Should You Repair or Replace Your AC?

There is no single answer that fits every home, but a few factors decide most cases. Here is how we walk homeowners through it on an AC repair call.

1. How old is the system?

Central air conditioners typically last 12 to 15 years. Under 10, a repair usually makes sense. Past 12, every repair is money spent on a system near the end of its life, and a new heat pump or AC often pays for itself in efficiency.

2. What refrigerant does it use?

Systems built before about 2010 often run on R-22, which is no longer produced. A refrigerant leak on an R-22 unit can cost more to recharge than the repair is worth. If your system is on R-22, replacement is usually the smarter spend.

3. The cost of the repair vs. a new system

A common rule of thumb: if the repair costs more than about a third of a new system, replacement is the better value, especially on an older unit. We quote the repair and the replacement side by side so you can see both numbers before you decide, and we offer financing when a new system is the right call.

4. How often has it broken down?

One repair on a healthy system is normal. Three service calls in two summers is a pattern. A system that keeps failing is telling you something, and the repairs add up fast.