A couple of years ago, during the middle of summer, I noticed that the house suddenly felt uncomfortably hot and sticky.
I checked the thermostat and saw that the indoor temperature was much higher than the desired setting.
Holding my hand up to a supply vent, I felt warm air. When I called for a repair, I fully expected to be told I needed a new air conditioner. The system was quite old. The technician removed the outer cabinet, inspected the various components and discovered a very small refrigerant leak. He said there was no way of knowing if the leak was recent or old and gradual. He suggested simply refilling and recharging the refrigerant. There was a chance of the repair lasting one day or several years. For parts and labor, the service cost me two hundred dollars. It was a cheaper decision than buying and installing a whole new air conditioner. The following summer, I faced the exact same problem. There was once again hot air pouring from the vents. I was no longer willing to pay another two hundred dollar repair to get one summer out of the outdated air conditioner. This time, I told the technician I was ready to replace. The new air conditioner has been a huge improvement. It provides superior comfort, energy efficiency and air quality. The operation is much quieter and my monthly 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 unit more effectively combats excess humidity.