How Long Will My Central Air Conditioner Last?
A central air conditioning system is a very complicated animal. It uses the heat from outside when it is warm to actually cool your home. This entire process is illustrated below. Most people do not care how the cooling system works, just that it does work. How long will it last? This question is complicated.
A cooling system's life span, like any other system's life span, depends on use. If the system is used 24/7, then system will have a relatively short life span of 8-10 years. This is typical of Florida.
A cooling system in Wisconsin, however, may last 20 years or more because there is really only 2 months of the year you really need it. However, if someone runs it all the time for 5-8 months out of the year, the cooling unit will not last long.
The chart above gives a general idea of how long cooling systems work for. Please note that the systems may or may not last to the stated life of the product depending entirely how the system is used.