How long does air conditioning last?
A quality split system installed and serviced properly lasts 12 to 15 years, often more; neglected or badly installed systems fail in 5 to 8. Installation quality sets the ceiling, moisture left in the pipework or a botched charge shortens life invisibly, and annual servicing keeps the system near it. Parts support runs about a decade past purchase for mainstream brands.
The lifespan question has two honest answers because the distribution has two humps. Systems that were vacuum-tested properly at install, charged by weight and serviced annually cruise past a decade with little drama; the compressor, the heart of the machine, is engineered for that life. Systems that started with moisture in the circuit or run for years on choked coils age in fast-forward: the compressor works harder, hotter and dies younger.
The aging pattern is gradual rather than cliff-edged: efficiency drifts down as coils and fans wear, sound levels creep up, and eventually a component fails, a fan motor, a board, a sensor. Each repair-or-replace decision then weighs the part cost against the system's age; our rule of thumb is that a repair over a third of replacement cost on a 10-year-old system rarely earns its money.
Parts availability quietly sets the horizon: mainstream manufacturers stock spares for roughly ten years after a range ends, so a 14-year-old system may be healthy but one failed board from retirement. This is also the honest argument against the unbranded units cheap quotes rely on, where the horizon is nearer four years.
When replacement comes, it arrives with compensations: 10 to 20% better efficiency like-for-like, quieter units, current refrigerant and a fresh 5 to 7 year warranty, and the second install is cheaper than the first where pipe routes can be reused after inspection.
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