IQHab › United States › HVAC › AC Repair or Replace?
AC repair or replace?
Deciding whether to repair or replace your AC comes down to the age of the unit and the cost of the repair.
Rule of thumb
If the repair costs more than about a third of replacing the unit, or the system is over 12–15 years old, replacement is usually the smarter long-term choice.
When to repair instead
Cheap, common fixes like a capacitor, contactor or refrigerant top-up on a relatively new unit are worth repairing.
When to replace
A failing compressor, a refrigerant leak in an old system, or repeated breakdowns usually point to replacement — especially with a newer, more efficient system available.