully stocked trucks with company identification.
If you need AC repair or replacement, contact M&S Air Conditioning today. We do AC service right.
