The 5-Minute Rule
Before anything else, ask this one question: Is the AC older than 8 years, AND does the repair cost more than a third of a new unit's price? If yes to both — replace. If no — repair is almost always the smarter call. Everything below just adds nuance to that core rule.
- AC is 8+ years old
- This is the 2nd or 3rd repair this year
- It uses old R-22 refrigerant (being phased out, getting expensive)
- Compressor itself has failed
- Your electricity bills have crept up noticeably over time
- AC is under 5 years old
- This is the first issue you've had
- The fix is something simple — capacitor, fan motor, minor gas top-up
- Repair cost is well under a third of a replacement
- It's been running efficiently otherwise
The Trap: "It's Only a Small Repair, So Keep Fixing It"
Individually, each repair feels small and reasonable. But older units tend to fail in stages — a capacitor this year, a fan motor next year, a gas leak after that. Add up the last 2-3 repairs before deciding; the real comparison is total recent spend vs one-time replacement cost, not just today's bill.
One Thing Most People Miss
A dying old AC doesn't just cost more to repair — it costs more to run every single day it stays alive. A struggling compressor pulls more power to deliver less cooling. Sometimes replacing pays for itself faster than expected once you factor in the electricity savings, not just the avoided repair bills.