Just a small number of years ago, while in the middle of summer, I noticed that the apartment suddenly felt uncomfortably warm and sticky.
I diagnosed the temperature control and saw that the indoor temperature was much higher than the desired setting.
Holding my hand up to a supply vent, I felt moderate air. When I called for a repair, I fully expected to be told I needed a modern a/c. The system was quite old. The worker detached the outer chaletet, diagnosed the many components and discovered a actually small refrigerant leak. He said there was no way of knowing if the leak was recent or old and gradual. He advocated simply refilling and recharging the refrigerant. There was a choice of the repair lasting one day or many years. For parts and labor, the service cost me two hundred dollars. It was a cheaper decision than buying and installing a whole modern a/c. The following summer, I faced the exact same problem. There was once again warm air pouring from the vents. I was no longer willing to pay another two hundred dollar repair to get one summer time out of the old a/c. This time, I told the worker I was ready to update. The modern a/c has been a large improvement. It provides superior comfort, energy efficiency and air quality. The operation is much quieter and my yearly electric bills are quite a bit lower. This system is more environmentally friendly and keeps the home cleaner. I’ve also noticed that the modern component more effectively combats excess humidity.