how long does a ac unit last

mikeinlondon via Getty Images Every time I am approached by condo buyers and owners alike, the most asked question is on the future of condominiums.Practically speaking, condos will exist as a real-estate ownership option for as long as there are buyers willing to buy them -- notwithstanding their inherent ownership related problems.Once the condo's maintenance fees and realty taxes exceed the cost of comparative rentals, there will be no demand to buy it. Such condos will be reduced to rental inventory as buying into heavy maintenance units would make no sense.Life span of condo building componentsCondo buildings are made up of elements that consist of thousands of individual components. Knowing how old the complex is and when certain components were last repaired or replaced, will give you an idea when they'll likely need maintenance and replacements again.Appliances, heating, air-conditioning and electrical fixtures inside the unit have to be maintained and eventually replaced entirely at the cost of the unit owner.

From the sea of available data and consultation with building experts, I deduced this chart provides a fair reflection of maintenance and replacement over time, applicable to an average high-rise condo building.Complexes built of all glass windows need to be addressed in more detail.Because of their appeal, facades of new condo buildings have been transforming into glass, often extending from floor to ceiling. It gives condos a more attractive look and is a great selling feature -- but building experts have known for quite some time that today's glass-walled structures are less energy efficient than the brick and concrete buildings that were put up 40 or 50 years ago.Indeed, as energy costs climb, glass towers may become the "pariah" buildings of the future. University of Waterloo Professor John Straub (who wrote a noteworthy paper called: Can highly glazed building facades be green ), was quoted by CBC Toronto as saying that "With these buildings -- both skin and the mechanical systems are going to have to be redone in a 25-year time frame.

The concrete structure will be there for a long time but in 20, 25 years time, we are going to see a lot of scaffolding on the outside of the buildings to replace the glazing, sealants and the glass itself."His paper, The Glass Condo Conundrum , warns of the potential liabilities of glass towers. With no insulation values, apart from a half inch of glass between two panels, windows will begin to fog up and the costs of replacing entire walls of glass will be prohibitive on high-rise structures that can only be accessed from swing states.In short, what seems very attractive and appealing to condo buyers today may come to haunt them in the not-so-distant future, by way of prohibitive maintenance and replacement costs.Need for cyclical repairs and replacementsFor the condo building to remain functional, it requires cyclical maintenance and replacement of its major components over time. Properly governed and managed condo complexes maintain amortization funds the necessary accumulation of moneys over time for replacements of the common elements without undue financial hardships.

In extreme circumstances, facing severe financial hardships, some condo buildings may end up being wound down either voluntarily, by the unit owners, or through insolvency proceedings commenced by creditors.If the complex is composed of many such unit owners, the whole complex may become underfunded and unable to carry on with the repairs and replacements of its vital elements.
buy window ac unitsEvery condo unit owner should be fully apprised of their condo complexes' financial well being.
hvac air conditioner installationEvery condo unit owner is strongly advised to actively participate in the day-to-day running of their condo complex by closely monitoring and contributing their time when necessary, to all the facets of its operation.
ac unit clicks on and off