How to Replace Your Outside AC Unit
The middle of a Texas summer is the wrong time to be without air conditioning. If your AC unit has failed just as the temperatures settle into the 90s and even 100s, you’ll want to fix it as soon as possible to restore comfort in your home. But how to replace your outside AC unit, is a complex question with a few caveats.
Of course, before you can fix it, you need to determine what is wrong with the unit in the first place. This is where the help of a professional team like Walker Air • Plumbing • Electric is required. Give us a call right away so we can assess the situation and offer assistance. In some cases, it will be the outside AC unit that needs to be replaced, and that possibility is the subject of the article below.
What Can Go Wrong?
Before we get into the details of replacing an outside AC unit, we should first talk about what can go wrong with this part of your system. When things are working nicely, you won’t really think about the outside unit much – it will just kick on, do its job, and shut off automatically. Unfortunately, as with any piece of equipment, there are problems that can pop up as the months and years go by.
Here are some of the possible issues you may run into with an outside AC unit –
Frozen coil. If you notice that your system isn’t working properly, take a look at the outside unit to see if any ice is present. The appearance of ice can be a symptom of many different problems, and a professional inspection of the whole system is your best option.
Fan issues. There is a fan inside your outdoor condenser unit that moves the warmth out of the coils and into the air. If that fan runs into trouble, your unit cannot function.
Electrical problems. The power supply that serves the outdoor unit may break down or become damaged at some point, again leaving your outdoor unit unable to do its job.
It’s important to note not all issues you run into with an outside AC unit will mean it needs to be replaced. In some cases, a quick and easy repair is all that will be required. Reach out to Walker Air • Plumbing • Electric right away to get help with any problems you are experiencing.
Understanding Limitations: can you replace just the outside ac unit
If you arrive at the point where you need to replace your outside AC unit, it may surprise you to find it isn’t as simple as swapping the old one out for a new one. A common question about this is can you replace just the outside ac unit, and the answer is usually no. The problem here is compatibility with the rest of the system. If you install a new outdoor AC and pair it with an older indoor unit, the system may not work properly – or it might not work at all. As air conditioning technology evolves and improves, newer units may not function correctly when trying to work with older technology.
Unless you are replacing a relatively new unit, it’s likely that both the indoor and outdoor units will need to be replaced at the same time. You probably won’t be excited about the extra expense that creates, but your new system should work far more efficiently than the old one, helping you to save on energy costs each month.
A Job Only for the Pros
Simply put, replacing the indoor or outdoor units that work to deliver cool air to your home is a job that needs to be left to the professionals. Even if you are a passionate DIYer with plenty of experience working around your house, this job is complicated and potentially dangerous when attempted by someone without the right experience and training. And, even if you performed the work safely, you won’t be sure you got it right, and the system might not work correctly. Put any temptation to do it yourself to the side and bring in an experienced team like Walker Air • Plumbing • Electric.
Other Motivations
If your outside AC unit has failed, you’ll obviously want to install an AC unit as soon as possible so the cold air can flow once again. However, that’s not the only possible motivation for this project. Maybe your outside unit is simply aging and not performing as it once was, or it is using far too much energy to get the job done. Whatever the case, contacting Walker Air • Plumbing • Electric right away is your best bet to get the ball rolling. This will allow you to know your options and how to best proceed. We look forward to your call!
