When to repair versus replace an air conditioner or furnace - age, refrigerant type, repair cost ratio, efficiency and comfort factors that decide it.
Air conditioners typically last 12–17 years, furnaces 15–25, heat pumps 12–15. Inside those windows, repair is usually the smart move. Past them, every repair is money spent on borrowed time.
If a single repair costs more than about a third of a new system, replacement almost always wins on total cost of ownership.
Systems using R-22 refrigerant are obsolete. A significant leak on an R-22 unit is a strong replacement signal because refrigerant cost alone can exceed the repair.
Rooms that never match the thermostat, clammy air, and constant cycling often indicate a sizing or duct problem that a new, properly sized system fixes.
Bills climbing year over year with the same usage means efficiency loss. High-efficiency equipment commonly cuts cooling costs 20–40%.
Ask for a written repair quote and a written replacement quote. Any contractor unwilling to give you both is not giving you a real choice.
Guesswork costs more than a service call. Talk to a licensed technician now.
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