An air conditioner is a system that helps to cool down your home by taking out heat and moving it outside. As a house owner, you may be wondering how old your Carrier air conditioner could be but don't know how to find out. Fortunately, we have made some necessary research for you, and here's what we found.
There is a metal nameplate at the back of the outdoor unit of your Carrier air conditioner. You can find the manufacture date (or MFG date) on the nameplate. If you succeed in locating the manufacture date, then you can figure out the age of your air conditioner.
The age of a Carrier air conditioner can be easily determined so you don't need the help of a technician. Keep reading to get detailed information on how to check the age of your Carrier air conditioner.
How To Determine The Age Of A Carrier Air Conditioner
There are usually two possible reasons why you are interested in knowing how old your Carrier air conditioner is. Either you think your Carrier air conditioner is old enough to be replaced with a new one or the air conditioner has been installed before you moved in and you don't know when it was installed.
If you find out that there is no manufacture date on the nameplate, all you have to do is record the information on the plate. Take note of the serial and model number because they are important when determining the manufacture date of a Carrier AC.
Next, go online and type in the number together with the brand name of the AC. What you should see is an explanation of how the serial number is decoded to discover the manufacture date.
For instance, the serial number 8033TYV3F for the brand and model of your system means the AC was manufactured in the third fiscal week of 2008 which is January 2008. The '8' is the year 2008, the '03' is the fiscal week, and the '3' is the workday.
After discovering the age of your Carrier AC, if you find out that it is too old, you should consult an HVAC professional so you will know if you need to get a new one.
If you don't want to go through the previous process, you can simply put a call through to a licensed local HVAC contractor and provide them with the serial and model number. With that, you can get feedback about the age of your Carrier air conditioner.
What Is The Lifespan Of A Carrier Air Conditioner?
A Carrier air conditioner is expected to last up to 15 to 25 years if properly maintained. However, the expected lifespan of a Carrier air conditioner can vary due to several factors like:
Location
The location of your air conditioner plays a great role in its lifespan. If you live in a dusty area, the air conditioner is likely to accumulate more dust in the coils and filters. Frequent cleaning has to be done to keep your system in working order.
Temperature
Changes in temperature can also increase the need for repair as it would cause condensation to form inside your air conditioner. Consistent exposure to high levels of humidity and temperatures can affect the compressor. If there is too little or too much humidity in certain seasons, it affects the ambient temperature of your home.
High humidity makes it harder for the coil to take out heat from the inside to the surrounding environment. This implies that you need to use your air conditioner more often, increasing the possibility of breakdown.
Maintenance
An air conditioner that undergoes regular maintenance tends to last longer. For instance, if you don't change your air filter often, it can affect the lifespan of your air conditioner as it would be hard to keep your system running at the appropriate temperature.
A dirty filter puts a strain on your Carrier air conditioner. Accumulation of dirt and dust around the air filter can cause wear and tear after a short while. For your air conditioner to last longer, you need to ensure that it is properly taken care of to prevent constant breakdown.
Rate Of Operation
Carrier air conditioners are designed to function effectively for a long period of time. However, in the long run, the efficiency reduces when used constantly. Therefore, it is better to turn off your air conditioner when not in use.
How Do I Find The Model Of My Carrier Air Conditioner?
The model of your carrier air conditioner is listed on the metal nameplate attached to the backside of the unit. The key number printed on it is the model number, a combination of numbers and letters. If the heat pump you own is geothermal, you can find the model information on the front of the unit.
Carrier AC And Trane Which Is Better?
Anytime the best AC is mentioned, there are usually two leading brands - Carrier and Trane. These two brands provide the best air conditioners in terms of quality, efficiency, reliability, and other features that meet all your needs.
Both Carrier and Trane manufacture three different tiers of air conditioners which include basic, mid-range, and top line. They both have the same standards in terms of tiers.
When it comes to maintenance, Carrier has an advantage over Trane because Carrier's parts are not too expensive but Trane's would cost you a little extra. There is not much to compare between the prices of the two brands as the prices are almost the same. All the air conditioners that belong to the three tiers are similar in price.
When it comes to picking which is superior in terms of quality, there is no difference in basic and mid-level units of both brands. Carrier has a slight advantage over Trane in terms of installation. Although both brands require an extensive process of installation.
It is better to check the quality of installation before buying any air conditioners because the quality of installation is as important as the quality of the AC.
How Do I Find My Old Carrier Model Number?
Over the years, Carrier air conditioners of different models, sizes, ages, and types have been manufactured. The models of Carrier air conditioners made in the last 20 years would be different from the ones made today in terms of sizes, prices, and functionality.
In order to know the model number of your old Carrier air conditioner, you need to locate the nameplate which is attached to the backside of the unit. You should note that Carrier systems that are made in the last 20 years or more encode the week and year of manufacture within the first four digits. The first two digits are the week of manufacture and the second two digits are the year of manufacture. This can be easily decoded.
How Can I Locate The SEER Rating Of My Carrier Air Conditioner?
According to the United States Department Of Energy, Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) is the relative amount of energy that would be used to produce a specific cooling output.
The SEER rating is located on the side of the condenser. To find the SEER rating, look for a black and yellow 'Energy Guide' sticker. If the sticker is still intact, you can find the SEER ratings there.
If there is no sticker, the AHRI - Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute - offers a huge directory look-up. With this, you can put in the model of your unit and discover the SEER rating.
You can check the beginning of the model number printed on the data metal plate. Some manufacturers include the model's SEER rating there. Another way to discover the SEER rating of your unit is by contacting the manufacturer and providing them with the model and the serial number of that unit so they can help.
To Wrap Up
Carrier air conditioners are manufactured in batches so they have different dates of manufacture. The age of a unit is determined by its manufacturing date. When determining the age of your Carrier air conditioner, you should try locating the nameplate first. Alternatively, you can use the directory provided by AHRI or seek the help of a technician. If your system is too old, you should consider replacing it.
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