Your AC may have made it through another Hillsboro summer, but that doesn’t automatically mean it’s ready to do it all over again next year. The end of cooling season is a good time to look back at how well your system handled the hottest days of summer, how often it needed attention, and whether or not your home stayed as comfortable as it used to. Our team at Shafer Heating & Cooling, LLC helps Hillsboro homeowners evaluate aging AC systems before another summer.
Compare This Summer’s AC Performance With Last Summer
Start by thinking about whether or not your home cooled down as quickly as this time last year, whether you had to set the thermostat lower, and whether the AC ran longer. If your system needs more time or electricity to produce the same comfort, you could have declining efficiency, airflow problems, or worn-out components. Check over your utility bills and compare both the costs and electricity usage from this summer to last season. Rates can change, so energy use will also give you an idea of whether or not your system is working harder.
Review Your AC Repair History Before Next Season
Pull together your AC service records and look for a pattern. One repair for a system that’s been mostly dependable is different from repeated service calls, multiple part replacements, or problems that keep returning. It matters if your system was serviced but still cooled unevenly or struggled during hot afternoons. A useful test homeowners often overlook is the thermostat’s recovery time. After an AC repair, consider how long the house takes to recover after the thermostat has been raised a few degrees and then lowered again. If the recovery takes a noticeably long time, your AC could be struggling even though it’s still running.
Pay Attention to Rooms That Struggled During Peak Heat
Uneven cooling could be a sign of an aging AC, but it could also mean you have issues with duct leaks, insulation, restricted airflow, or excess attic heat. Think about where AC problems show up first, including:
- Bedrooms over a garage
- Upstairs rooms
- Spaces farthest from the air handler
Your AC might not be the problem. Instead, you might have airflow or heat-gain problems that are easy to miss during milder weather. A new AC won’t solve a duct or insulation issue, making it important to identify those problems now before you pick out new equipment.
Look at How Your AC Behaved After Sunset
It’s normal to have long cooling cycles during the hottest parts of the day. The bigger worry is whether or not your system keeps running heavily after outdoor temperatures start to fall. If your AC is still struggling to reach your thermostat setting late into the evening, you could have reduced capacity, poor airflow, or another performance problem.
Plan an AC Replacement Before the Next Heat Wave
If your system showed several warning signs this summer, now is a better time to evaluate your options than during an emergency breakdown. Shafer Heating & Cooling, LLC can inspect your current system, review its performance and repair history, and help you decide whether another repair makes sense or whether it is time to plan ahead for replacement.
Contact Shafer Heating & Cooling, LLC today to get your Hillsboro home ready for reliable cooling next season.