Should I repair or replace my system?
Consider repairing if your system is under 10 years old and the repair costs less than 30% of a replacement; consider replacing if it's older, needs frequent repairs, or repair costs approach the price of a new unit.
Written by Paul Coen, Owner
Repair if your system is young and the fix is affordable; replace if it's older or the costs are stacking up
As a general rule, repair your system if it's under 10 years old and the repair costs less than about 30% of what a full replacement would cost. Lean toward replacement if the system is older, has needed multiple repairs recently, or a single repair quote is approaching the price of a new unit.
Questions worth asking before you decide
- How old is the system? Most AC and heating equipment lasts 12-15 years
- Is this the first repair, or the third one this year?
- Does the repair cost more than 30% of a new system's price?
- Has your energy bill been climbing even with normal usage?
- Does the system use an older refrigerant that's being phased out and getting more expensive to source?
Why the math shifts with age
A $600 repair on a 4-year-old system is an easy call — repair it. That same $600 repair on a 14-year-old system is a harder call, because you're likely to face another repair before long, and a new system will run more efficiently in the meantime. Older systems also tend to fail in more expensive ways as they age, since a struggling compressor or blower motor puts strain on other components.
When it's not a close call
If the compressor fails on a system already past its expected lifespan, replacement is almost always the better move — a compressor repair or replacement is one of the most expensive single repairs, and putting that money into an aging system rarely pays off.
Not sure which side of the line your system is on? LJ Refrigeration Co.'s non-commissioned technicians will give you a straight repair-versus-replace recommendation — call (480) 948-5004.