How long does an AC unit last?
A central air conditioner typically lasts 10 to 15 years. That's the range most inspector and industry references agree on; the sources are listed below. Your unit's age is in its serial number: decode it here.
| Type | Typical life | What the sources say |
|---|---|---|
| Central air conditioner | 10 to 15 years | NAHB / Bank of America Home Equity: Study of Life Expectancy of Home Components (Feb. 2007), copy hosted by NSF: Air conditioners 10 to 15 years; unitary ACs 15; InterNACHI's Standard Estimated Life Expectancy Chart for Homes: Central air conditioner: 7 to 15 years; Trane: How Long Do Air Conditioners Last?: About 15 years; Lennox: How Long Do Heat Pumps Last?: Central AC typically 12 to 15 years (comparison line); Lennox: How Long Do Air Conditioners Last?: Central AC 15 to 20 years; Carrier: How Long Do AC Units Last?: 15 to 20 years with maintenance; 10 to 12 without; DOE direct final rule, residential central ACs and heat pumps, 82 FR 1786 (Jan. 6, 2017): Average lifetime 21 years for central ACs; New York Joint Utilities TRM, Appendix P: Effective Useful Life (Dec. 2019), hosted by NYSERDA: Central AC: 15 years; ENERGY STAR: When Is It Time to Replace?: Consider replacing an AC more than 10 years old |
What shortens it
- A hot, humid climate and long cooling seasons, which pile on run hours.
- A low thermostat setting that keeps the system running harder.
- The wrong size or a poor installation.
- Skipped maintenance. Dirty filters and coils strain the compressor.
- Salt air near the coast, which corrodes the outdoor coil.
Signs it's time to plan a replacement
- It is more than 10 years old.
- Breakdowns are frequent, or a repair approaches half the cost of a new system.
- Energy bills keep climbing with no change in use.
- Uneven cooling or loud noises.
- It uses R-22. New R-22 hasn't been made or imported in the U.S. since 2020, so recharges rely on recovered refrigerant.
Find your air conditioner's age by brand
Rheem · Ruud · Trane · American Standard · all brands
Common questions
How long does a central air conditioner last?
Typically 10 to 15 years. Installation, maintenance and conditions move the real number either way.
How do I find out how old my air conditioner is?
The manufacture date is coded in the serial number on the data plate. Type it into the decoder to read the month and year.